Entrepreneurship

Space exploration company Intuitive Machines, has signed a definitive business combination agreement with Inflection Point Acquisition, a special purpose acquisition company, in order for Intuitive Machines to become a publicly listed firm.  Intuitive Machines is expected to have a pro forma equity value of over US $1 billion with shareholders rolling their holdings into the combined company.

On September 1st and 2nd of 2022, the Latin American Satellite Congress (LATSAT) took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Aerospace professionals from different parts of Brazil and the world came to participate in the two day event. Hundreds of people gathered to listen to talks about services and new technologies from the satellite market, the new space race, and the prospects for aerospace science in Latin America. The event was organized by Glasberg Communications, promoted by Teletime News and Tela Viva, and hosted by Samuel Possebon, telecommunications expert and Teletime’s editorial director.

Spaceflight safety platform provider Kayhan Space, focused on innovative collision avoidance and launch security solutions, has appointed space industry executive S. Sita Sonty, as the company’s strategic advisor. Sonty is Partner and Associate Director in the Aerospace, Defense and Public Sector practices of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

Optical Earth Observation (EO) technologies company Satlantis, and space missions, satellites and spacecraft subsystems provider OHB Sweden, have signed a contract for two microsatellites based on the OHB Sweden InnoSat platform, the companies announced.

The world’s first dedicated, fully integrated marketing communications network for the space sector, the Space Communications Alliance (SCA) has been launched. SCA aims to connect space innovators with customers and partners via integrated public relations, content marketing and social media campaigns, SCA said.

Space-based data, analytics and space services provider Spire Global, entered into a Space Services agreement with high-resolution methane monitoring company GHGSat, to expand its satellite constellation for greenhouse gas emissions monitoring, GHGSat said. According to the agreement, Spire will launch three 16U satellites in 2023 with GHGSat’s payload aboard. 

Information and intelligence platform provider NorthStar Earth & Space (NorthStar), and satellite operator Telespazio, a joint venture between Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%), have entered into a Distribution and Partnership Agreement (D&PA) to strengthen cooperation on delivering solutions to greatly enhance European Space Domain Awareness initiatives, the companies said.

The first of Airbus’ next generation geostationary satellites, built under ESA’s Eurostar Neo program, is ready for shipment to Cape Canaveral for launch preparations, Airbus said. Hotbird 13F will be positioned at 13 degrees east along with its twin satellite, Hotbird 13G.

Astrobotic has acquired space technologies company Masten Space Systems, providing suborbital payload testing services, including a heritage of more than 600 vertical takeoff and landing (VTVL) rocket flights, Astrobotic said. The two companies have a combined workforce of more than 200 employees, who will continue operations at two sites.

Launch services company Rocket Factory Augsburg AG (RFA), signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) under ESA's Commercial Space Transportation Services and Support program, Boost!, Rocket Factory said. Both parties aim for the commercialization of European space transportation, challenging current processes.