Europe

Astrocast, a satellite IoT operator, has announced the extension of its partnership with Airbus Defence and Space (Airbus) to enhance the capabilities of satellite Internet of Things (SatIoT) technology. As a result, it enables Astrocast to further increase its network capacity to provide the most reliable and cost-effective SatIoT solutions to its customers.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded Spire Global a €16 million phased contract for the EURIALO project. The project will develop the preliminary design and demonstrator for a global space-based independent aircraft surveillance system. It is part of ESA’s program of Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) in its Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications.

The finals of the 2023 European Rover Challenge (ERC 2023) will happen from 15-17 September, as 25 of the world's best student teams from 12 countries will present their rovers in the robotics competition finals. The ERC 2023 program will also include interesting interdisciplinary debates on space exploration and the opportunity to experience state-of-the-art robotic solutions

constellr has secured further investment to extend its seed round to a total of EUR 17 million. Karista leads the funding extension, with participation from Einstein Industries Ventures alongside existing investors FTTF, Lakestar, Vsquared, Amathaon Capital, Natural Ventures, OHB Ventures, and OHB Ventures. The space-based temperature company will use the investment to accelerate the deployment of its new generation of thermal satellites and to meet growing demand among its US customers.

This Space Café BeNeLux will feature Rudy Stranen, Advisor at the Department of Media, Connectivity and Digital Policy (“SMC”), a department of the Ministry of State in Luxembourg, in conversation with Dr. Heike Poignand, Founder of C43B - Consulting for Business Building, and a friend of SpaceWatch.Global. Europe’s Quantum Communication Infrastructure: Science Fiction in the making? During our Space Café BeNeLux Rudy and Heike will talk about EuroQCI, the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure in general and its Space Segment in particular.

The United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) recently hosted closed meetings of the Legal Subcommittee’s Working Group on Space Resource Activity at its headquarters in Vienna. The Working Group has just completed the first year of its five-year mandate to review the regulation of such activity, including possible “additional international governance instruments”. Although it had planned to meet only during the Legal Subcommittee’s annual two-week session earlier this year, the Working Group failed at that time to agree on even a preliminary statement.

ESA has conducted extensive work on In-Orbit Servicing (IOS), including as part of its Clean Space initiative for the removal and prevention of space debris. ESA Preparation invited industry partners to outline their vision of Europe’s first IOS mission, which could be launched as early as 2028. 

Rivada Space Networks has announced on the 20th of July that they have joined MEF, a global telecommunications industry association of network, cloud, security, and technology providers working together to accelerate enterprise digital transformation. The organisation and its members work together to drive networking standards and certifications that ensure service quality and empower enterprises to leverage digital transformation and grow their business. 

The United Kingdom (UK) has published its National Space Strategy in Action policy, setting out how the government will deliver on the ambitions set out in the National Space Strategy and summarizes the government's achievements so far. Primarily, the policy paper sets out the next steps in implementing the National Space Strategy across each of its four pillars; unlocking growth, collaborating internationally, growing as a science superpower, and developing resilient capabilities. 

OQ Technology, a Satellite communication service in Luxembourg, announced on the 19th of July the signing of the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aramco, the Saudi Arabian Oil Group. This will strengthen their existing collaboration and going forward they will concentrate on automation and Satellite IoT connectivity for Aramco’s remote site infrastructures.