Europe

The European Space Agency's (ESA) EarthCARE satellite has undergone its final testing and analysis as its engineers have packed it up for its journey to the launch site in the US. With liftoff slated for May on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California has been going through the last round of tests and meticulous checks in Germany.

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Exolaunch GmbH (Exolaunch) have signed an agreement to provide free launch opportunities for Cube Satellites (CubeSats) to offer more countries access to space. The collaboration is part of UNOOSA's Access to Space for All initiative, which aims to foster capacity-building in space science and technology by providing hands-on and educational opportunities. Access to Space for All allows participants to gain invaluable knowledge and experience while supporting space activities in developing countries.

The Karman Project, a globally recognized non-profit foundation, has announced the launch of applications for the Karman Fellowship 2024. With the space sector aiding some of humanity's most time-critical needs - from communication to climate monitoring, food supply and disaster management - the foundation considers its investment in the people shaping these technologies as equally time-critical.

In this latest episode of Space Cafè Radio,  Dr Emma Gatti, the editor-in-chief of SpaceWatch Global, interviews Dr Luigi Scatteia,  PWC Advisory France Global Space Practice Lead, at the 16th European Space Conference in Brussels. They discuss Commissioner Breton's keynote speech, emphasizing Europe's challenges in the global geopolitical theme and the need for independence and non-dependency in the space sector.

Hellas Sat and Thales Alenia Space have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the development of an optical communication payload for the upcoming new mission to go on the future Hellas Sat 5 telecommunications satellite, operating in geostationary orbit at 39 degrees East.

SpaceWatch.Global's Editor-in-Chief Dr Emma Gatti, interviews Eric Morel de Westgaver, the Director European, Legal and International Matters at the European Space Agency (ESA), about ESA's interest in the Asia market and their ongoing projects and collaborations with countries like Japan, India, South Korea, and China. They discuss various space missions, scientific cooperation, and upcoming ministerial meetings of ESA to propose new programs."

At the 16th European Space Conference, SpaceWatch.Global's Editor-in-Chief Dr Emma Gatti spoke with Simonetta Cheli, ESA's Director of Earth Observation Program. The conversation focuses on ESA's projects related to sustainable development goals, such as food security and water management. It also discusses ESA's role in facilitating government decisions based on data, specifically in the context of climate change. The interview concludes with a mention of upcoming projects and the integration of digital technologies in Earth observation.

This week, Dr Emma Gatti, our Editor in Chief, discussed with us the latest updates from the 16th European Space Conference in Brussels, Belgium, 23-24 January 2024. She spoke about : 1. The pressing issue of #launch vehicles in Europe, 2.⁠ ⁠⁠European Commission versus ESA, 3.⁠ ⁠⁠The highlights from the conference- specifically #militarisation of space

In the latest (16th) “Space Café Law Breakfast with Steven Freeland”, host Steven Freeland, Emeritus Professor at Western Sydney University, and Professorial Fellow at Bond University, and Co-Host Torsten Kriening, SpaceWatch.Global’s Publisher, welcomed Anne-Sophie Martin and Duncan Blake to a sensational breakfast discussion at the famous Caffe Palombini in Rome.

ClearSpace and Orbit Fab have announced a multi-faceted strategic partnership to advance in-space refuelling and servicing capabilities that aim to revolutionize space operations and serve as a foundation for a vibrant and sustainable space economy. Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU), Orbit Fab and ClearSpace will develop key enabling technologies, building on their initial collaborative work that began several years ago