Europe

European Space Imaging (EUSI) and Pixxel have announced a strategic partnership that will give users unparalleled access to the world's "most detailed hyperspectral imagery" from Pixxel directly through EUSI. Together with EUSI’s capability to build insights and products, the partnership has the potential to set a new benchmark in remote sensing applications in the region. Furthermore, the offering from EUSI aims to solidify the Company's position as a hub for EO data in the region, as customers can now acquire Pixxel’s hyperspectral dataset in addition to world-leading optical and SAR imagery, all from a single source.

Slovenia presented a formal request for full membership of the European Space Agency (ESA) yesterday at the Space Summit in Seville, Spain. The request has followed the official decision of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia last Friday. It was submitted to Josef Aschbacher, the Director-General of ESA, by Matevž Frangež, the State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport and Tanja Permozer, the head of the Slovenian Space Office. 

This Space Café BeNeLux will feature Kees Buijsrogge, Director Space & Scientific Instrumentation at TNO in conversation with Dr Heike Poignand, Founder of C43B - Consulting for Business Building Blocks - and a friend of SpaceWatch.Global. During our Space Café BeNeLux Kees and Heike will not only discuss the relevance of Space for Europe's sovereignty, but also what an important role space plays our daily lives and what it means in terms of innovation, sustainability and competitiveness for a small country like The Netherlands.

In this Space Café Radio - SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Dr Pascal Faucher, Chairman of European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST), Defense and Security, CNES, at the Software Defined Space Conference - SDSC in Tallinn, Estonia, beginning November 2023. In the interview, Pascal outlines the strategic imperative for Europe to enhance synergies between its civil and defense sectors to ensure a competitive edge in the space industry, especially given resource limitations.

Government ministers representing ESA’s Member States, Associate States and Cooperating States have resolved to strengthen Europe’s space ambitions to better serve European citizens after the ESA Space Summit in Seville. As a result, Europe aims to harness space for a greener future, take decisive steps in exploration, and ensure autonomous access to space while preparing a paradigm shift towards a more competitive next generation of launchers, following decisions taken today at the Space Summit.

Aerospacelab and DUPUIS, a renowned publisher of comic albums and magazines, have announced their collaboration with the launch of Aerospacelab’s Versatile Satellite Platform (VSP), SPIP satellite, the company’s fourth satellite to travel into space. Less than a month after the launch of its PVCC satellite, Aerospacelab is gearing up for another launch from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States.

An illuminating discussion from #SDC2023 with two trailblazing Estonian space leaders - Elise Olt and Marily Hendrikson! � Get inspired as they share a vibrant vision for Estonia's growing role in the global space industry. Learn how their work is expanding access and opportunity in space tech for future generations. Elise and Marily provide unique perspectives on Estonia's emerging space sector and shaping the new space economy.

POLARIS Spaceplanes, a German aerospace start-up, has successfully flown MIRA under turbine thrust for the first time. The first flight took place in Peenemünde with 260 km squared of closed airspace. It had a flight time of just under 2.5 minutes and a distance of approximately 9km. POLARIS received the Operation License on the 25th of October and the following day flew MIRA.

The Netherlands has become the newest and 31st signatory to the Artemis Accords, signing the document during a ceremony at the Dutch Ambassador’s Residence in Washington on Wednesday. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson participated in the signing ceremony for the agency, and Netherlands Space Office (NSO) director Harm van de Wetering signed on behalf of the Netherlands.

Kuva Space, a Finnish hyperspectral satellite imagery company, has successfully raised 16.6 million euros ($17.6 million) in a recent Series A funding round. The startup, founded in 2016, aims to accelerate its satellite launches and expand its market reach, especially in the United States. The funding will be utilised to enhance Kuva Space’s AI analytics platform.