Asia Pacific

Bengaluru, 24 July 2023 - Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced the launch date for its PSLV-C56 / DS-SAR Mission from the launch pad at SDSC (Satish Dhawan Space Centre) - SHAR, in Sriharikota Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh as 30th July 2023 at 06:30 Hrs. The mission will carry the DS-SAR satellite which is developed under a partnership between DSTA (representing the Government of Singapore) and ST Engineering.

Telesat has announced the successful launch of its LEO 3 demonstration satellite aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket. LEO 3 was one of seven satellites in the rideshare mission that launched from Mahia, New Zealand.

Astranis, an American space-based internet startup, has signed a new deal to launch and operate a dedicated satellite for the Philippines which will provide enough bandwidth to connect up to 2 million people.

SpaceWatch.Global scored its first BBC News appearance on Friday at 12:30 UK time, with editor in chief Dr. Emma Gatti being invited to comment on the potentially historical launch of Chandrayaan-3. 

China has begun the construction of an ultra-low orbit satellite constellation, according to the developer China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC). CASIC disclosed this on Wednesday at the 9th China (International) Commercial Aerospace Forum in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, according to the local media. The constellation will reportedly comprise 300 communications and remote-sensing satellites orbiting the globe, providing a global ultrafast response capability within 15 minutes.

On the 5th and 6th of June 2023, the Financial Time’s held its second Investing In Space conference. Similarly to last year, it was held in a hybrid form. The first day online, the second day live from London. Titled “Balancing Optimism with Realism”, the two-day summit hosted a selection of investors, innovators, government, and end-users for analyses of the opportunities of space.

Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT), provider of ground network services and Earth Observation services, has announced the expansion of its KSATlite network with the addition of a new cutting-edge ground station in Jeju, South Korea. 

Ramon.Space and Ingrasys, a subsidiary of Foxconn Technology Group have announced a strategic agreement to deliver high-volume space computing products. As part of the agreement, Ingrasys will manufacture Ramon.Space computing products globally, establishing the production line of the industry’s first high-volume space computing products. This collaboration represents a major milestone in the rapidly expanding space economy and marks the first time Ingrasys has ventured into the space industry.

Astroscale Holdings Inc. has announced the opening of Astroscale France SAS (“Astroscale France”) and a contract with the French national space agency, Centre National D'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). The contract, which both parties will sign on June 20 at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, formalizes a partnership between Astroscale France and CNES. Furthermore, it includes a funded study for active debris removal of French space debris. In addition, both parties will determine the specific debris in early 2024.

ispace, inc. has announced the former NASA astronaut and U.S. Air Force Colonel (Ret) Ronald J. Garan Jr as CEO of ispace Technologies U.S., inc. Mr. Garan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business economics from the State University of New York College at Oneonta and a Master of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In addition, Garan also earned a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Florida.