Entrepreneurship

Plus Ultra Space Outpost (Plus Ultra) and Rocket Factory Augsburg AG (RFA) have signed an agreement to launch a demonstrator mission to the Moon, RFA announced. RFA will launch Plus Ultra’s first satellite in 2023 on an RFA ONE launch vehicle. The vehicle uses industrial automation and staged-combustion propulsion, according to the company.

During this week’s Space Café, SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening caught up with space Social Media Specialist Remco Timmermans, live from the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) exhibition floor in Dubai. Remco is an experienced space business professional,

The low-cost launcher ABL Space Systems raised $200 million in additional funding from its existing investors, bringing its valuation to $2.4 billion. The company said it intends to use the capital raised to scale production of its RS1 launch vehicle and for research and development, but it did not disclose further details.

Leanspace, in partnership with Clearspace, the International Space University (ISU), the International Astronomical Federation (IAF) and SpaceWatch.Global, is organising a space hackathon at the Space Tech Expo in Bremen, Germany. 10 teams will compete to develop a ground control application

In this Space Café Radio – on tour on Mars (4), SpaceWatch.Global contributing editor Emma Gatti spoke in this third episode of our AMADEE-20 coverage with Dr. Gernot Groemer, Director at Austrian Space Forum (OeWF) and Mission Director. Together, they talked about AMADEE-20, the future of Mars exploration, space geopolitics and a precious lesson learned from Le Petit Prince.

Promus Ventures has closed a €120 million space fund named Orbital Ventures, Promus announced. The Luxembourg-based fund focuses on early-stage, space-related companies. The European Investment Fund contributed €40 million, while other investors include the Luxembourg Government through the Ministry of Economy and the National Credit and Investment Institution.

The lunar lander startup ispace receives a Series C injection from Airbus Ventures, the company said, bringing the total amount raised to approximately $200 million. The funds from ispace’s Series C investment round are going to its second lunar mission, which is planned to launch in 2023, as well as to support the development of its Series 2 lunar lander for its third mission,

Isar Aerospace (Isar) and EnduroSat announced that they have entered into a firm launch service agreement to launch satellites in rideshare missions between 2022 and 2025. This agreement is a strong example for the growing development of the European space ecosystem, Isar said.

Blue Origin and Sierra Space announced the plan to build a commercially developed, owned and operated LEO space station, called Orbital Reef, by 2030. The project is encouraged by Boeing, Genesis Engineering Solutions, Redwire Space, and Arizona State University. The destination will offer research, industrial, and commercial customers cost competitive services, Blue Origin said.

Privateer announced that Dr. Moriba Jah, astrodynamicist and space environmentalist was joining their team as Chief Scientific Advisor. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak recently co-founded the space venture with the mission to drive space sustainability.