Satellite

The Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit – Satellite-6 (SBIRS GEO-6) formally transferred from Space Systems Command (SSC) to Space Operations Command (SpOC), on Friday, March 24, 2023.

OneWeb has announced the successful deployment and contact of 36 satellites that NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota, India. Lift-off took place on Sunday, 26 March 2023, at 9:00 am local time. Furthermore, OneWeb’s satellites separated successfully from the rocket and dispensed over nine phases over a period of 1 hour and 14 minutes. In addition, OneWeb also confirmed signal acquisition on all 36 satellites.

Isar Aerospace has announced the closing of its USD 165m (EUR 155m) Series C round, making it one of the largest SpaceTech financing rounds globally and one of the largest European DeepTech fundraises. 7-Industries Holding, Bayern Kapital via its Scale Up Fund Bavaria, Earlybird Venture Capital, HV Capital, Lakestar, Lombard Odier Investment Managers, Porsche Automobil Holding SE (Porsche SE), UVC Partners, and Vsquared Ventures all backed the round.

Thaicom Public Company Limited has announced a partnership agreement with Globalstar, Inc. to collaborate on establishing and operating Globalstar’s low-earth orbit satellite (LEO) ground facilities in Thailand and regional commercial service deployment, with a focus on personnel safety and management solutions for Thailand’s Tourism and Maritime industry.

Dawn Aerospace has received certification from the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA) for the imminent rocket-powered flight campaign of its Mk-II Aurora spaceplane. Mk-II Aurora's mission is to fly to space twice in a day and, in doing so, demonstrate that rocket-powered systems can be as reusable as commercial aircraft

In a bid for Europe, through the European Space Agency (ESA), to significantly increase its autonomy in human and robotic space exploration, a 12-person High-Level Advisory Group (HLAG) has presented an independent report on the state of European space exploration to the 315th session of the ESA Council at ESA Headquarters in Paris on 23 March 2023. The HLAG, which includes leaders across industry, Government, academia and civil society, came about in the summer of 2022 at the request of ESA’s Council.

Heron AirBridge has announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to join Inmarsat's Velaris Partner Network (VPN) to collaboratively develop regulatory and operational frameworks and technologies for the safe management of drones in urban environments and complex airspaces. The parties signed the MoU during Drone Asia 2023 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center. Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Transport, Sustainability and the Environment, also attended the signing event as the Guest of Honour.

The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has awarded six study contracts for commercial hyperspectral imagery (HSI). Companies receiving awards under NRO’s Strategic Commercial Enhancement’s (SCE) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Framework, include BlackSky Technology, HyperSat, Orbital Sidekick, Pixxel, Planet, and Xplore.

In light of Virgin Orbit's pause operations amidst financial uncertainties, the Launch Company will partly resume operations after nearing a $200 million deal with Venture capital firm Matthew Brown Companies. According to Reuters, the Texas-based company will prevent Virgin Orbit's rocket from bankruptcy via a private share placement. 

mu Space has reached an exclusive deal with OneWeb to provide Low Earth Orbit (LEO) connectivity solutions across mainland Southeast Asia including Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Malaysia this year. The deal aims to provide internet connectivity to underserved remote areas. With mu Space being a player in Mainland Southeast Asia's aerospace industry, the company intends to provide satellite internet connectivity to remote areas for both commercial and civil governmental use.