Space

The amount the UK space sector brings to the UK economy has grown by £1 billion, helping to launch new businesses and create jobs across the country, according to the latest figures from the UK Space Agency. Despite the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, space organizations presented a robust picture, generating £17.5 billion in 2021, compared to £16.5 billion the previous year.

The Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit – Satellite-6 (SBIRS GEO-6) formally transferred from Space Systems Command (SSC) to Space Operations Command (SpOC), on Friday, March 24, 2023.

The European Rover challenge (ERC) has announced today that it has opened its registration and introduced a new certification process. Not only will the tasks based on actual missions performed by rovers on Mars and the Moon be analysed, but the competence and skills of future engineers will be validated. Academic teams worldwide can now register for the competition and get a chance to obtain the ERC Space and Robotics Industry Standard Practice Programme certificate. 

In this fascinating episode of the Space Cafe Podcast, host Markus Mooslechner is joined by Dr. Matt Russo, an astrophysicist, and musician, to discuss the connection between space and music. They delve into Dr. Russo's journey from a musician to an astrophysicist, the sound of gravitational waves, and the idea of life beyond Earth. The conversation also covers the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations and the role of music in understanding the universe.

OneWeb has announced the successful deployment and contact of 36 satellites that NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota, India. Lift-off took place on Sunday, 26 March 2023, at 9:00 am local time. Furthermore, OneWeb’s satellites separated successfully from the rocket and dispensed over nine phases over a period of 1 hour and 14 minutes. In addition, OneWeb also confirmed signal acquisition on all 36 satellites.

Isar Aerospace has announced the closing of its USD 165m (EUR 155m) Series C round, making it one of the largest SpaceTech financing rounds globally and one of the largest European DeepTech fundraises. 7-Industries Holding, Bayern Kapital via its Scale Up Fund Bavaria, Earlybird Venture Capital, HV Capital, Lakestar, Lombard Odier Investment Managers, Porsche Automobil Holding SE (Porsche SE), UVC Partners, and Vsquared Ventures all backed the round.

Equatorial Space Systems has raised a Seed Round totaling USD 1.5 million. This fund will develop the company’s Dorado commercial-sounding rocket family, which will provide low-cost space access for science experiments, technology demonstrators, and academic payloads. lev8.VC led the funding round, with Seeds Capital and Masik Enterprises joining as well.

For All Moonkind, Inc. has announced the formation of For All Moonkind's Institute on Space Law and Ethics. The Institute, whose mission is to promote the articulation and development of an ethical foundation and framework for responsible space behavior, will serve as a platform for the exchange and innovation of ideas regarding law, morality, and ethics, amplifying diverse thoughts on the interpretation and expansion of the law as it affects human space activities.

Destinus, a European aerospace firm specializing in high-speed hydrogen-powered airplanes, has been chosen by the Spanish Ministry of Science’s Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico e Industrial (CDTI) program to participate in a strategic initiative and received grants to further R&D for supersonic flight utilizing hydrogen as fuel.

Thaicom Public Company Limited has announced a partnership agreement with Globalstar, Inc. to collaborate on establishing and operating Globalstar’s low-earth orbit satellite (LEO) ground facilities in Thailand and regional commercial service deployment, with a focus on personnel safety and management solutions for Thailand’s Tourism and Maritime industry.