Entrepreneurship

Seraphim Capital prepares to list on the London Stock Exchange, the space fund’s co-founder Mark Boggett told the BBC. Seraphim Capital, one of the world's leading investors in space, is transferring all assets from its existing fund into the Seraphim Space Investment Trust, the report said.

Virgin Orbit is close to merging with a SPAC, valuing Richard Branson’s company at $3 billion, Sky News reported. Virgin Orbit is close to finalising a deal to combine with NextGen Acquisition II, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) set up by George Mattson, a former Goldman Sachs banker, Sky News reported.

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), India’s pillar for space exploration, is one of the top six governmental space agencies in the world. Progress in the space endeavours marked by ISRO has received applauds across the globe, especially with the successful Mars Orbital Mission which made India the first nation to reach Mars in a maiden attempt.

Iceye’s radar satellite data have been fully integrated into ESA’s Third Party Missions (TPM) programme, the company said. This allows researchers and Earth Observation application developers to access synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) data, the Finnish startup said.

Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) will support and service Intuitive Machines (IM) for all its Moon missions, the company announced. KSAT has entered a long-term agreement with IM to support every stage of IM’s missions to the Moon, from launch and early operations, through transit, including lunar operations, KSAT said. IM will use KSAT services for its 2022 IM-1 mission.

This Space Café Brazil will feature Andre Rypl, a Brazilian diplomat, in conversation with Ian Grosner, Correspondent of SpaceWatch.Global for Brazil. The Role of Brazil as a founding member of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS)

In an age of LEO constellation mania, it’s easy to forget that there are other non-GEO orbits that can be used very effectively for connecting the unconnected. In particular, I refer to Medium-Earth Orbit, or MEO, an orbit long-frequented by navigation satellites, and, less long-frequented by communications satellites, namely SES’s O3b constellation.

An Alnwick-headquartered sustainable space specialist NORSS has received £10,000 in research and development (R&D) tax credits, thanks to the innovation demonstrated in its projects. Opening sustainable opportunities in outer space for businesses, the government and the public, NORSS was formed in 2017 and specialises in Space Situational Awareness

Kepler Communications raised $60 million to fund its satellite communications network, the company said. This Series B fundraising round was led by Tribe Capital and includes participation from existing investors like IA Ventures and Costanoa Ventures and new investors like Canaan Partners.

Sierra Space, a subsidiary of the aerospace and security group Sierra Nevada Corporation, announced a memorandum of understanding with Spaceport Cornwall in South-West England. The memorandum paves the way for sustained operations with UK’s horizontal launch spaceport at Cornwall Airport Newquay. The UK Space Agency is funding Sierra’s Dream Chaser concept.