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In this Space Café Radio - SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Dr Slavka Andrejkovičová, CAMões Mission Control, and Principal Investigator at the GeoBioTec research unit at the University of Aveiro, Portugal. Torsten spoke with Slavka on the evening before the CAMões Mission analog astronauts left the cave. They have been on the mission for over 6 days already.

Thales Alenia Space has signed a multi-mission contract with PT Len Industri to provide a state-of-the-art Earth observation constellation combining both radar and optical sensors and dedicated to the Indonesian Ministry of Defence (MoD). As a result, both companies will join forces to deploy an end-to-end system including space and ground segment in Indonesia.

The U.S. Space Force, the U.S. European Command, and the U.S. Africa Command have launched the U.S. Space Forces Europe and Africa component, their newest service component. The component was established to ​​support the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in an expansion of USSF’s growing reach into combatant commands.

Amos has won an ESA contract to supply six hyperspectral spectrometers that will serve as the heart of the CHIME satellite mission (Copernicus Hyperspectral Imaging Mission for the Environment, also known as Sentinel-10). CHIME is an extension of the Copernicus program of the European Commission, in partnership with the ESA. 

The intersection between space exploration and climate action is becoming increasingly relevant, as advancements in technology enable us to monitor and understand our planet's changing climate from a unique vantage point.

In the first half of 2023 I conducted a study on the future of the global space economy for the future studies institute 2b AHEAD. Being based on in-depth expert interviews from both inside and outside the space sector, the study contains some wild predictions for the upcoming two decades: private space stations, modular, repairable satellites, a permanent Moon base, and nuclear propulsion. But many of these predictions stand on the assumption that SpaceX’s Starship will, as promised, dramatically ease accessibility to space. What if Starship fails? In this article, I would like to provide an overview of the consequences of Starship’s failure for future human activities in space.

Zhang Kejian, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) administrator, and Sherif Sedky, the Chief Operating Officer of the Egyptian Space Agency (EGSA), signed a cooperation agreement between the CNSA and the EGSA on the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) in Beijing on the 6th of December. 

Uzma, a energy and technology company and Satellogic Inc, a Earth Observation (EO) data collector, announced on the 7th of December a new collaboration. The companies are aiming to evolve the landscape of satellite imagery capabilities and geospatial services in Southeast Asia. As part of the agreement Satellogic will design and manufacture a EO satellite. It is planned to be launched in the second half of 2024 as ‘UzmaSAT-1’ aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Neutron Star Systems (NSS) has announced the signature of its second contract with the European Space Agency to deliver "Very High Thrust Density for Space Transportation". Under the agreement, NSS and its partners will design and manufacture a high-power electric propulsion (HPEP) prototype which will lay the groundwork for deploying electric propulsion (EP) technologies on future missions and ensuring European independence and capabilities for future operations.

Capt. Andrea Patassa the European Space Agency - ESA Reserve Astronaut , from the Italian Air Force spoke with Remco Timmermans at the NSE ExpoForum The conversation highlighted the dual use and the relevance of defence in space.