Earth observation

Synspective and Insight Terra have entered into a strategic partnership to deliver a new space-enabled data and monitoring solution for the mining industry. The solution uses satellites and earth observation, and ground sensors to monitor mine tailings facilities.

Galactic Energy, a rocket startup in China, launched five satellites into orbit on Monday, January 9, improving the private company’s ambition to become the Chinese rival to SpaceX.

Capella Space, an American space technology company with data and satellite solutions for government and commercial applications, announced $60 million in growth equity financing in a follow-on to their Series C funding round through Thomas Tull’s US Innovation Technology Fund (USIT). Capella Space is one of the first companies to close financing through Tull’s USIT Fund, bringing the company’s total funding to approximately $250M.

Rocket Factory Augsburg AG (RFA) and SaxaVord Spaceport have announced their launch operations partnership. As a result of the partnership, RFA will have exclusive access to Launch Pad Fredo for orbital launches. Consequently, the company’s first launch of its RFA ONE launch system – currently planned for the end of 2023 – will take place from the northernmost point in the UK.

Commercial near-Earth orbit monitoring service provider, NorthStar Earth & Space, signed an agreement with Japanese microsatellite company Axelspace, to use existing space-based sensors to contribute to NorthStar’s more comprehensive coverage of the space domain. The collaboration will leverage Axelspace’s operational AxelGlobe constellation of five Earth observation low Earth orbit satellites to provide complementary Space Situational Awareness (SSA) data.

A new NASA radiometer is now in low Earth orbit, paving the way for future satellite constellations dedicated to measuring infrared energy radiating from Earth’s surface. With development happening at Leonardo DRS with support from NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office, the SpaceX Transporter 6 launched the Multiband Uncooled Radiometer Imager (MURI) instrument on Tuesday, January 3, as one of several hosted payloads within Loft Orbital’s YAM5 washing machine-sized satellite.

Euroconsult has released the 9th edition of its annual space market overview to cover the past 12 months and forecast the next 10 years for the industry. The report charts highs that contributed to the continued growth of many aspects of the commercial sector, together with the ongoing challenges of the world geopolitical and world economic environment.

AXESS Networks and Es’hailSat have announced a Strategic Partnership Agreement to provide Teleport and VSAT services for multiple sectors in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. AXESS Networks offers teleport and satellite communications services globally to customers in various industries, including oil & gas, mining, maritime, telco, corporate, government and NGOs. In the same vein, Es’hailSat operates two GEO satellites and a state-of-the-art teleport in Doha, from where it provides independent, high-quality, advanced satellite services in the region.

Sony has adopted Pale Blue's water thruster for its new nanosatellite program, STAR SPHERE. The water thruster will prolong the satellite’s life by 2.5 years with the ability to enter and keep the orbit at 500-600 km altitude. Furthermore, Pale Blue will conduct its first space demonstration at the end of January 2023.

Viasat Inc, a global leader in satellite communications, has completed the sale of its Link 16 Tactical Data Links (TDL) business to L3Harris Technologies for approximately $1.96 billion in cash. Viasat expects the net proceeds from the sale to be approximately $1.8 billion after estimated taxes, fees, and other expenses. Furthermore, Viasat intends to use the proceeds to reduce net leverage and increase liquidity.