Geopolitics News

EpiSci has announced an SBIR Phase II contract with the Space Development Agency (SDA) to advance the capabilities of low earth orbit (LEO) overhead persistent infrared (OPIR) sensors. This effort builds on EpiSci’s expertise in signal processing technology using state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) techniques to provide warfighters a competitive advantage.

D-Orbit has been selected to join the Responsive European Architecture for Space (REACTS) project under the European Defence Fund (EDF) 2022. As part of this innovative collaboration, D-Orbit will focus on the use of orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs) within responsive space systems. REACTS aims to enhance European defense capabilities through a robust, scalable network of Responsive Space Systems (RSS).

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are conducting a new mission to survey ultraviolet light across the entire sky and consequently offer more insight into how galaxies and stars evolve. NASA will launch the UVEX (UltraViolet EXplorer) space telescope tentatively in 2030 as its next Astrophysics Medium-Class Explorer mission to facilitate the mission.

Intuitive Machines has launched its IM-1 lunar mission from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The IM-1 mission Nova-C class lunar lander (Odysseus) has subsequently been deployed and has begun its journey to the lunar surface. If successful, the IM-1 lunar mission will be the first commercial soft landing attempt on the Moon. It would also mark the first American mission in 51 years to complete a soft touchdown on the Moon.

LeoLabs has released a joint statement on debris remediation signed by representatives of commercial entities in collaboration with the Secure World Foundation (SWF). LeoLabs and SWF led this effort in response to the continual accumulation of massive derelict objects (e.g. spent rocket bodies, etc.) in low Earth orbit (LEO). As of January 2024, around 29% of the total mass in LEO consists of these massive objects, 43% of which were left in orbit since the turn of the century. These objects pose the greatest debris-generating potential in LEO, putting the satellites the global economy relies on at risk.

The US Space Systems Command (SSC) and its mission partners have successfully launched the U.S. Space Force (USSF)-124 mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket today at 5:30 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.  Furthermore, the satellites for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Space Development Agency (SDA) were safely delivered to their intended orbit.

SpaceX has issued a commitment to space sustainability, pledging to perform controlled descents of approximately 100 additional early-version 1 Starlink satellites in the coming weeks and months. With space sustainability in mind, SpaceX has to-date initiated controlled deorbits on 406 satellites out of the nearly 6000 Starlink satellites launched. Of those, 17 are currently non-maneuverable, passively decaying, but well-tracked to help mitigate collision risk with other active satellites. The other 95% of satellites the Starlink team initiated controlled descent for have already de-orbited. 

The last episode of EUSPA's Mini series see the intervention of Georgios Synnefakis, GOVSATCOM program manager at EUSPA. Emma Gatti, Editor in Chief of SpaceWatch.Global, and Dr. Synnefakis discussed the importance of GOVSATCOM in providing secure satellite communications to governmental users in various scenarios, including crisis management and critical infrastructure support.

On the sidelines of the Space Debris Conference currently in Riyadh, the Saudi Space Agency signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Leo Labs and NorthStar, respectively. The MoU with Leo Labs aims to build a cooperative relationship in the field of space monitoring. Both agreements aim to exchange expertise and knowledge related to space situational awareness and explore future collaboration opportunities between the Saudi Space Agency and both NorthStar and LeoLabs. 

Greece has become the latest country to join the Artemis Accords, as the Greek foreign minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis signed the Accords on the margins of the U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue at the Department of State in Washington. Also participating in the event at the U.S. Department of State were NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Dr. Ioannis Daglis, president of the Hellenic Space Center. The signing occurred during the fifth United States-Greece Strategic Dialogue in Washington.