Asia Pacific

Heron AirBridge has announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to join Inmarsat's Velaris Partner Network (VPN) to collaboratively develop regulatory and operational frameworks and technologies for the safe management of drones in urban environments and complex airspaces. The parties signed the MoU during Drone Asia 2023 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center. Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Transport, Sustainability and the Environment, also attended the signing event as the Guest of Honour.

mu Space has reached an exclusive deal with OneWeb to provide Low Earth Orbit (LEO) connectivity solutions across mainland Southeast Asia including Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Malaysia this year. The deal aims to provide internet connectivity to underserved remote areas. With mu Space being a player in Mainland Southeast Asia's aerospace industry, the company intends to provide satellite internet connectivity to remote areas for both commercial and civil governmental use.

In the third episode, Namrata and Emma will discuss the rise of the Chinese Space industry. From the projects for an independent Moon base to their progress in every sector of the space tech and military domain, China’s declared ambition is to become the strongest world power in 50 years from now, and space is one of their main tools to reach such a goal.

Warpspace announced on the 15th of March that Hiromitsu Azuma has been newly appointed as Representative Director and CEO. Azuma has experience as an entrepreneur from startup to exit. In addition, as COO and General Manager at Warpspace, he has worked closely with Tsunemachi- who took the position of CEO in 2019- to expand the business while overseeing the practical aspects of Warpspace’s business, finance, and technology. 

Dawn Aerospace has announced its selection by Lynk to provide satellite propulsion systems. The partnership will enable Lynk to enhance deployment, life extension, collision avoidance, and de-orbit capabilities as its satellite constellation of 'cell towers in space' grows. 

Pale Blue has announced successfully operating the water vapor propulsion system (resistojet) in low earth orbit. Pale Blue’s propulsion system got installed on “EYE,” a nano-satellite for STAR SPHERE Project, and tested for the first time in space. Going forward, the company will innovate and expand the commercial use of its water-based propulsion systems for small satellites

In occasion of International Women Day, Emma Gatti, Editor in Chief of SpaceWatch.Global met with five outstanding women in the space industry to discuss the challenges and barriers women still face when entering (and trying to stay in) the workforce.

The Korean Government is set to establish a fund to support private space startups, according to local sources. According to the South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT, the Government will create a 50-billion-won fund ($38.5 million) by 2027 to invest in the private space sector. The Korea Venture Investment Corp will operate this fund.

ispace has announced that the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc. (“Tokyo Stock Exchange”) has approved the initial listing of its shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market. The date of listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market is tentatively April 12, 2023, and after that date, trading of the Company’s shares will be possible on the same exchange.

Privateer Space, a data and intelligence platform, announced on the 8th of March its partnership with WARPSPACE - a Tsukuba-based spacetech startup developing an optical inter-satellite data relay service - to provide space operators with essential data in a timely manner to safeguard their assets from objects orbiting space.