After years of preparation and construction, mainland EU’s first orbital launch complex, Spaceport Esrange, has officially been inaugurated by the Swedish Head of State, King Carl XVI Gustaf, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson. Thereby, the European Union introduced a new and long-awaited critical asset to its shared space infrastructure, offering an independent European gateway to Space from northernmost Sweden.
Read More »#SpaceWatchGL Opinion: Do Space Forces Really Contravene International Space Law?
On the heels of Israel’s purported announcement of the development of its “space administration” Space Force, one cannot help but wonder if the emergence of Space Forces is yet another affront to the provisions of the legal framework that governs outer space.
Read More »Djibouti Signs MoU to Develop Commercial Spaceport
The Republic of Djibouti has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group Limited and Touchroad International Holdings Group to develop an international commercial spaceport in its northern Obock Region of Djibouti.
Read More »UK New Year Honors Recognizes UK space experts
The UK Space Agency’s Head of Space Exploration, Libby Jackson, and Professor Terry Moore, Emeritus Professor of the University of Nottingham, both received an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the honors. The OBEs recognize the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK.
Read More »Sweden to Inaugurate Space Center in January
On 13 January 2023, the Swedish head of state, King Carl XVI Gustaf, and European and Swedish political dignitaries will visit Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden to cut the ribbon of a new spaceport. The new spaceport, which saw years of preparation and construction, will significantly reshape the European space landscape. The event will take place in Kiruna in conjunction with Sweden taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Read More »UNOOSA and UK Strengthen Cooperation on Space Sustainability
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Government of the United Kingdom are strengthening their partnership with a new project to bolster space sustainability. Efforts will focus on raising awareness and building capacity related to implementing the Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities.
Read More »Airbus Achieves Key EGNOS Milestone
Airbus has successfully achieved the System Critical Design Review (CDR) on the EGNOS V3 satellite-based augmentation system. According to the Company, the EGNOS V3 (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service)'s design will add key security features for the most safety-critical applications, such as aircraft navigation and landing. Furthermore, it will provide entirely new services for maritime and land users. EGNOS V3 is the second generation of the overlay system and will improve the performance of GPS and Galileo.
Read More »The White House Unveils National ISAM Implementation Plan
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy released a National In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) Implementation Plan. The plan is to advance the United States’ strategic vision as in the first-ever ISAM National Strategy, which outlines ways to build capabilities and technologies in space, consistent with the U.S. Space Priorities Framework.
Read More »UNOOSA, UNDP and AEB Partner for Developing National Space Economies
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), UN Development Program (UNDP), and the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) have formed a partnership to boost international efforts to deliver thriving, responsible and sustainable national space economies.
Read More »Rwanda and Nigeria Sign Artemis Accords
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
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