Europe

The European Space Agency (ESA)'s CHaracterizing ExOPlanet Satellite (Cheops) mission has observed a dwarf planet in our Solar System, contributing to the discovery of a dense ring of material around it. The mission discovered that the Dwarf Planet Quaoar had a ring of almost seven and a half times the radius of the Dwarf Planet. This consequently opens up a mystery for astronomers; why has this material not coalesced into a small moon?

The second episode of this special series of Space Cafe Black Ops with Dr. Namrata Goswami as resident guest is focused on the US. How did the nation build its space power, what are the differences between the space race during the cold war and today?

Exotrail has raised USD 58 million to scale up and pursue its ambitions for space mobility worldwide. The funds will enable the company's scale-up of its products like spaceware electric propulsion systems and spacestudio mission design software. Likewise, it will fuel the introduction and growth of Exotrail’s new products, spacetower operations software and its space logistics service spacedrop and the expansion of Exotrail’s international presence, with a strong focus on the US and Asian markets.

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium has co-authored a research paper that outlines the discovery of ultra-hot hydrogen molecules in interstellar space. The discovery is the culmination of four decades of research. Published in January 2023 by the journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics, the paper, titled 'Analysis of the first infrared spectrum of quasi-bound H2 line emission in Herbig-Haro 7,' is based on data from the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii. Furthermore, it builds on decades of research with the UK Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) telescope, also in Hawaii. 

The 2023 edition of the Small Satellites & Services International Forum (SSSIF) will be held again in Malaga from February 21st through 23rd. The SSSIF aims to reflect and discuss the global market, present challenges and future needs, and also debate the necessary cooperation between the United States and Europe both at the level of space agencies and at the level of private companies. Furthermore, it will pay attention to the role of Space Agency missions and programs in Earth exploration and Government scientific missions and their applications for private initiatives.

KSAT is currently installing four new antennas in Antarctica, expanding its capacity in the U.S. by adding multiple antennas in Hawaii, Alaska and the Southeast, and also expanding its footprint through partner networks. These antennas will add to KSATs current network with systems that will meet its new entrants and legacy operators' unique needs. Expanding Ka-band systems will also provide increased flexibility for missions requiring high-bandwidth communications.

In this Space Café Radio - SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Eva-Maria Aicher, Director Strategic Business Development Space at HENSOLDT Sensors about their heritage and ambitions in the space sector. We spoke with Eva-Maria during this year's ILA Berlin which is the largest aerospace trade show in Germany which took place this year June 22 - 26.

Our Space Café “33 minutes with Markus Fritz ” about Mobility and Space – is Europe too late to win the Race? took place on Tuesday, 31 January 2023. In the first part of the conversation, the two discussed the current state of the satellite industry and the challenges it faces. Fritz explained that the industry is in the midst of a transformation and is facing many challenges, such as the cost of launching satellites and the competition between traditional satellite companies and new players entering the market.

HENSOLDT has partnered with the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Frequency Physics and Radar Technology FHR to transform the technology demonstrator GESTRA (German Experimental Space Surveillance and Tracking Radar) into a series-production ready, operationally deployable system called Custodian. As a result, HENSOLDT has acquired the necessary licenses from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and concluded a cooperation agreement.

In this Space Café Radio - SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Carmen Aguilera, Head of Section Operational Market Development at EUSPA - EU Agency for the Space Programme. In this episode, Carmen sits down with Torsten during the EU Space Week 2022 in Prague to talk about the importance and the outcome of the user consultations.