News

Sierra Space, subsidiary of private aerospace contractor Sierra Nevada Corporation, announced on the 19th of September that it raised new funds at a $5.3 billion valuation, reports CNBC.

Zenno Astronautics (Zenno), a developer of superconducting electromagnets for space applications, and D-Orbit, a company in the space logistics industry, have formed a special commercial partnership to collaborate on the development of new space products and services. The initial project will see Zenno and D-Orbit combine their respective technologies and fields of expertise to develop two new uses for superconducting electromagnets in space applications.

The satcom landscape prepares for a transformative decade of growth as the market projects satellite capacity demand to surge from 3.6 Tbps (TeraBytes Per Second) in 2022 to 51 Tbps in 2032, representing a 31% CAGR (compound annual growth rate), with all data segments expected to observe exponential growth in the next 10 years.

Prewitt Ridge, the requirements management and digital thread company, announced on the 12th of September that it has raised $4.1 million in seed funding. The company will use this to accelerate the growth of its digital engineering platform that enables team building products to move faster. The round was led by Squadra Ventures, with participation from Stage Venture Partners, Aurelia Foundry, Wonder Ventures, Haystack, Acequia, TechStars, GC&H and leading angel investors. 

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson have announced that Monday Charity Weeden will serve as associate administrator for the agency’s Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS). Weeden succeeds Bhavya Lal, who left the agency in July, and Ellen Gertsen, who had been serving as the office’s acting leader.NASA Administrator Bill Nelson have announced that Monday Charity Weeden will serve as associate administrator for the agency’s Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS). Weeden succeeds Bhavya Lal, who left the agency in July, and Ellen Gertsen, who had been serving as the office’s acting leader.

SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), an Australian space research center,  have announced a suite of new R&D projects and University appointments in support of the ACT Space Update 2023 unveiled in Canberra today, bringing its joint investment in the ACT to over $7 million. With the launch of the ACT Space Update 2023, SmartSat is amplifying this commitment by injecting new funds into research in space technologies addressing bushfire resilience, spacecraft system autonomy, space object surveillance, and cybersecurity.

The USSF Space Systems Command have awarded a $17.4 million Phase III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to True Anomaly, Inc. The company builds innovative technology at the intersection of spacecraft, software, and AI to deliver solutions for space security, sustainability, and accessibility. In addition, it empowers the U.S. Government, its allies, and partners, as well as the commercial space industry, to lead safe, resilient operations in orbit to secure life on Earth.

In this episode of Space Café Radio, SpaceWatch.Global’s publisher Torsten Kriening, has an insightful conversation with Stewart Bain, Founder and CEO of NorthStar Earth and Space, during Euroconsult's 26th World Satellite Business Week in Paris.

Yahsat Government Solutions (“YGS”), the Government services arm of the Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC, have announced that the UAE Government granted the company an Authorization to Proceed (“ATP”) to provide satellite capacity and manage services for 17 years. Furthermore, this mandate, valued at AED 18.7 billion (USD 5.1 billion), combines related operations, maintenance and technology management services of ground segment satellite systems and terminals currently provided under a separate contract.

Xenesis, a laser optical communications company, have signed an exclusive agreement with Airbus to provide services from the International Space Station (ISS). Xenesis is preparing to install an optical communications hub to increase data downlink capacity on the Bartolomeo Platform, launched in 2020. In addition, the company plans to ship the Xen-Hub optical flight terminal to Airbus for a Q1 2025 launch on an ISS commercial resupply mission. After installation and testing, Xenesis will begin providing communications services to Bartolomeo customers in the summer of 2025.