Space

In this Space Café Radio - SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Dr. Timo Stuffler,   Director of Business Development and Exploration at OHB SE, about their exploration heritage and ambitions in the space exploration sector. We spoke with Timo during the 2022 ILA Berlin, which is the largest aerospace trade show in Germany which took place this year June 22 - 26.

SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) has unveiled the first four projects under the SmartSat Victoria Node – representing an AU$1.1 million investment which takes the total investment to date by SmartSat Nodes and State governments to over AU$10 million.

The Government of Luxembourg has unveiled its intent to leverage SES’s high-performance, second-generation Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) system – O3b mPOWER, as a critical resilient satcom infrastructure for Luxembourg, its partners and NATO in the areas of defense and security, disaster recovery and more.

Astroscale Holdings Inc., has closed a Series G round with more than U.S. $76 million in funding from new investors Mitsubishi Electric, Yusaku Maezawa, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, Mitsubishi Corporation, Development Bank of Japan, and FEL Corporation. 

IENAI SPACE, an in-space mobility provider based in Madrid, Spain, has received two European Space Agency (ESA) contracts within the General Support Technology Program (GSTP), with a total budget of EUR 1.2 million. The contracts will allow the Company to mature and further develop their ATHENA (Adaptable THruster based on Electrospray powered by NAnotechnology) propulsion systems, a prototype version of the propulsion system flew aboard Firefly’s first flight to orbit in October 2022.

2023 is a pivotal year for European space domain. With several challenges knocking at its doors -among others, the necessity to sever itself from Russia and to defend its communication assets, and the lack of a heavy rocket launcher -which makes the Union dependent on the American SpaceX for constellation launches- the discussion on how and where Europe should strategically invest to remain in the game is of pivotal relevance. The debate often focuses on the amount of funding available and the magnitude of difference between Europe and the US. However, this might be an incomplete way to look at the picture. What if there are smarter ways to be independent and competitive, even with a smaller budget?

BeetleSat has announced the successful deployment of its lightweight, very-high data rate, expandable antenna in space. The in-orbit deployment of BeetleSat’s 60 cm expandable antenna from a 6U CubeSat is a significant milestone in the development of the BeetleSat constellation and proves the viability of its proprietary technology, according to Business Wire. 

CisLunar Industries alongside partners Astroscale U.S., Colorado State University, and another yet to be named, have been awarded a $1.7M Direct-to-Phase II SBIR contract by SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force (USSF). 

United Launch Alliance (ULA) has set May 4 for the maiden launch of its Vulcan rocket. The flight will launch Astrobotic Technology’s Peregrine spacecraft to land on the Moon as well as two other payloads.

Bayanat, a AI-powered geospatial solutions provider, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AI Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), the UAE’s flagship satellite solutions provider listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, to develop an in-country space programme.