News

Space Systems Command (SSC) has announced the successful delivery of the first mission payload for Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) sensing in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (NGG) on Aug. 30, 2024, in partnership with Lockheed Martin Space and Raytheon Technologies Corporation.

ICEYE has announced that Aon has expanded its data licensing agreement to include ICEYE's Flood Insights data globally and Wildfire Insights data for the US. As a result, under the agreement, Aon will incorporate ICEYE's near real-time flood and wildfire data into its event response capabilities for Reinsurance clients, to facilitate the loss analysis of catastrophic events

T2S Solutions has announced its acquisition of Flexitech Aerospace, a radio-frequency (RF) engineering company, supporting T2S’ broader strategy to accelerate growth and innovations in the space technology sector. T2S will consequently incorporate Flexitech Aerospace’s complimentary RF capabilities, spaceflight heritage, and extensive customer relationships into its existing government portfolio and space mission systems expertise.

The International Space University (ISU) has announced the appointment of Dr. John Wensveen as its new President. Dr. Wensveen, a seasoned expert in higher education, the aerospace industry, and entrepreneurship will succeed acting President Nicolas Peter, who is returning to the European Space Agency after guiding the institution through a significant transition period.

At the initiative of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), representatives from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), European Space Agency (ESA), Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) and the newly created Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) met in Busan, South Korea, on 15 July 2024 to explore coordinating their planning and approach for missions to the asteroid (99942) Apophis. 

Celestia TTI and Indra, the national industrial coordinator of the NGWS/FCAS program in Spain, have agreed to jointly develop next-generation antennas to design advanced communications systems for the FCAS. As a result, both companies will work more specifically on multipurpose antennas capable of covering different needs and bands, both civil and military, and establishing links with satellite networks in geostationary, high, medium and low orbits

Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) has announced Nina Patz as its new Head of Business Development. Nina’s appointment adds to the company’s senior commercial team as it approaches its next scheduled launches commencing in mid-2025 with South Korean rocket company, Innospace.

The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission will continue with a new trajectory that will take it just 165 km from Mercury’s surface, around 35 km closer to Mercury than originally planned. This comes after the mission developed thruster issues that prevented the mission spacecraft from operating at full power. The BepiColombo mission, which launched in 2018, began experiencing an issue that prevented the mission's Mercury Transfer Module (MTM)’s electric thrusters from operating at full power

The Iceland Space Agency (ISA), together with the Science Park, and the University of Iceland is hosting representatives of the world’s major space agencies from September 2nd to the 6th in Reykjavík, to work together to explore Mars further. Around 50 representatives are expected from 15 space agencies, which form part of the International Mars Exploration Working Group (IMEWG). 

Firefly Aerospace, an end-to-end space transportation company, has announced the appointment of Jason Kim as its Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2024. With more than two decades of experience in the aerospace and defense sectors, Kim brings both executive leadership and a highly technical background to Firefly, positioning the company for accelerated growth and innovation.