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Isar Aerospace (Isar) and EnduroSat announced that they have entered into a firm launch service agreement to launch satellites in rideshare missions between 2022 and 2025. This agreement is a strong example for the growing development of the European space ecosystem, Isar said.

Blue Origin and Sierra Space announced the plan to build a commercially developed, owned and operated LEO space station, called Orbital Reef, by 2030. The project is encouraged by Boeing, Genesis Engineering Solutions, Redwire Space, and Arizona State University. The destination will offer research, industrial, and commercial customers cost competitive services, Blue Origin said.

South Korea’s first domestically built rocket reached its designated altitude but the dummy payload it was carrying could not be deployed into orbit, Naro Space Center said. The third-stage engine shut down 46 seconds early and therefore could not release the 1500-kg payload at orbital speed. Nuri lifted off an hour later than planned as the 47.2-m rocket’s valves had to be examined.

Privateer announced that Dr. Moriba Jah, astrodynamicist and space environmentalist was joining their team as Chief Scientific Advisor. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak recently co-founded the space venture with the mission to drive space sustainability.

Arianespace has launched another Ariane 5 from ArianeGroup with two giant satellites on board and broke the record of the largest total mass injected with a single flight into the geostationary transfer orbit. For its 111th launch, flight number VA255 from Kourou, French Guiana, Ariane 5 executed the “highest performing flight by any launcher to geostationary transfer orbit”.

In this Space Café Radio – on tour on Mars (3), SpaceWatch.Global contributing editor Emma Gatti spoke in this third episode of our AMADEE-20 coverage with Alon Shikar, Vice President Research & Development at D-Mars. They talked about the new home on Mars, the evolution of the habitat and upcoming challenges.

In this Space Café Radio – on tour on Mars (2), Emma Gatti spoke in this second episode of our AMADEE-20 coverage with Alexandra de Carvalho and Annabelle Mielitz, members of OeWF (Austrian Space Forum) and members of the Human Factor team. They discussed the wellbeing of the analogue astronauts and the important questions about alcohol, Netflix, EVA's and snoring on Mars.

Rwanda´s Space Agency (RSA) has filed a request with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to put nearly 330,000 satellites in space. The country has filed for 27 orbital so-called shells, a collection of orbits at the same altitude. The agency said the submission followed ITU regulations and procedures.

Nanoracks, Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin want to develop the “first-ever free-flying commercial space station”, Starlab, the companies said. The space station will be a continuously crewed commercial platform, dedicated to conducting critical research, fostering industrial activity, and ensuring continued U.S. presence and leadership in low-Earth orbit (LEO), the partners said.

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is currently undergoing final checks after a successful arrival at the ESA launch Facility in Kourou French Guiana. Its launch is still scheduled for 18th December 2021, on an Ariane 5 rocket. The operational preparations of the world’s largest and most complex space science observatory will take two months in total.