News

Warpspace, aiming to realize near real-time optical communication services in space using small satellites, has developed a high-sensitivity acquisition and tracking optical sensor necessary for long-distance optical communications between the Moon and Earth, under contract from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

ispace technologies U.S., inc. (ispace-U.S.) has announced the official launch of a new data relay service enabled by two relay satellites that will tentatively deploy during ispace-U.S.’s Mission 3 scheduled in 2026. SpaceX will also be tentatively providing the launch service. ispace-U.S. released the details for the relay service at the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium 2024 Spring Meeting, which the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory hosted.

ICEYE has announced a new data collaboration with Juniper Re, LLC ("Juniper Re"), the reinsurance broking arm and indirect subsidiary of BRP Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BRP). As a result, Juniper Re will leverage ICEYE's Flood and Wildfire Insights data to support their carrier clients by accessing near real-time observed data on large-scale events to determine the impact within hours and support data-driven decisions.

Why should small nations join UN COPUOS? And what benefits could they gain from joining the UN COPUOS community? Dr Ulpia Botezatu, Chair of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the UN Committee for Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, explains to Dr Emma Gatti, why international Western institutions should be interested in emerging nations and vice versa.

Who should be responsible for cleaning up Space? It's a complex question, and Ines D'Avila, Space Safety and Transportation Officer at the Portuguese Space Agency, explains to our Dr Emma Gatti why it's difficult to understand collisions.

China is building its space network in the Asian-Pacific countries and Africa. Whisper, the Director of the Scientific Research Department for Chang Guang Satellite Technology co L.t.D. visited the Maldives during SINC to understand how China can expand its market in the region. Our Editor-in-Chief, Dr Emma Gatti, had the opportunity to talk with him about his mission.

Corals in Space? It can be done! Karman Fellow, Scientist and Founder of Jaguar Space, Dr Luis Zea, explains SpaceWatch.Global's Editor in Chief, Dr Emma Gatti, why basic research is still fundamental to understanding our Earth and how Space microgravity research can help the Maldives get a spot on the Space exploration train.

In this episode of Space Café Radio Geopolitics, Juliana Suess, Research Fellow Space Security at Royal United Services Institute (RUSI),  talked with SpaceWatch.Global's Torsten Kriening about geopolitics and space security. Their discussion shed light on the complexities of space militarization, the challenges facing European space defense readiness, and the importance of collaborative and responsible approaches to space governance.

In the last decade, space weather has become the subject of serious consideration in the scientific community and global scientific organizations. Solar activity plays an important role in both space operations and terrestrial infrastructure. Flares, storms, and coronal mass ejections are all manifestations of solar activity that can affect the operation of satellites, navigation, surveillance, radio communications, and other important structures. As a consequence, there is a need for a reliable and independent ecosystem for monitoring and forecasting solar weather. Today, the European space sector faces the challenge of creating infrastructure capable of competing with existing international initiatives.

Primo Space Fund has announced two new deals: Lithium Lasers and Ecosmic, investing about €2,6 million across both deals. This round of investments brings Primo Space Fund’s portfolio to fourteen companies. Lithium Lasers S.r.l., an Italian startup, developed a USPL called FemtoFlash for material processing, biophotonics and non-linear optics applications in several industries, and is particularly useful when dimensional accuracy and tighter tolerances are necessary.