News

The EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is now in the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) stage of the two new L12 Galileo satellites that SpaceX launched. They will join the current Galileo operational fleet in the upcoming months. The inclusion of these two new satellites rounds up a total of thirty Galileo satellites in orbit, providing continuous improvements to the Galileo services. 

Airbus has launched the Pléiades Neo Next program to expand its very high-resolution Earth observation constellation. This new program will result in new satellite assets and capabilities, including enhanced native resolution. As a first step of Pléiades Neo Next, Airbus is also developing a new satellite which will launch in the next few years.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has opened a center to innovate the design and manufacture of space hardware in Vienna. Driving commercialization in space, it is the first of its kind of ESA-backed disruptive innovation centres outside ESA’s own premises. Consequently, work at the center will focus on accelerating the development of manufacturing for space, including the rapid prototyping of new materials, propulsion systems and making spacecraft and satellites.

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.