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E-Space has received Nigerian landing rights for E-Space’s impending low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation from the Nigerian Communications Commission. The E-Space satellite system will provide communications services and connect Internet of Things (IoT) devices throughout Nigeria in many of the hardest-to-reach parts of the country, particularly those areas currently unserved by terrestrial providers.

The Satcoms Innovation Group (SIG) has announced the winners of the 2023 SIG Awards. The awards celebrate the standout innovative technologies and solutions from individuals, companies, and institutions within the SIG membership. This year’s winners are Ashram (Engineering Program Manager, Micro-Ant), Atheras Analytics' SGD Design Tool, Digital Intermediate Frequency Interoperability (DIFI) Consortium, and Valentin Eder (Space Analyses). The categories were: Cooperation of the Year, Innovation of the Year, and Young Engineer of the Year.

The  Space Café “33 minutes with Maya Glickman-Pariente“, CEO of SPACECIALIST, Head of Space Operations, SAS Founder of “My space academy,” in conversation with Torsten Kriening, publisher of SpaceWatch.Global was conducted on 14th March 2023, about the future of satellite operations and the role of AI, as well as her advice to the next generation of women in STEM.

Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., and Astraius Ltd. have announced a collaboration to enhance future satellite launch capabilities from Prestwick Spaceport. During a visit to the Spaceport by Scottish Government Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism, and Enterprise, Ivan McKee, the companies commemorated the announcement with a signing ceremony.

Two C-band Northrop Grumman Corporation satellites have successfully launched. The launch will enable SES to achieve another milestone of the Federal Communications Commission’s program to clear C-band spectrum to enable wireless operators to deploy 5G services across the U.S. (CONUS) and to continue delivering uninterrupted TV, radio, and critical data transmission services to millions of Americans.

Virgin Orbit has paused its operations and furloughed its staff for at least a week in the event of recent financial challenges. According to a statement the Company released on March 15, Virgin Orbit said it was instituting an “operational pause” across the company, which includes furloughing staff. A Company spokesperson stated that the launch vehicle company is initiating a company-wide operational pause, effective March 16, 2023, and anticipates providing an update on go-forward operations in the coming weeks. 

In this  Space Café Radio - SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Andreas Lindenthal, Head of Business Operations & Products at Airbus Space Systems, about his personal views of the Munich Security Conference in February 2023. We also spoke about "Zeitenwende" in Space and where Germany and Europe stand. 

How does the European Space Agency and the Worldbank join their forces to solve world´s biggest challenges? From Climate Resilience to Disaster Management, Clean Energy and Agriculture. This Space Café Austria will feature Christoph Aubrecht , Director of ESA´s Global Development Assistance, in conversation with Sabine Pongruber, Founder and CEO of WEME Global and a friend of SpaceWatch.Global.

In the third episode, Namrata and Emma will discuss the rise of the Chinese Space industry. From the projects for an independent Moon base to their progress in every sector of the space tech and military domain, China’s declared ambition is to become the strongest world power in 50 years from now, and space is one of their main tools to reach such a goal.

As space activities and innovative technologies emerge around the world and the space economy becomes increasingly global, it is worth investigating how space services and applications can support strategic foresight and its embedding into policymaking. Understandably, amidst all this trouble on planet Earth, it is perhaps easy to forget how important space has become to us and our future.