Earth observation

ICEYE, a provider of natural catastrophe solutions and insights, has provided crucial flood insights over the past several months to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The company delivered its rapid flood extent and depth information through its partnership with New Light Technologies (NLT) and Bana Solutions (Bana).

Kongsberg NanoAvionics has announced a multi-million investment plan to support and accelerate its goal of becoming the prime supplier for small satellite constellations globally. As a result of the recent acquisition by Kongsberg and part of its growth plan, the company seeks to significantly grow its production capacity over the next two years. Likewise, it intends to ramp up its research and development (R&D) program.

Airbus´ High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) Connectivity Business has signed a strategic partnership with Salam as the last batch of Airbus' Pléiades Neo satellites arrives at the European Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, following a transatlantic flight from Toulouse, France.

Myriota, a secure, low-power satellite connectivity for the Internet of Things (IoT) company, has announced an agreement with ISILAUNCH to send Kanyini into orbit. This will kickstart its ambitious mission to help take care of people and the planet. Under the Launch Services Agreement, Myriota has booked a spot for South Australia’s home-grown satellite to launch on a SpaceX Transporter mission in 2023.

The space sector has completely changed in the past few years. France is now the driving force behind the European space sector (albeit more for its purposes rather than for shared European goals), and Germany, apparently distracted by national rearmament, is still determined to defend its ambitions, so as not to completely leave the ground to Paris. In the face of all this, what is Italy’s position? Further apart, it appears.

SSC has disclosed an agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) for data reception support of the Biomass satellite scheduled for launch in late 2023 to explore and gather vital data about the Earth’s forests.

Zimbabwe and Uganda are preparing to launch their respective first satellites into space on 6 November 2022. The satellites, ZimSat-1, and PearlAfricaSat-1 are launching into space as part of the BIRDS-5 constellation which also includes a 2U CubeSat from Japan

In this week’s Space Café Brazil, Ian Grosner talked with Lucas Fonseca, a Brazilian Space System Engineering. Lucas Fonseca has a BSc. in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, and an MSc. in Space System Engineering from the Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space (Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace) in Toulouse, France.

The very existence of human life on earth today is dependent on space-based services. From banking and money transfers to streaming online content and using maps, the internet and other technological capabilities are being widely used by everyone across the world. From the individual level to the international level, space-based services play a crucial role. However, there are still many challenges and threats within the space domain, that need to be addressed at the national, regional, and global levels. All these imply the fact that space is both a competent and vulnerable domain in the contemporary world.

After the landslide adoption of the position on the Secure Connectivity Program in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), the Rapporteur Grudler (Renew) and Shadow Rapporteurs Salini (EPP), Hristov (S&D), Nienab (Greens/EFA) and Tosenovsky (ECR) are now ready for a swift negotiation regarding this new Program.