Entrepreneurship

As part of the partnership between SpaceWatch.Global and Orbital Gateway Consulting we have been granted permission to publish selected articles and texts. We are pleased to present “Dongfang Hour China Aerospace News Roundup 14 – 20 February 2022. Welcome to another episode of the Dongfang Hour China Space Updates! I’m Jean Deville, joined as always by my co-host Blaine Curcio. 

The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and the University of Auckland joined up to conduct research on carbon fibre technology to be used for spacecraft as well as laser light data transmission, the University said. The projects are two of eight awarded a share of NZ $8 million by the Ministry of Business and Innovation.

NASA announced two opportunities to partner with the agency and help companies finalise the development of their technologies that could potentially be used for space exploration. NASA’s ongoing program, Tipping Point, supports space technologies that can advance commercial space capabilities and benefit future agency missions.

The global space launch services market in 2019 was valued at $9.5 billion and is projected to reach a market value of $47.6 billion by 2030, according to business intelligence company Visiongain. Last year Europe occupied 5th place in the global space launching ranking, with only 4 successful launches.

The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) signed a Statement of Strategic Intent and Cooperation to support innovation and the continued growth of the country’s space industry, AWS announced. The agreement outlines three specific areas of collaboration including research and development and an open, centralised space database.

Research and development, technology service and consulting firm, Geometric Energy Corporation (GEC), announced it signed a contract with UK satellite and ground-support equipment manufacturer, Exobotics.  Under the contract, Exobotics will provide 12U CubeSat platforms and custom payload development services for GEC’s upcoming missions.

Vaya Space announced it successfully test launched its hybrid rocket, Dauntless, from Mojave, California, operating under an existing FAA waiver.  The suborbital flight validated the STAR-3D engine powered rocket design running on 3D printed fuel grains from recycled thermoplastics.

During this week’s Space Café, SpaceWatch.Global Publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Ran Livne, the Director-General of the Israel-based Ramon Foundation. In 2015, the organisation became the world’s first nonprofit to pilot and manage a human-crewed space mission.

In this week’s Space Café Brazil by Ian Grosner, he talked with Raphael Roettgen about the space economy sector. Raphael said the role of educating the people about the benefits of space is crucial. The language must be less technical and more didactic to understand the importance of space activities.

Brussels, Belgian satellite manufacturer Aerospacelab announced having raised €40 million in a Series B funding, co-led by Airbus Ventures and XAnge, a European investor in early-stage startups. Other investors include Octave & Miroslaw Klaba, SRIW, Noshaq, BNP Paribas Private Equity, Sambrinvest, and Belaero. Aerospacelab has raised a total of €60 million since its founding in 2018.