Space

Momentus , provider of in-space transportation services for satellites, and Astrogate Labs, a space technology startup from Bengaluru, developing optical communication terminals and a ground network for smallsats, announced a launch service agreement for a 3U satellite to Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), to be launched in December 2021 on the second Vigoride commercial mission, as well as a 6U option.

The name of the satellite mission speaks for itself: EnMAP, short for “Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program”, is intended to produce extended and in-depth findings about the state of and changes in ecological systems on land and water using new types of global data sets.

The United Arab Emirates will launch a navigation satellite next year aimed at demonstrating the country’s technological capabilities, a top official told Emirates News Agency, WAM."The first satellite will be launched in 2021 and the second – a technologically enhanced one – the following year," said Dr. Khaled Al Hashmi, Director of the National Space Science and Technology Centre, NSSTC, in UAE University in Al Ain.

Thales Alenia Space, a joint-venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), announced that it has signed a contract with SES to build SES-22 and SES-23, geostationary communications satellites. These two new satellites are designed to provide digital broadcasting services over North America.

With the launch of the Geomatics on the Move 2020 competition, the European GNSS Agency (GSA), in collaboration with the Council of European Geodetic Surveyors (CLGE), continues its drive to promote the use of the European Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) - EGNOS and Galileo, and Earth observation - Copernicus - as engines of innovative growth for the European economy. A wide participation from all over the European Union is expected.

Airbus has been awarded a contract by the Bundeswehr for the provision of media services for the next 2 years, with the option of another 2 year extension. With this contract, several thousands of soldiers and sailors will get access to connectivity services for their private use on a global scale whether they are on land or at sea.

Benchmark Space Systems, a leading provider of in-space propulsion systems for small satellites, today announced a permanent licensing partnership to integrate Tesseract Space intellectual property, assets, and staff to elevate Benchmark’s major expansion in the development, deployment and support of its exclusively non-toxic chemical propulsion solutions for global rideshare markets.

Orbit Fab builds and operates gas stations in space and has proven its in-space fluid transfer system as the first private company to resupply the International Space Station with water.

Globalstar Europe Satellite Services Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Globalstar Inc. (NYSE American: GSAT), and the leader in satellite messaging and emergency notification technologies, announces that 550SPOT Gen3TM satellite-enabled safety devices have been deployed to safeguard and track firefighters across the vast expanse of Andalusia in southern Spain.

SES, the leader in global content connectivity solutions, has selected U.S.-based United Launch Alliance (ULA) to launch two C-band satellites.