Europe

We are just halfway through 2023 and I have accumulated enough miles in the Space conference business that I feel I can sit down and put down some ideas, or notes at least, on what we at SpaceWatch.Global have seen and learned through the lens of the media in the past weeks and months. We have visited six countries, met thousands of people, and saw some new trends. But are these trends destined to ever be solved? Or are they just buzzwords echoed over and over again?

Our Space Café “33 minutes with Josef Aschbacher  – European Space Ambitions – ESA Agenda 2025, updates and goals” took place on the 7th July 2023. Josef Aschbacher earned both his Master’s degree and PhD in natural sciences from the University of Innsbruck. His impressive international career in the space sector spans over 35 years and encompasses work at the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission, the Austrian Space Agency, the Asian Institute of Technology, and the University of Innsbruck. 

Scientists have used the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) to observe low-frequency radio waves from satellites in large constellations for the first time. For a study published in the Astronomy & Astrophysics journal, scientists from a number of leading research institutions used the LOFAR telescope centred in the Netherlands to observe 68 Starlink satellites made by SpaceX.

The GSMA and European Space Agency (ESA) have signed a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) to bring the mobile and satellite industries closer together to collaborate on developing new, innovative satellite and terrestrial network technologies. The partnership aims to further strengthen the competitiveness of both mobile and satellite network industries by creating an ecosystem that can fast-track the development of new complementary technology solutions for businesses and consumers

In the latest “Space Café BeNeLux”, our new host Dr. Heike Poignand, welcomed Dr. Harald Hauschild, ARTES ScyLight Programme Manager at ESA, to an insightful discussion if optical and quantum communications will be the future of space. The short answer, according to our guest, is: Yes, it will. If you are interested to know more, please have a look at the long version in the video,

RIDE and SPACECIALIST have announced a partnership agreement to promote a "one-stop shop" solution for all pre and post-Launch Service Agreement (LSA) needs. 

Euroconsult, the French-based space advisory firm, has announced a major process for evolution for the group and shareholders to mark 40 years of strategic guidance for space stakeholders. The company is seeking to enable and drive forward its next decade of success via a simplified, fully integrated operational structure. 

An international team of geologists has explored the foothills of the Lambahraun volcano to search for grainy soil. This soil is particularly important as it is similar to some of the samples that NASA’s Perseverance rover has collected on Mars. This project was possible due to the similarities between  Iceland and Mars.

GMV and the regional government of Galicia’s Galician Innovation Agency have entered into a €1.6 million contract to develop a cybersecurity system. The system will be able to detect radio frequency signal jamming in the area surrounding the Rozas Airport Research Centre (CIAR). 

Rivada Space Networks and IEC Telecom, an international satellite service operator, have announced on the 10th of July the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enable innovative connectivity solutions for land and maritime communications. IEC Telecom specialises in digitalisation for the maritime industry and providing remote communications on land where GSM coverage is not available.