Space

This Space Café BeNeLux by Dr. Heike Poignand featured Rudy Stranen, Advisor at the Department of Media, Connectivity and Digital Policy (“SMC”), a department of the Ministry of State in Luxembourg and asked: Europe’s Quantum Communication Infrastructure: Science Fiction in the making?

Redwire Corporation has won a $12.9 million NASA Tipping Point award to prototype a manufacturing technology intended to build critical infrastructure on the surface of the Moon, including landing pads, roads, and foundations for habitats. This technology could enable robust construction on the lunar surface to advance human and robotic operations, paving the way for a sustainable human presence and a dynamic lunar economy.

ReOrbit, a Helsinki-based provider of software-enabled satellites, announced on the 1st of August that it is joining ESA’s high throughput optical network (HydRON) programme as a space segment partner. The two existing consortia, led by Airbus Defence and Space (ADS) and Thales Alenia Space, have both contracted ReOrbit

The Space Data Association (SDA) has appointed Erika Rossetto of Embratel StarOne and Lorenzo Arona of Avanti Communications as Standard Member Directors. This is the second consecutive term for Rossetto, while Arona is returning after holding the position from 2019 to 2021.

Astroscale announced a new partnership with Astro Digital, a global provider of complete space-based systems and mission support on the 31st of July. Astroscale’s Generation 2 Docking Plate will be incorporated into Astro Digital’s modular satellite bus for end-of-life serving preparation as part of this partnership in a move towards responsible satellite operations. 

In the latest (14th) “Space Café Law Breakfast with Steven Freeland”, host Steven Freeland, Emeritus Professor at Western Sydney University, and Professorial Fellow at Bond University, and Co-Host Torsten Kriening, SpaceWatch.Global’s Publisher, welcomed Axelle Cartier and Ingo Baumann to a fantastic breakfast discussion in the wonderful Salon Schmitz in Cologne.

Neuraspace, a European-born space traffic management (STM), has joined NVIDIA Inception, a program that nurtures startups revolutionizing industries with artificial intelligence (AI). NVIDIA Inception will allow Neuraspace to get faster access to cutting-edge AI-related technology and best-in-class tools while enhancing its existing AI system. Furthermore, it will optimize Neuraspace’s research and development efforts to apply AI to its operational STM system.

Euclid's two instruments have captured their first test images. The mesmerizing results indicate that the space telescope will achieve the scientific goals that it has been designed for - and possibly much more. Although there are months to go before Euclid delivers its true new view of the cosmos, reaching this milestone means the scientists and engineers behind the mission are confident that the telescope and instruments are working well.

Hisdesat, the Spanish Government satellite operator, has announced that the first satellite in the SPAINSAT NG program, SpainSat NG-I, will be ready for launch in the summer of 2024 after confirming that the program is making good progress. Space X will be responsible for launching the Spanish satellite into orbit with a Falcon 9 launcher from its base at Cape Canaveral or from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

In this Space Café Radio -  SpaceWatch.Global's Dr. Emma Gatti spoke with Tim Maclay, the chief strategy officer and US general manager at ClearSpace, an in-orbiting service and space debris company founded in 2018. Today's episode is in partnership with the Secure World Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on the long-term sustainability of outer space and earth orbits, as well as space security and stability considerations.