Entrepreneurship

US telecom firm BridgeComm, Inc., a leader in optical wireless communications (OWC) solutions and services, announces a partnership with Cailabs, a French deeptech company and global leader in light beam shaping. The objective is to significantly improve laser communications between space, airborne, and terrestrial OWC solutions thanks to Cailabs products. …

  ICEYE, the global leader in small satellite synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) technology, announced it has hired Dr. Mark Matossian, an aerospace industry expert, as CEO of ICEYE US, Inc. Dr. Matossian most recently served for more than a decade in program management at Google, including carrying the responsibility of manufacturing …

Kleos Space S.A., a space-powered Radio Frequency Reconnaissance data-as-a-service (DaaS) company, has entered into a €3.41 million (approximately US$3.7 million) secured loan agreement with Dubai-based family office Winance to progress its commercialisation plans and to redeem existing convertible notes. The agreement was announced on 18 February 2020. “This funding provides …

By Gabriella Skoff Satellites have become critical tools in infrastructure and defence. They control GPS systems, enable international communications, allow us to watch the news “live” and track and relay information about the weather and other natural events. They facilitate business and financial communications, as well as radio and telephone …

Exotrail, a French company dedicated to providing innovative on-orbit transportation solutions for the small satellite market, announced on 19 February 2020 that they have signed a contract with AAC Clyde Space, Europe’s leading nanosatellite solutions specialist. Exotrail will equip them with cutting-edge propulsion solutions for their customers, including global satellite …

Curtin University and Tokyo-based start-up company Space BD Inc. will together launch two CubeSat satellites into orbit from the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo on the International Space Station (ISS). Space BD Inc. is the official service provider selected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency  (JAXA) in the area of ISS utilisation …

On Monday, 17 February 2020, at 10:05 am EST, or 15:05 UTC, SpaceX launched its fifth Starlink mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The Starlink satellites deployed in an elliptical orbit approximately 15 minutes after liftoff. Prior to orbit raise, SpaceX engineers …

Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C Lander will capture raw optical images of the lunar surface and convert them into Terrain Relative Navigation (TRN) measurements to land within 200 meters of its intended landing site. Intuitive Machines navigators led by Co-Founder, Dr. Tim Crain, attended the American Astronautical Society’s Annual Guidance, Navigation and …

Swiss space startup Astrocast announced the signing of a new contract with Spaceflight for the launch of 10 additional Internet of Things (IoT) nanosatellites. This new contract, announced 6 February 2020, will be Astrocast’s sixth launch booked with Spaceflight. Both its test and fully functional satellites were also launched with …

The Queensland government of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has released the Queensland Space Industry Strategy 2020-2025, the Australian state’s plan to create even more jobs in more industries for Queenslanders. Queensland’s Minister for State Development Cameron Dick said the AUS$8 million (US$5.38 million) investment will accelerate Queensland’s space industry into a new …