Space

Two NewSpace companies are set to leverage their synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and data analytics capabilities to help decision makers across the oil industry.

Yahsat has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a majority stake in the mobile satellite services operator Thuraya, also based in the UAE, subject to final pre-closing conditions being met. The acquisition of the UAE’s first home grown satellite operator, Thuraya, will significantly expand Yahsat’s current satellite solutions portfolio for both commercial and government verticals, as well as its global footprint.

A UK-headquartered company is pioneering last-mile logistics in space and has announced a strategic partnership with ArianeGroup for the provision of electric propulsion systems for its SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft. Effective Space, based in London, is preparing to deploy and operate a fleet of small SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft that will deliver, position, maintain, monitor and guarantee space assets in orbit and beyond.

PTScientists, the German company aiming to be the first private mission to land the Moon, has been selected as one of the commercial companies taking part in ESA’s innovative study to develop potential lunar missions that could make use of resources found on the Moon.

The UK is seriously considering the development of its own satellite navigation system as a reaction to the “adjustment” of UK involvement in the EU Galileo programme, post Brexit. A row has erupted between London and Brussels after the EU revealed that UK companies could potentially be prevented from having any more involvement in the programme which was initiated in the 1990s and into which the UK has already pumped 1.4 billion euros. In addition, it has been hinted by the EU that there could be trust issues with sharing sensitive information with the UK after Brexit is concluded.

Due for launch on May 5th from Vandenberg Air Force Base, the InSight Mission or Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport, is a Mars lander designed to give the deepest understanding yet of the ‘inner space’ of Mars including its crust, mantle and core.

The first ever Angolan satellite to be launched is no longer operational. Confirmation of the news came via a press conference in Luanda with the Angolan Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technologies, Jose Carvalho da Rocha.

The small satellite revolution is in full swing. It is on the menu at every conference. It is on our newsfeeds. It is the talk of the industry. The last couple of years have heralded a true breakthrough for the small satellite as news has poured in of new constellations in development and emerging operators looking to use small satellites to drive innovation and cater for emerging applications. With manufacturing prices tumbling and increasingly sophisticated technology and propulsion systems becoming reality for the smallsat, this is a phenomenon that is surely set for longevity. However, there is one rather large problem looming and that is the shortage of rides into space. Yes, you have a satellite but how do you find a vehicle to get it where it needs to go?

As part of its Arctic ambitions for its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China is teaming up with Finland to develop space-based Arctic monitoring and surveillance. The China Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced this week that China and Finland have signed an agreement to establish a joint research centre for Arctic space observation and data sharing services.

Algeria's ALCOMSAT-1 communications satellite is operational in its orbital slot four months after its launch from China. A handover ceremony was held earlier in April 2018 at the Algerian satellite control centre that will handle all ALCOMSAT-1 operations between Algerian officials and engineers and executives from China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) who built and launched the satellite.