Europe

An innovative and practical tool to support space actors in more sustainable mission design and operations, the Space Sustainability Rating (SSR) hosted by the eSpace-EPFL Space Center, launched last Thursday. The SSR encourages, recognises, and rewards, space actors who enforce sustainable space missions with a unique rating system.

Arianespace’s Ariane 5 launch vehicle has successfully placed two telecommunications satellites into geostationary orbit: MEASAT-3d for the Malaysian operator MEASAT, and GSAT-24 built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on behalf of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ArianeGroup said. The launch was the first mission of the year, and the 113th overall.

George Freeman, UK Minister for Science, Research and Innovation announced a new commercial framework and additional space sector funding from the UK Government at space exhibition ILA 2022 today. The country aims to become an industry-led, government backed pioneer of commercial space sustainability.

SpaceWatch.Global is pleased to present: The Space Café Podcast #057 Adrien Mauduit, Aurora Hunter by passion.Episode 057 features a special guest: Adrien Mauduit. Some say that it takes a very good reason for a Frenchman to leave his home country. Adrien Mauduit knows what he is talking about.

Munich-based NewSpace intelligence startup, OroraTech, has achieved the desired mission goals for FOREST-1, its first satellite dedicated to environmental monitoring, the company said. The satellite has been operational since January 2022. The spacecraft, that does not require cooling, specialises in wildfire detection by combining thermal, mid-infrared and visible cameras.

Satellite platforms and geospatial intelligence company, Aerospacelab, unveiled its satellite megafactory commitment, capable of producing 500 satellites annually. The new site will be built by Sambrinvest in Charleroi, Belgium. The new factory will feature a total working surface of 16,000 square meters, including a 6,000-square-meter ISO7 cleanroom and 3,000-square-meter laboratory.

In this Space Cafè Radio -  SpaceWatch.Global Senior Editor Dr. Emma Gatti spoke with Luigi Scatteia, a Partner in PwC Advisory France. Within PwC he leads the Space Practice, and he also leads the core space strategy and policy consulting team based in Paris and Toulouse, focused on serving institutional and commercial stakeholders in the space sector

Global mobile satellite communications provider, Inmarsat, signed a contract with ESA to take Iris air traffic modernisation programme global and drive the future of uncrewed aviation airspace integration in Europe, Inmarsat said. Airspace is getting congested: in Europe alone, a 50% increase in flights is expected in the next 20 years.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher signed two agreements at the latest ESA Council meeting in Noordwijk, Netherlands, to advance cooperation on Earth science and the Artemis lunar missions, NASA said. ESA’s Lunar Pathfinder mission will contribute to the progression of the lunar communications infrastructure, necessary for a long-term human presence.

There is gap between the interests of space agencies and private investors toward sustainability. While agencies build their reputation and PR campaigns on the commitment that the sector has towards sustainability – meaning here the use of space technology and data for monitoring the state of the planet- the private sector remains tepid to the entire concept.