Budget cuts are galore - What does that mean for #Space? 🇩🇪 This week, Torsten Kriening, our publisher, discussed the latest updates from Berlin and the current budget cuts in #germany . He spoke about : 1. The pressing issue of the current geopolitical situation; 2. Priority of #space activities; 3. The road ahead
Read More »NASA Launches PACE Mission to Study Ocean and Atmosphere
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched the Plankton, Aerosol, Climate, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite. The satellite launched into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida to study ocean health, air quality, and the effects of a changing climate for the benefit of humanity. NASA subsequently confirmed signal acquisition from the satellite about five minutes after launch.
Read More »SmartSat backs Autonomous Sat-Tech for Australian ISAM
SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (SmartSat) is backing innovative research to develop end-to-end Australian capabilities in In-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM), in a project underwritten by a total investment of $ 2.3 million. SmartSat's research partner, the University of Sydney, will be leading the new project, which will develop robotic satellite technologies to reliably connect with other satellites to perform in-orbit repairs and maintenance. NSW-based industry partners Abyss Solutions, ANT61, Space Machines Company, Sperospace, and Spiral Blue will also support the research project.
Read More »Space Cafe Radio Geopolitics – Space Situational Awareness for all – with Mahhad Nayyer
In this Space Café Radio Geopolitics, SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Mahhad Nayyer, Astrodynamicist - Systems Engineer - Project Manager - Space Sustainability Enthusiast - Steward of Spaceship Earth. Mahhad Nayyer is a young Pakistani whom Torsten met first in the AIAA D12 - Diverse Dozen Cohort 2022 virtually. We were really impressed by Mahhad's work, so we invited him as a guest in our episode.
Read More »Pale Blue Win Grant to Develop Key Space Debris Mitigation Tech
Pale Blue Inc. has received a grant from Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) under the Small and Business Innovation Research 3 (SBIR-3) program to develop and demonstrate key technology for space debris mitigation. The grant is worth up to USD 27 million (JPY 4 billion) and will enable the development and demonstration of a miniaturized water-based ion thruster and a water-based hall-effect thruster by fiscal 2027.
Read More »OQ Technology Contracts with ESA for Direct-to-Cell Study
OQ Technology, a global satellite narrowband IoT connectivity operator, has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) for a feasibility study of Direct-to-Cell connectivity. The Luxembourg Government, under the LuxImpulse program, is funding the contract. The LuxImpulse aims to foster Luxembourg and European space initiatives through the national space program.
Read More »GSOA and ESA to Foster 5G & 6G Space-Based Systems
The Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Intent (MOI). The MOI, signed by Isabelle Mauro, Director General at GSOA, and Francisco-Javier Benedicto Ruiz, Acting Director of Connectivity & Secure Communications at ESA, solidifies the commitment of both organizations to work closely together in the pursuit of their shared goals in this area.
Read More »ThrustMe Contracts with CNES for its Propulsion System
ThrustMe has announced a transformative off-the-shelf contract with the French Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES). This purchase agreement is a testimony to the rapidly changing aerospace sector, where the lines between the legacy and new space are blurring. Long-standing actors such as CNES can benefit from complete and reliable industrial and standardized products for their space missions to accelerate development times and reduce costs.
Read More »LeoLabs Selected for U.S. SDA TAP Lab Accelerator
LeoLabs has announced its selection to participate in the U.S. Space Systems Command's Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Tools Applications and Processing (TAP) Lab Apollo Accelerator. This program enables LeoLabs to demonstrate its AI-powered solutions for Combat ID and Space Battle Management.
Read More »Ariane-6 First Upper Stage Leaves for Kourou Aboard Canopée
Arianegroup's special ship "Canopée" has picked up the upper stage for the next generation of the European launch system, Ariane-6, from Bremen this week and is bringing it to Kourou in French Guiana. Ariane-6's launch is planned for the summer of 2024.
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