Russia&CIS

2020 will be a year long remembered by anyone who lived through it, though maybe not for the best reasons. Between political strife, a pandemic and natural disasters, a person could be forgiven for thinking it was the end of days. But modern civilisation has not collapsed (yet) and humans managed to carry on with their daily lives, meeting with friends and family online, ordering more take-out meals and adding to the list of indicators of an arms race in outer space.

On March 13, 1989 the province of Quebec, Canada suffered from a massive blackout caused by a geomagnetic storm. The solar activity led to a nine-hour clinical death of Hydro-Québec's Electric power system, leaving people without TV, light and home gadgets, causing huge financial losses and halting all trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

U.S. ban 103 Chinese and Russian firms, including Soyuz manufacturer

OneWeb moves on with next launch and new funding

Norway’s new High North policy is a complex mix of initiatives and statements. The main rationale is still ensuring a developed northern region so that Norway can stand strong vis-à-vis the great powers in the north. In addition, the policy plays a role in domestic politics ahead of next year’s election.

Russia launches second Angara-A5 heavy rocket test

In this week’s first Space Café Summit “Anarchy in Space?”, Prof. Kai-Uwe Schrogl and Ntorina Antoni discussed a variety of topics on space security and space safety.

OneWeb emerges with new CEO and return to flight launch date

Ukraine ninth country to sign Artemis Accords

Outer space has become an increasingly militarised area, source of confrontation and characterised by a sort of ‘desanctuarysation’ (notion used by Mr. Xavier Pasco, Director of the Foundation for Strategic Research – Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique, Paris).