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SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation has announced its decision to invest 10 billion yen in domestic and international space-related startups and space venture funds. In addition to this investment, SKY Perfect JSAT will collaborate with the acceleration program “AXELA” from the SPACETIDE Foundation. This collaboration aims to combine SKY Perfect JSAT’s accumulated insights and assets with the new technologies of startups, fostering the co-creation of new space businesses for a sustainable future.

Interstellar Technologies Inc., a comprehensive space infrastructure company, has announced the signing of a basic agreement with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) regarding the procurement of launch transport services. The agreement looks to select private-sector entities capable of launching satellites developed under JAXA’s small satellite missions, thus advancing the commercialization of space transportation services by startups and other entities through launch contract procurement.

Vast, a space habitation technologies company, has announced the appointment of Clay Mowry as its newest Advisor. Mowry’s career spans over two decades in the commercial launch, satellite, and space station sectors. Furthermore, as President of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), Mowry is a globally recognized leader in the space community, within industry and government alike.

The Heinrich Hertz communications satellite has successfully commenced scientific operations as it was recently used to test the functionality and capacity of the ILKA mobile satellite communication system. The satellite launched on 6 July 2023 at 00:00 CEST and to a geostationary orbit at 0.5 degrees East.

In this episode of Space Café Radio, Christian Schmierer and Mario Kobald, the co-founders and CEOs of HyImpulse,  discuss their upcoming suborbital rocket launch from Australia and the unique hybrid rocket technology they are using. 

Orbex has successfully patented its REFLIGHT reusable rocket technology following patent approval in several European markets, based on the patent grant by the European Patent Office, as well as in the United States. The technology works well with micro-launcher rockets like Orbex’s Prime rocket since it enables recovery of the launch vehicle by repurposing existing structural features while adding very little additional weight to the vehicle. It thereby enables reusability with very limited overall performance penalty and no additional rocket propulsion emissions in the upper atmosphere during re-entry.

Spire Global, Inc. has announced an agreement with HANCOM InSpace (“Hancom”), initially a spin-off by Korea Aerospace Research Institute and now a part of HANCOM Group, for Sejong-2 and Sejong-3, two additional satellites with Spire Space Services. Under this agreement, Spire will build and operate the satellites, expanding the capabilities of HANCOM-1 (Sejong-1). Together, these satellites will form a constellation for Korea’s first three-satellite remote sensing image data service.

The new launch facilities at the Koonibba Test Range, South Australia’s first permanent spaceport, are almost complete ahead of the impending inaugural launch. Located northwest of Ceduna, the range is a partnership between Southern Launch and the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation. It is the largest commercial testing range in the Southern Hemisphere. Subject to final regulatory approval, the spaceport will witness its first suborbital test launch of German manufacturer HyImpulse’s SR75 rocket at the end of April or early May.

The 2024 State of the Union Address was given by the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden, on March 7, 2024, at 9:00 p.m. EST, in the chamber of the House of Representatives to the 118th Congress. Since it took place only two weeks after the “successful” landing of NASA CLPS Intuitive Machine M1 Odysseus on the Moon, and as anticipated during a re-election campaign, many were curious about how the President would capitalize on recent US geopolitical and economic forays in space. Why not even expect the presence of NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, astronauts, and space CEOs, among the honoured invitees? But while the SOTU address did cover essential domestic political ground, there was not one word about space! But how is that even possible?!

The Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology (SS&T) Committee held a hearing on NASA’s science programs, which revolved around the fate of the Mars Sample Return mission (MSR). The JPL had earlier cut back on its activities around the mission in light of a federal budget that could limit spending on the Mars Sample Return mission.