Government

Rwanda and Nigeria have signed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis Accords, becoming the first African nations to join the accords. Nigeria's Minister of Communication, Professor Ali Isa Pantami, and Rwanda's Space Agency CEO, Col Francis Ngabo, signed the agreement on behalf of their countries. The signatures took place under the sidelines of the US-Africa Space Forum on the sideline of the US-Africa Leaders' Summit in Washington DC, United States

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has approved a resolution to halt one type of anti-satellite (ASAT) testing, a largely symbolic move intended to support broader space sustainability initiatives. The U.N. General Assembly approved the resolution, which the United States and several other nations introduced, on December 7, among other resolutions on arms control and related topics, with little discussion or debate. A total of 155 nations voted in favor of the resolution, with 9 voting against it and 9 others abstaining.

The US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has granted OQ Technology patents for its “frequency synchronization” and “timing synchronization” technology. The two synchronization technologies are already in use for communicating with the satellites in the company’s growing 5G IoT (Internet of Things) constellation connecting IoT devices globally.

Astroscale Japan Inc., a subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings Inc. (“Astroscale”), a satellite servicing and long-term orbital sustainability Company, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have started concept co-creation activities for a satellite refueling service under the JAXA Space Innovation through Partnership and Co-creation (J-SPARC). The aim is to explore concepts for a fuel delivery service for one year toward realizing space sustainability. The mission concept will be to provide refueling service on orbit to satellites that are both prepared and unprepared to be refueled.

The United Arab Emirates Space Agency and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have signed a Statement of Strategic Intent and Cooperation to support the creation of a vibrant, sustainable, competitive, and innovative space sector in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The UAE Space Agency has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Philippine Space Agency (PhiSA) to enhance cooperation in scientific research, space exploration and knowledge exchange to serve common interests and promote international partnerships supporting science and knowledge exchange in the outer space industry. This partnership comes as part of the UAE Space Agency's goals to strengthen cooperation with international partners in space science and peaceful exploration of outer space.

The National Space Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced that expedition 68 Flight Engineers Josh Cassada and Frank Rubio of NASA concluded their spacewalk. after 7 hours and 5 minutes. Cassada and Rubio completed their major objectives: to install an International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA) and disconnect a cable to ensure the 1B channel reactivation. They also completed an additional task to release several bolts for the upcoming iROSA installation on the 4A power channel on the port truss.

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Government of the United Kingdom are launching a new project to enhance international expertise in the registration of objects launched into outer space. The multi-year project strengthens an already solid foundation of joint efforts between the partners covering topics such as space sustainability and climate action.

This is the second part of an op-end article reflecting the EuroDefense network ongoing work from several national chapters with the objective to recommend a common ambitious high-level vision for European advancement in the Space Domain as it proves critical to Europe’s prosperity, security and defence.   Europe should build a space strategic culture that accentuates its strengths, minimizes its weaknesses and articulates and justifies its goals to the world and to itself.

OQ Technology, a pioneer of 5G IoT satellite services, has announced March 2023 as the planned launch date for the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) & European Space Agency ( ESA) -supported MACSAT mission, following its recent 13 million euros Series A funding round.