https://spacewatch.global/space-for-earth-1/space-for-earth-news/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Tue, 08 Sep 2026 10:06:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/space-for-earth-1/space-for-earth-news/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/hydrosat-and-kazakhstan-target-thermal-satellite-capability-for-central-asian-water-security/ Tue, 08 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77357 Hydrosat and Kazakhstan's KGS have established a framework to evaluate a dedicated thermal infrared constellation, giving Central Asian governments independent access to thermal satellite intelligence.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/isus-space-studies-program-returns-in-2027-in-orlando/ Mon, 07 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77327 The International Space University will hold its 38th Space Studies Program at the University of Central Florida in Orlando from 21 June to 13 August 2027 - the first confirmed programme date since the liquidation of its Strasbourg central campus in July.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/esas-cluster-spacecraft-complete-final-reentries-after-decades-in-orbit/ Thu, 03 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77214 ESA's last two Cluster spacecraft, Samba and Tango, reentered on 31 August and 1 September, closing a mission launched in 2000 through a series of targeted end-of-life reentries.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/mtg-i2-launch-expands-ariane-6s-mission-capabilities-as-europe-accelerates-launcher-ramp-up/ Fri, 28 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77084 Arianespace has launched the MTG-I2 weather satellite on a dedicated Ariane 62 into geostationary transfer orbit - Ariane 6's ninth mission, its fourth of 2026, and its first to GTO.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/mtg-i2-launch-sends-ariane-6-to-geostationary-orbit-for-the-first-time/ Mon, 24 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76850 On 27 August, an Ariane 62 will carry Meteosat Third Generation Imager 2 from Kourou - the vehicle's first mission to geostationary transfer orbit and the farthest it has flown. MTG-I2 completes the first MTG family, delivering a rapid scan over Europe every 2.5 minutes and closing a programme that has occupied more than 2,000 people across 70 European companies.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/heo-to-expand-its-non-earth-imaging-network-with-planet-labs-skysat-constellation/ Wed, 19 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76709 HEO and Planet Labs are partnering to integrate Planet's SkySat constellation into HEO's non-Earth imaging network, expanding on-orbit imaging capacity for select customers.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/airtel-africa-has-launched-africas-first-commercial-direct-to-device-service-in-partnership-with-starlink/ Tue, 18 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76693 Airtel Africa, in collaboration with Starlink, has launched commercial operations of a satellite-to-mobile service in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The first commercial rollout of its kind in Africa, the announcement follows the successful testing of data and messaging services with Starlink Mobile, Starlink's Direct-to-Cell network technology, in Kenya earlier in March.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/ast-spacemobile-secures-regulatory-go-ahead-to-test-800-mhz-satellite-connectivity/ Mon, 17 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76632 AST SpaceMobile has secured temporary FCC authority (Special Temporary Authority) to test 800 MHz satellite connectivity on up to 100 commercial devices.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/scientists-chase-the-moons-shadow-as-total-solar-eclipse-sweeps-across-europe/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76536 Europe witnessed a total or partial solar eclipse on 12 August - totality visible from Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and northeastern Portugal - and scientists worldwide seized the moment for solar science and public events.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/synspective-and-spectee-combine-radar-satellite-imagery-and-social-media-data-to-improve-flood-mapping-precision/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76543 Synspective and Spectee have combined SAR satellite imagery with social-media-derived flood-depth data to map flood extents in greater detail than either source manages alone, for faster disaster response.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/rwanda-is-partnering-with-planet-for-a-pioneering-national-satellite-data-program-in-africa/ Tue, 11 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76420 Rwanda has partnered with Planet on a national satellite-data programme, supplying Planet's data to government agencies, universities, and startups for development initiatives across the country.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/liveeo-secures-german-space-agency-grant-to-build-a-multimodal-vision-foundation-ai-model-for-earth-observation/ Wed, 05 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76210 LiveEO has received a high six-figure grant from the German Space Agency at DLR, funded by the BMFTR, for an 18-month feasibility study into a Vision Foundation Model that detects change across both optical and SAR satellite imagery in a single architecture - a shift from narrow, task-specific Earth observation AI toward general-purpose models.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/nineteen-group-acquires-space-comm-expo-europe-from-lunar-ridge-ventures/ Tue, 04 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76153 Nineteen Group has acquired Space-Comm Expo Europe from Lunar Ridge Ventures, aiming to grow its international, government, and defence delegations.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/cospar-2026-formally-kicks-off-in-florence-with-a-focus-on-international-cooperation/ Tue, 04 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76162 The 46th COSPAR Scientific Assembly has formally opened in Florence, bringing the global space-research community together under a central theme of international cooperation.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/university-of-warwick-astronomers-detect-tiny-undocumented-and-dangerous-geosynchronous-orbit-debris/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76119 University of Warwick astronomers have detected some of the faintest GEO debris ever observed - fragments as small as 5cm - re-examining archival data from the Isaac Newton Telescope in La Palma.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/scotland-selects-planet-for-sustainable-agricultural-reform-support-as-planet-opens-new-london-office/ Fri, 31 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76064 The Scottish Government’s Agricultural and Rural Economy Directorate has selected Planet Labs Germany for a 7-figure award. Under this one-year agreement, Planet will deliver PlanetScope data and advanced analytics to support Scotland’s Agricultural Reform Route Map. The award comes weeks after Planet announced the opening of its new office in central London, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to the United Kingdom as a critical partner within the high-growth space economy.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/arianespace-to-launch-mtg-i2-weather-satellite-aboard-ariane-6s-first-geostationary-mission-next-month/ Tue, 28 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=75988 Arianespace has announced Ariane 6's latest launch mission, launching the MTG-I2 meteorological satellite with the Ariane 62 configuration from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on the 27th of August. The mission, designated VA270, will mark the fourth Ariane 6 launch of the year and the rocket's first launch to a geostationary orbit.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/iceye-and-kt-sat-partner-to-bring-near-real-time-flood-intelligence-to-south-korea/ Fri, 24 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=75913 ICEYE has announced a strategic partnership with KT SAT to deliver advanced flood monitoring solutions to South Korean government agencies and commercial organizations. The partnership marks the first deployment of ICEYE Solutions in South Korea and the first use of the technology by the Korean Government. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/the-italian-space-agency-announces-the-untimely-passing-of-its-president-professor-teodoro-valente/ Fri, 17 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=75752 The Italian Space Agency has announced the untimely passing of its President, Professor Teodoro Valente, who chaired the 69th COPUOS session. Colleagues across the space community have paid tribute to his dedication.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/eusi-upgrades-german-satellite-ground-segment-and-infrastructure-for-faster-satellite-data-delivery/ Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=75600 European Space Imaging has upgraded its German ground segment and cloud infrastructure, accelerating satellite tasking and intelligence delivery through its ATOM platform.]]>