Space

NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. has closed a $35 million Series C funding round with US-based private equity lead Cartesian Capital Group, LLC, through an affiliated entity, Pangaea Three Acquisition Holdings III, LLC. NorthStar will use the funding to launch an advanced Space Situational Awareness service by mid-2023

Aerospace manufacturer Thales Alenia Space, the joint company between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%) published a log of the company’s successes and achievements in 2022.

Mobile voice and data satellite communications network company, Iridium Communications, has entered into an agreement with wireless tech innovator, Qualcomm Technologies, to enable satellite messaging and emergency services in smartphones powered by Snapdragon Mobile Platforms, Iridium said.

Our Space Café “33 minutes with Michael Byers” about the International open letter "Reducing risks from uncontrolled reentries of rocket bodies and other space objects" took place on Tuesday, 3rd January 2023. Michael Byers holds the Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at the University of British Columbia.

The Caltech Space Solar Power Project (SSPP) successfully launched a prototype into orbit atop SpaceX’s Transporter-6 mission. The Space Solar Power Demonstrator (SSPD) will test harvesting solar power in space and then beaming the energy back to Earth, Caltech said.

By virtue of Sweden assuming the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (first semester, 2023), the Country has released its Swedish Presidency program that covers its plans for space. The program sets out the priorities and main direction for the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 January until 30 June 2023. The priorities cut across many facets, including space. 

Space technology company, Voyager Space, and advanced aerospace and defence solutions provider, Airbus Defence and Space, entered into a partnership to develop and operate Starlab space station. The station will serve NASA as well as a global customer base of space agencies and researchers, Voyager said.

Sony has adopted Pale Blue's water thruster for its new nanosatellite program, STAR SPHERE. The water thruster will prolong the satellite’s life by 2.5 years with the ability to enter and keep the orbit at 500-600 km altitude. Furthermore, Pale Blue will conduct its first space demonstration at the end of January 2023.

Commercial satellite design, manufacture, launch, and data collection company, Sidus Space, has been selected by engineering, procurement, construction, and project management company, Bechtel Corporation, to manufacture cables for the NASA Mobile Launcher 2 (ML2) project, Sidus said.

The 150-year-old ITU (International Telecommunication Union), the intergovernmental body responsible for coordinating the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoting international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, improving communication infrastructure and establishing the worldwide standards, announced that its new senior leadership team took office on 1st January. The five senior officials were all elected to four-year terms.