Europe

Switzerland representatives place second and third at the 9th edition of the prestigious European Rover Challenge space robotics competition. After intense competition on the world’s largest artificial Marsyard, team AGH Space Systems from Poland emerged as the best robotic team, meeting the rigorous demands of the jury. In addition, participants underwent a certification process confirming their knowledge and skills for the first time in competition history.

Prof. Grzegorz Wrochna, President of the Polish Space Agency (POLSA) said Poland’s presence on the moon is a matter of ten years during the European Rover Challenge (ERC) to the Polish Press Agency (PAP). Wrochna said that work is underway to establish a Polish space mission. Several months ago the Polish Space Agency made a call for concepts for a National space mission. From the applications received the Moon featured heavily. 

Euroconsult, a space consulting and market intelligence firm, organized an exclusive space sector awards ceremony celebrating outstanding achievements in Earth Observation, with four companies scooping the top awards. In addition, stand-out startup businesses also received recognition through the Finspace contest and the inaugural Space Business Catalyst award. The event marked the finale of World Satellite Business Week in Paris, a flagship conference.

GSOA announced a new pledge to the Partner2Connect Digital Initiative led by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations agency for digital technologies. The pledge came at the SDG Digital event during the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Action Weekend at United Nations Headquarters in New York City. On the eve of the SDG Summit, the company pledged its best efforts to contribute through its members to help double the number of people connected by satellite to at least 500 million globally by 2030.

Margit Mischkulnig, Austria's foremost figure in space affairs, heads the Space Department at the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation, and Technology (BMK). She brings expertise in economics and industrial policy to the dynamic world of politics. In the fast-paced arena of politics, brevity is key, and Margit's approach, "get to the point," is well-suited for the Department for Space Affairs.

SATLANTIS, a Space Technology for Earth Observation & Universe Exploration Company, have announced a commercial partnership with Dotphoton, an Earth Observation company known for its Very High-Resolution optical technology and solutions. Dotphoton also brings Jetraw to this collaboration, a state-of-the-art raw image compressor. Furthermore, Jetraw increases onboard data throughput by a factor of 4 and accelerates data transfer from space to ground. This will enable SATLANTIS satellites to collect and transmit raw images at high speed while maintaining the metrological accuracy needed for advanced AI/ML applications.

GMV, a multinational technology company, have successfully concluded ground validation tests for a space robot designed to assemble structures in Earth’s orbit as part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) MIRROR project (Multi-arm Installation Robot for Readying ORUS and Reflectors). Furthermore, the MIRROR robot can assemble large structures in orbit using smaller modules that fit in the launch systems available today, paving the way for new applications such as orbital solar power stations, large-scale telescopes, antennas, and more.

Euroconsult, a global space and satellite strategy consulting and market intelligence firm in collaboration with The Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology of Oman (MTCIT), have announced that it will hold a conference to promote space in the Middle East and the country’s role as a strategic gateway for attracting investments in space applications and technologies into the region. The conference will run from January 8th-10th next year. 

Germany became the 29th country to sign the Artemis Accords on the 14th of September, reports Reuters. The Artemis Accords are a US-led multilateral agreement to establish norms of behaviour in space and on the lunar surface. Germany became the latest signatory at the German ambassador’s residence in Washington. The event was attended by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Walther Pelzer, head of the Germany Space Agency. 

This Space Café BeNeLux will feature Major Nicolas Gérôme, Head of Space Office at Belgian Defence, in conversation with Dr. Heike Poignand, Founder of C43B - Consulting for Business Building, and a friend of SpaceWatch.Global.