Russia&CIS

NSR’s In-Orbit Servicing Markets, 2nd Edition (IoSM2) report forecasts $4.5 billion in cumulative revenues from In-Orbit Satellite Services by 2028. While growth is anticipated across all applications in all orbits, GEO satellite life extension will yield the largest share of revenues.

Following the launch of the GRUS-1A microsatellite on 27 December 2018, Axelspace Corporation, has announced the details of the launch of two more satellites of the same type, GRUS-1B and GRUS-1C.

Global television news network RT expands its partnership with Yahlive, the Abu Dhabi-based satellite joint venture between world leading satellite operator SES and the UAE satellite company Yahsat, by introducing RT France HD to French speakers in the MENA region via Yahlive’s MENA beam.

Russian businesses have reportedly bought a majority share of the Russian Joint Venture of OneWeb's satellite communications megaconstellation for its business operations in Russia

Arianespace played a significant role in improving global connectivity with its 27 February 2019 Soyuz launch that deployed the initial six satellites in OneWeb’s constellation – which will provide affordable high-speed internet access for users around the world.

The head of the French national space agency, the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), Jean-Yves Le Gall, spoke at the French-Russian seminar organized by GIFAS, the French aerospace industries association, at the Espace Hamelin in Paris on 30 January 2019.

Reaching a desired orbit in space is set to become easier and more cost-effective, as space transportation start-up Momentus is soon to prove with its Vigoride service. German launch service provider, Exolaunch has signed a contract worth over U.S.$6 million with the Momentus to move its CubeSats and Microsatellites into multiple, bespoke orbits.

Space activities within the United Nations Member States are growing apace and the amount of space faring nations is increasing. Enabling these countries to find their path to space is a key part of the work of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) which works to promote ‘international cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of space science and technology for sustainable economic and social development’. The Office is on hand to offer help to Members that wish to establish legal and regulatory frameworks to enable them to become active in the space arena.

Russia is preparing a national concept for Moon exploration by March 2019, according to the head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin. This news comes after the U.S. national space agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), put forward its Lunar Gateway project which will see the agency construct a gateway to act as a "single stepping off point in architecture for human cislunar operations, lunar surface operations and missions to Mars."

Anonymous U.S. intelligence officials have told American news outlet CNBC that Russia tested its PL-19 Nudol anti-satellite (ASAT) direct-ascent missile on 23 December 2018, making it the seventh test of the system if the U.S. claims are true.