Earth observation

Reflex Aerospace, a Munich and Berlin-based startup specializing in the design and manufacture of advanced satellites, has signed Media Broadcast Satellite (MBS) as its first commercial customer. This strategic partnership will leverage Reflex’s satellite manufacturing expertise to support MBS in delivering cutting-edge space technology. Furthermore, the launch is tentatively in 2024 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marking a significant milestone in achieving both companies’ ambitious goals.

Finnish Earth observation Company Kuva Space has received a five-year commercial contract worth €5M from the European Space Agency (ESA) to be the world’s sole provider of hyperspectral data services for the European Commission’s Copernicus Contributing Missions (CCM) program. As a result, Kuva Space will demonstrate its technological capabilities to monitor farming and aquaculture crops, forests, methane release, and harmful algae blooms in seas and coastal areas.

OroraTech has signed a multi-million contract with the European Space Agency to deliver data to the European Union as part of the Copernicus Contributing Mission (CCM). Leveraging its recently launched in-orbit thermal sensor network, OroraTech will contribute vital data to critical sectors such as emergency services, climate change analysis, marine management, and land management.

EnduroSat`s Balkan Constellation will join the European Union (EU) and the European Space Agency (ESA)'s Copernicus Contributing missions after its selection. The selection happened in the presence of Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market of the European Union, and Dr. Joseph Aschbacher, ESA DG. 

Space Café Austria provided valuable insights into the world of satellite Earth observation technology. Hosted by Sabine, CEO of WEME Global, and featuring Christoph Aubrecht, Manager of Global Development Assistance at the European Space Agency (ESA), the podcast discussed the ESA's crucial role in supporting organizations like the World Bank and Asia Development Bank in implementing satellite technology to address real-life challenges.

In a captivating interview with James Slifierz, Co-founder and CEO of SkyWatch, Dr. Jessica West delved into the rapidly growing world of commercial Earth observation (EO). The conversation shed light on the innovative role of SkyWatch’s software platforms in making accessible and useable the vast amounts of commercial EO data to individual and organizational users around the world – on demand – emphasizing the transformative potential of Earth observation data.

Terran Orbital Corporation has announced final launch preparations for the RUNNER-1 satellite. The satellite launch aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-8 rideshare mission from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA.

The Satellite Applications Catapult and Open Cosmos have signed an agreement to build and launch a key demonstration satellite to join the Open Cosmos OpenConstellation. As a result, the satellite will launch as early as Q1 2024. 

A new partnership was announced on the 7th of June between the Satellite Applications Catapult and GHGSat, a satellite-based and aerial remote sensing technology and emission data provider, to provide satellite data on domestic and international methane emissions for R&D in the UK. 

Arianespace has announced the signature of a launch contract for the Earth observation satellite Kompsat-6 (KOrean Multi-Purpose SATellite-6) for the Korean Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). The launch company will subsequently deliver the satellite to orbit with the European light launcher Vega C from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana in December 2024.