Virgin Orbit is close to merging with a SPAC, valuing Richard Branson’s company at $3 billion, Sky News reported. Virgin Orbit is close to finalising a deal to combine with NextGen Acquisition II, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) set up by George Mattson, a former Goldman Sachs banker, Sky News reported.
Read More »#SpaceWatchGL Opinion: India’s Space Venture: Groundwork for Private Sector
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), India’s pillar for space exploration, is one of the top six governmental space agencies in the world. Progress in the space endeavours marked by ISRO has received applauds across the globe, especially with the successful Mars Orbital Mission which made India the first nation to reach Mars in a maiden attempt.
Read More »Space Café “Moriba’s Vox Populi” Recap: “Democratising” space – a fantasy or distant reality?
This Thursday’s Space Café "Moriba’s Vox Populi" was hosted by University of Texas academic Associate Professor Moriba Jah, an American astrodynamicist, space scientist and aerospace engineer known for his work in spacecraft navigation, space sustainability and space situational awareness.
Read More »Iceye’s data available through ESA’s Earthnet
Iceye’s radar satellite data have been fully integrated into ESA’s Third Party Missions (TPM) programme, the company said. This allows researchers and Earth Observation application developers to access synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) data, the Finnish startup said.
Read More »ESA to go to Venus with EnVision in the early 2030s
ESA goes to Venus with EnVision, the European Space Agency said. The mission was selected by ESA’s Science Programme Committee as the fifth Medium-class mission in the Agency’s Cosmic Vision plan, targeting a launch in the early 2030s, ESA said. EnVision follows ESA’s Venus Express (2005-2014)
Read More »Paul Bate named new chief of UK Space Agency
The UK government has appointed Paul Bate as CEO of the UK Space Agency, succeeding Graham Turnock. Bate is currently Vice President, Commercial at Babylon Health, working with healthcare organisations in the NHS and across the world. Prior to that, he was the Executive Director of Strategy and Intelligence at the Care Quality Commission.
Read More »KSAT to support Intuitive Machines’ Missions to the Moon
Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) will support and service Intuitive Machines (IM) for all its Moon missions, the company announced. KSAT has entered a long-term agreement with IM to support every stage of IM’s missions to the Moon, from launch and early operations, through transit, including lunar operations, KSAT said. IM will use KSAT services for its 2022 IM-1 mission.
Read More »Register Today For Our Space Café Brazil On 23 June 2021
This Space Café Brazil will feature Andre Rypl, a Brazilian diplomat, in conversation with Ian Grosner, Correspondent of SpaceWatch.Global for Brazil. The Role of Brazil as a founding member of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS)
Read More »#SpaceWatchGL Opinion: Communications from MEO: Smart SkyNet – The Next Competitive Frontier?
In an age of LEO constellation mania, it’s easy to forget that there are other non-GEO orbits that can be used very effectively for connecting the unconnected. In particular, I refer to Medium-Earth Orbit, or MEO, an orbit long-frequented by navigation satellites, and, less long-frequented by communications satellites, namely SES’s O3b constellation.
Read More »Mauritius’ first nanosatellite reached the ISS
Mauritius has its first own satellite. The first-ever Mauritian nanosatellite MIR-SAT1 has docked at the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX cargo Dragon rocket, the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation of the Republic of Mauritius announced.
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