Space

SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) has unveiled the Compact Hybrid Optical-RF User Segment (CHORUS) prototype terminal to create more stable and secured military satellite communications at the 15th Australian Space Forum. With funding from SmartSat CRC, the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), and industry and academic partners, EOS Space Systems and EM Solutions, Lyrebird Antenna Research, Shoal Group, Australian National University and University of South Australia, following three years of research developed the technology in the prototype in Australia.

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) and Oxford Space Systems (OSS) have confirmed a partnership to build and launch an OSS Wrapped Rib antenna mounted to an SSTL CarbSAR satellite.

SKY Perfect JSAT, a Japanese Satellite Communications & Solutions provider, and Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT), a Norwegian company, will provide Near-Earth Tracking and Control Services to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and other Japanese governmental organisations.

On day 2 of the 14th IAA Symposium Prof Rene Laufer gives Torsten Kriening an review on day 1 and a short outlook on day 2.

Airbus’ latest geostationary Eurostar Neo satellite Arabsat BADR-8 has been shipped to Cape Canaveral, ready for launch. The satellite will provide connectivity over Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia and also features Airbus’ space demonstrator TELEO to provide space to ground optical communications at gigabit speeds. Airbus’ relationship with Arabsat stretches back 20 years, and BADR-8 is the eighth satellite the manufacturer has built for the satellite services provider in the Arab world.

Virgin Galactic has announced the Virgin Galactic Unity 25 crew who will be aboard VSS Unity’s return to space later this month. Unity 25’s mission objective is to conduct the final assessment of the spaceflight system and astronaut experience before commercial service begins in late June.

Warpspace has signed a strategic partnership agreement with LatConnect 60 Ltd. to create a mechanism to monitor carbon emissions from space efficiently and in very high resolution. LatConnect 60 Ltd. is developing a constellation of satellites to measure carbon emission concentrations from space, with the sensitivity to pick up emission flow rates as low as 50kg/hr and higher. Consequently, the first satellite will tentatively launch into low Earth orbit in the second half of 2025.

In this  Space Café Radio - SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Prof Marco Beijersbergen, Founder and Managing Director of cosine, about the companies 25th anniversary, their future and the role of AI in our industry.

Before her keynote to open the 14th IAA Symposium on Small Satellites, Germany's Aerospace Coordinator Dr. Anna Christmann spoke with Torsten Kriening about the current role of space for Germany and the status of the creation of a new German Space Strategy, and Space Law.

It is day one of the 14th IAA Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth System Observation. The conference is organised by DLR’s Institute for Solar-Terrestrial Physics, TU Berlin together with Berlin Partners. What can we expect today? Opening sessions with our German Aerospace Coordinator Dr Anna Christmann and Berlins local politicians. We will hear a keynote of Kristina Nikolaus, CEO of Okapi orbits. On the academic presentations we can expect three sessions on Programmatics, infrared missions and Space Situational Awareness followed by a panel on Future of launch opportunities for small satellites.