Earth observation

ESA announced the development of the World Settlement Footprint in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Google Earth Engine team, aimed to improve the understanding of trends in global urbanisation. This will be the world’s most comprehensive dataset on human settlement, ESA said.

HawkEye 360 receives additional funding of $145 million from Insight Partners and Seraphim Space, the space data company said. The series D round was led by New York-based global private equity and venture capital firm Insight Partners and Seraphim Space Investment Trust, the world’s first listed space tech fund, HawkEye said.

The Earth imaging company Planet acquires the Haarlem/ Netherlands based ag data specialist VanderSat, Planet said. Planet acquires VanderSat, a leading provider of advanced earth data and analytics, for approximately $28 million, in a mix between $18 million in Planet Labs PBC shares and $10 million in cash, the company said. 

Yahsat Government Solutions and G42 Space Program want to work together to deliver AI-enabled remote sensing services to customers, G42 announced. Under the agreement, satellite company Yahsat will make use of G42’s artificial intelligence, cloud computing and analytics capabilities.

During this week’s SpaceCafé, SpaceWatch.Global Publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Lausanne-based Co-Founder and General Manager of Space4Impact, Dr Gaetan Petit. A new-starter in the space game and with an education in neuroscience, Gaetan completed his undergraduate and masters degrees at the University of Lausanne and Harvard, and a doctorate at ETH Zurich,

The space tech company Redwire acquired the biotech company Techshot, specialized on microgravity, bioprinting, and on-orbit manufacturing for commercial space-based research and development. This acquisition aligns with Redwire's growth strategy to leverage strategic investments to scale in-space manufacturing in LEO which will directly impact the sustainability of future human spaceflight

ESA and GHGSat announced at COP26 that they were to support the United Nations Environment Programme’s new International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO). Methane has more than 80 times the warming effect of carbon dioxide. Therefore, reducing emissions of this gas is one of the fastest ways to slow down the rate of global warming.

As part of the partnership between SpaceWatch.Global and Orbital Gateway Consulting we have been granted permission to publish selected articles and texts. We are pleased to present “Dongfang Hour China Aerospace News Roundup 25-31 October 2021”. Hello and welcome to another episode of the Dongfang Hour China Aero/Space News Roundup! A special shout-out to our friends at SpaceWatch.Global,

Three new directors, two more women on board: the European Space Agency (ESA) has appointed Géraldine Naja, Simonetta Cheli, and Francisco-Javier Benedicto Ruiz as new directors at its helm, the agency said. Géraldine Naja has been appointed to the new position of Director of Commercialisation, Industry and Procurement (D/CIP), based at ESA Headquarters in Paris as of 1 November 2021.

The UAE Space Agency announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Israel Space Agency to intensify cooperation in scientific research, space exploration and knowledge transfer. The agreement aims to accelerate economic growth and human progress.