Space

The Chinese government has provided Egypt with a U.S.$45 million grant for the completion of the EgyptSat-2 Earth observation satellite.

Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi announced on 15 August 2018 – India's Independence Day - that India will launch its first manned space mission by 2022. The announcement was made by Modi in what is his last Independence Day speech ahead of the general election to be held in early 2019.

Singapore’s AddValue Technologies has signed an agreement with New Space Earth observation satellite company Open Cosmos for the provision of AddValue’s Inter-Satellite Data Relay System (IDRS™) that will link the Open Cosmos constellation in orbit in real time.

China has offered Russia to work together on promising methane and hydrogen rocket engines, Igor Arbuzov, General Director of NPO Energomash, told RIA Novosti.

Japanese New Space satellite launch company Interstellar Technologies Inc. is developing the main engine for its Zero launch vehicle and expects to complete that development this year, with the aim of conducting the first engine test in early 2019.

Chinese New Space satellite launch company OneSpace Technology, China’s first private rocket producer, has raised a RMB300 million (U.S.$44 million) series B investment round that was led by CICC Jiatai Equity Funds, according to an official announcement made by the company.

UAE's Yahsat, the Abu Dhabi-headquartered commercial satellite communications operator, has partnered with Tanaza to launch a new enterprise Wi-Fi solution for reliable service in remote areas, further helping to bridge the digital divide in many parts of the world.

Spire Global, the New Space company that provides meteorological, maritime, and aviation awareness data from low-Earth orbit, has selected Arianespace’s Vega launch vehicle to loft its LEMUR-2 Cubesats.

According Igor Arbuzov, General Director of NPO Energomash, the production of the engines for the Proton-M heavy-lift launch vehicle is to be ceased by the end of 2018. However, it is possible to resume production if there are new contracts for these launch vehicles.

The UAE Space Agency is wrapping its Space Investment Strategy that should provide the regulatory environment necessary to attract local and foreign investments into the Emirati commercial space sector, making the UAE a regional and hemispheric hub for New Space activity.