Space

While the planet has been on lockdown the last two months, a new space telescope called CHEOPS opened its eyes, took its first pictures of the heavens and is now open for business.

The rapidly growing New Space startup company Rhea Space Activity (RSA),  has been tapped by the United States Air Force (USAF) to develop a telescopic mirror that can be built and deployed in Earth's orbit, thus eliminating the need to launch detection equipment from the Earth's surface, potentially saving millions in taxpayer dollars.

Dmitry Rogozin, the head of the Russian state space corporation Roscosmos, has said that Russia is designing a new “orbital” station where crews will build deep space probes to explore the Solar System.

Russia and China are currently in talks to pool their resources for joint lunar operations, according to several Russian and international news media sources.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a not-to-exceed US$2.37 billion undefinitized contract modification for Phase 1 of the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) Polar program from the United States Space Force (USSF).

Do you have an early-stage business idea that could benefit from an enriching environment and a fresh perspective? This is your moment! The Copernicus Accelerator 2021 is growing its community of Earth observation innovators.

Last week, NASA released "The Artemis Accords: Principles for a Safe, Peaceful and Prosperous Future." The aim of the Artemis program, according to NASA, is to "[L]and the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024, heralding in a new era for space exploration and utilization". I read the short, concise document that NASA  published with a great deal of interest, and a number of thoughts about international technology, economics, and politics came to mind.

The Space Foundation builds awareness of the benefits of space through its Space Certification™ program, which awards a "seal of approval" to companies whose products and services can demonstrate a viable link to the space program

As part of its ongoing Simplify & Amplify transformation programme, SES announced on 29 May 2020 that it plans to restructure its operations worldwide, including the consolidation of part of its European regional operations into the company’s global headquarters in Betzdorf, Luxembourg.

The launch campaign has resumed for Arianespace’s next mission, which will be the proof-of-concept flight with the Vega launcher’s “ride-share” configuration – known as the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS).