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Alpine Space Ventures Announces Investment from NIF

Reflex Aerospace

Alpine Space Ventures, a venture capital fund dedicated to early-stage investments in the space sector, has announced a EUR 10 million investment from the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF). The strategic fund-of-fund investment boosts Alpine Space Ventures’ ability to back the development and deployment of innovative space technologies, reinforcing Europe's security and resilience capabilities in both Government and commercial sectors.

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DLR, ESA and Bavaria to Establish Moon Mission Control Center

The German Aerospace Center (DLR), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Free State of Bavaria plan to establish the Human Exploration Control Center for future human spaceflight missions to the Moon in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. The Declaration of Intent was signed by Minister-President of Bavaria Markus Söder, DLR Divisional Board Member for Space Anke Pagels-Kerp and ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher on 13 March 2024 at the Bavarian State Chancellery.

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Space One KAIROS Rocket Explodes Midair after Launch

Space One, a Japanese private launch services provider, suffered a setback during its inaugural rocket launch as the rocket, KAIROS, exploded midair a few seconds after liftoff. The Company aimed to be the first private Japanese outfit to launch a satellite into Orbit, launching the ill-fated rocket from a new space facility in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture. The rocket carried a small intelligence satellite for the Japanese Government, which it planned to insert into orbit about 500 km above the Earth's surface. 

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NASA Receives Budgetary Support for Artemis for FY 2025

Artemis

The Biden-Harris Administration has released the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2025, which includes funding that will allow NASA to continue advancing its understanding of Earth and space. As a result, the budget will enable NASA to launch the Artemis II mission, which will send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years and research Earth’s changing climate, among others.

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ispace-US and RSA Sign Payload Services Agreement

ispace-U.S

ispace Technologies U.S., inc. (ispace-U.S.) has signed a payload services agreement with Rhea Space Activity (RSA) to deliver autonomous guidance and navigation technology to lunar orbit aboard ispace-U.S.’s Mission 3 scheduled for 2026. The agreement will consequently foster collaboration to test RSA’s Jervis Autonomy Module (JAM), a novel autonomous navigation technology which recently received funding through a grant from NASA’s TechFlights Program.

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China Discloses Legal Position on Utilization of Space Resource

China has turned in its submission to the Working Group of Legal Aspects of Space Resource Activities of the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee of the UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS). The Working group invited member states to submit their inputs towards the Group's mandates and purposes. The submission emphasized the importance of the provisions of the Outer Space Treaty in directing any member-state activity regarding the lunar surface, particularly lunar space resources. 

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HyImpulse Receives First Flight License for its Sounding Rocket

SaxaVord spaceport. Credit SaxaVord

HyImpulse has received its first flight license from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for its sounding rocket, which is now ready to launch from the Shetland Islands thanks to the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS). Furthermore, the Company plans consecutive launches of the sounding rocket for later this year from the SaxaVord spaceport in Shetland. The rocket’s maiden launch will tentatively commence from Australia this April.

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Olsen Actuators and Drives Secure Funding for Lunar Rover System

Olsen Actuators and Drives

Olsen Actuators and Drives has won its first UK Space Agency (UKSA) funding to deliver a Proof of Concept (PoC) demonstrator for a new lunar rover the University of Manchester is designing and funded by the Enabling Technologies Programme (ETP). The project will develop and fabricate a jumping robot system capable of thrusting upwards, descending, and self-righting that will lower into lava tubes under the surface of the Moon. Experts have earmarked these lava tubes for potential initial future human habitation.

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Astrolight Joins DIANA to Accelerate Innovation in Defense Tech

Astrolight

Astrolight, a technology company dedicated to facilitating space-to-Earth and ship-to-ship laser communications, has joined the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA). This collaboration marks a significant achievement for Astrolight as it seeks to contribute to NATO’s defense initiatives and advance its dual-use laser communication technology in the defense sector. DIANA provides startups like Astrolight with access to a network of experts, resources, and funding opportunities to help them develop and commercialize innovative technologies for defense applications.

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Agile Space Receives SpaceWERX Contract to Deliver MPPCs

Agile Space

In-space propulsion solution provider Agile Space Industries has received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract from SpaceWERX. SpaceWERX is part of the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force and a part of AFWERX, and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Agile was one of 19 company winners of the 2023 SpaceWERX Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) Challenge. The Space Safari program office at USSF Space Systems Command, which identifies cutting-edge TacRS, sponsored the challenge.

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