Asia Pacific

China.org.cn released a news report about China's new planetary exploration mission on 9 May 2020, revealing "Tianwen" as the name of the mission:

VOX Space, the Virgin Orbit subsidiary which provides responsive and affordable launch services for the U.S. national security community, has signed a new agreement with the Department of the Air Force, allowing the company’s LauncherOne system to conduct missions to space from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.

China scored a space double whammy on 5 May 2020 when its successfully launched its heavy Long March 5B launch vehicle carrying a new capsule designed for crewed missions.

Infostellar, a highly innovative ground-segment-as-a-service (GSaaS) provider, announced on 30 April 2020 that it has raised a total of US$3.5 million in convertible bonds with existing investors Airbus Ventures and Sony Innovation Fund,

Astroscale Holdings Inc., the market-leader in developing technology and services to remove space debris and secure long-term orbital sustainability, announced on 4 May 2020 that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Professor Chris Newman, Professor of Space Law and Policy at Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK,

By Alessandra Albano The global space industry is expected to generate revenue of US$1.1 trillion or more in 2040, up from the current US$350 billion, according to Morgan Stanley. Investors are also taking an upbeat view of the prospect of investing in space innovations amidst the risk of technical recession. According …

DEWC Systems, Australia’s leading defence electronics systems manufacturer, has received a AUS$3.1 million (US$2.02 million) contract from the Australian Department of Defence to build the sensors for Miniaturised Orbital Electronic Warfare Sensor System (MOESS) programme, it has been reported on 28 April 2020.

The Global System for Global Communications Association (GSMA) has opened applications for the Innovation Fund for Mobile Internet Adoption and Digital Inclusion.

This week’s Space Café WebTalk took place on 28 April 2020, featuring Daniel Porras, Space Security Fellow at UNIDIR - the United Nations Institute of Disarmament Research in Geneva - in conversation with Torsten Kriening, co-publisher of SpaceWatch.Global and COO of ThorGroup GmbH.

The Dorado, named after the swordfish constellation, will be Equatorial Space’s second rocket after the Low Altitude Demonstrator, pending launch due to the COVID-19 work and travel restrictions.