https://spacewatch.global/space-for-earth-1/space-for-earth-news/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:43:24 +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/2026/08/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.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/ororatechs-hellenic-fire-system-achieves-first-light-over-greece-less-than-a-month-after-launch/ Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=75533 OroraTech's Hellenic Fire System has achieved first light over Greece less than a month after its May launch, a milestone toward the country's national wildfire monitoring capability.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/esa-awards-aeolus-2-wind-sensing-satellites-design-and-build-to-airbus/ Tue, 07 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=75437 Airbus Defense and Space has signed the initial contract for the design and build of the Aeolus-2 wind sensing satellite from the European Space Agency (ESA). Aeolus-2 will follow the first Aeolus wind sensing satellite which Airbus also built and launched back in 2018. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/german-companies-zft-and-smart-small-satellite-systems-launch-9-satellites-aboard-spacexs-transporter-17-mission/ Tue, 07 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=75458 Germany's Zentrum für Telematik and Smart Small Satellite Systems have launched nine 10kg microsatellites aboard SpaceX's Transporter-17 for coordinated Earth observation across agriculture, forestry, and disaster management.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/myriota-launches-hybrid-5g-satellite-and-cellular-iot-network-to-deliver-uninterrupted-global-connectivity/ Fri, 03 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=75380 Myriota has added cellular connectivity to its HyperPulse 5G non-terrestrial network and AssetHawk tracker, creating a hybrid satellite-and-cellular IoT network priced for industrial scale.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/06/unoosa-announces-space-law-advisory-mission-in-kenya-later-this-year-in-partnership-with-the-italian-space-agency/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=75198 UNOOSA and the Italian Space Agency will run a Regional Space Law Technical Advisory mission in Kenya this November to help African states develop national space legislation.]]>