Frontiers News

Iran is aiming to launch astronauts into space using domestically developed technology by the end of 2029 Eisa Zarepour, Communication Minister stated in a post on the Iran Virasty social media site on Sunday. "In line with the implementation of the ten-year document of the country's space industry, the 'Life in Space' program has been revived and soon, God willing, the suborbital tests of the new generation 'bio-capsule' will be completely Iranian," he said.

Two major space events took place in South-Korea in November 2023: Space Forum Korea, hosted by the South-Korean government, in close cooperation with the US and major ASEAN economies. And an International Workshop on Space Resources with Perspectives of Emerging Space Programs, hosted by the Secure World Foundation, an American NGO. Then, on the first day of December 2023, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the country’s first spy satellite into orbit, from California’s Vandenberg Space Force base, just one month after North Korea had launched its own. Let’s review these events in context, and draw some observations on the global standing of South-Korea as an Emerging Space Country.

Full production has begun on the six Galileo Second Generation (G2) satellites at Airbus’ site in Friedrichshafen, Germany, with the arrival of the first satellite Flight Model structure from Beyond Gravity in Zurich. After initial preparation, the panels will travel to other Airbus sites before final integration and testing at Friedrichshafen. Furthermore, the Galileo G2 satellites are scheduled for launch in the coming years to support the initial deployment and validation of the G2 System.

Neumann Space has announced the successful completion of the first series of on-orbit tests of its propulsion system, the Neumann Drive®. Neumann Space has consequently become one of the first commercial entities to fire a thruster in space that utilizes Molybdenum as a solid metallic propellant, and the Company considers it a world-first use of a safe, storable, abundant propellant for electric propulsion.

The United States, United Kingdom, and Australia have announced the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) trilateral initiative to provide 24/7, all-weather capabilities. The capabilities will subsequently increase the ability to detect, track, identify and characterize objects in deep space. The memorandum of understanding between the three countries will last 22 years.

Angola has become the 33rd country and third African country, after Nigeria and Rwanda, to sign the Artemis Accords and join the Artemis program. President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of Angola officially signed the Artemis Accord on behalf of his nation, solidifying Angola’s commitment to deep space exploration and international collaboration. 

SpaceX has successfully launched its first military spy satellite to better monitor North Korea. The launch happened at California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. Furthermore, it is the first of five spy satellites South Korea contracted with SpaceX to launch into space by 2025. The satellite is an electrooptical and infrared device, while the four remaining satellites will feature synthetic aperture radar, which can "see" through cloud cover and at night.

The CAMoes mission was supported by the Government of the Azores. After the official reception, Torsten Kriening spoke with Dr Flavio Tiago, Director of Science and Technology at the Government of the Azores about the mission and the importance of space for the region.

On the last evening of his stay on Terceira island in the Azores, Torsten Kriening had the privilege to interview Dr Alamo Meneses the Mayor of Angra do Heroísmo and host of the CAMoes mission. He is also an University Professor. He was the Director of the Sciences Department of the University of the Azores, and was the founder and leader of the Association of Environmental Defense "Gê-Questa". He is the author of several studies and publications in the areas of environmental impact assessment and management of water resources in insular and coastal regions. He was also a member of the Regional Government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores,

Giving the team some time to relax after the CAMoes mission, Torsten Kriening spoke with Dr Helder Chaminé, a/the multidisciplinary geoscience expert and Professor of Engineering Geosciences. His expertise spans GIS mapping techniques for structural geology, applied geology, geotechnics and geohazards, engineering geosciences and hydrogeomechanics, mining and subterranean geology, hard-rock hydrogeology, water resources and thermal waters management. He has interests in geomining heritage, geoethics, history of cartography, military geosciences, higher education dissemination and geo-professional core values. He supported CAMões applied geosciences mapping, geotechnics and geohazards topics.