Space

By John B. Sheldon Following the announcement on 5 May 2020 by NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine of the proposed Artemis Accords, NASA revealed further details on 14 May 2020 that provide some granularity of what is likely being discussed in private channels with like-minded countries. The new details about the …

The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded two contracts to Thales Alenia Space, the joint company between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), concerning EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service). These contracts, fully financed under the European Commission H2020 programme concern study phases on the system evolution. They will call on …

Momentus Space, provider of in-space transportation services for satellites, and  Alba Orbital, builder and designer of the world’s smallest commercial satellite platforms, announced a contract for three Alba Albapods to ride on plaza deck of the Falcon 9 vehicle, which will launch in December 2020 from Kennedy Space Center in Cape …

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), a global aerospace and national security leader owned by Eren and Fatih Ozmen, received its Shooting Star transport vehicle at the company’s Colorado production facility, marking the beginning of a key integration phase. This phase includes installation of the SNC-built Passive Common Berthing Mechanism that will …

Astroscale Holdings Inc., a market-leader in developing technology and services to remove space debris and secure long-term orbital sustainability, announced on 18 May 2020 that it has opened a Series E funding round and has secured I-NET CORP., a

As the coronavirus pandemic causes changes in citizens‘ daily lives across Europe and beyond, we clearly understand there are many areas of the global economy which will now need our joint effort to improve after the pandemic declines.

The Indian finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, announced on 16 May 2020 that the Indian government will enact all necessary measures to create a level playing field for the private sector to take part in all Indian space activities.

Intelsat, one of the largest commercial satellite communications operators in the world, announced on 13 May 2020 that it is seeking Chapter 11 protections from its creditors in US bankruptcy courts.

Telesat, one of the largest and most successful global satellite operators, has joined a group of tech firms led by Mississippi-based C Spire working to bridge the “digital divide” and help solve the rural broadband access and adoption problem.

Xona Space Systems, a California-based startup creating a secure and precise Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) satellite service, announced on 14 May 2020 that it has raised a US$1M pre-seed round led by 1517, with participation from Seraphim Capital, Trucks Venture Capital, and Stellar Solutions.