Government

As part of the partnership between SpaceWatch.Global and the European Space Policy Institute, we have been granted permission to publish selected articles and briefs. This is ESPI Briefs No. 29: ‘Perspectives on a European Space Council’, originally published in February 2019. 1. Proposal for a European Space Council On January 22nd 2019, …

France’s Minister of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation Frédérique Vidal and China’s Minister for Science and Technology Wang Zhigang hosted the 14th French-Chinese joint science and technology committee in Beijing on 25 February 2019. Participants included Centre national d’études spatiales (CNES) President Jean-Yves Le Gall, Centre national de la recherche …

The Australian Space Agency and iconic Goonhilly Earth Station have formed a strategic partnership that will see the creation of new opportunities in UK and Australian space industries and the wider world. The agreement will result in the further progress of the Australian space industry, making it more accessible to …

A revolutionary and world-first approach to space imaging led by Western Sydney University’s International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems (ICNS) will be demonstrated for the first time publicly at this year’s Avalon Airshow. The Astrosite, a mobile space situational awareness (SSA) module, is set to have game-changing impacts on a number …

Airbus and Japanese telecommunications satellite operator SKY Perfect JSAT have signed a cooperation agreement for the design preparation of the EDRS-D node. This third communication node of the SpaceDataHighway system is to be positioned over the Asia-Pacific region before 2025. EDRS-D will lead to a significant increase in the system’s …

Egypt’s latest high-resolution Earth observation satellite, EGYPTSAT-A, was successfully launched on board a Soyuz launch vehicle with a Fregat upper stage from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan late on 21 February 2019. While EGYPTSAT-A was eventually placed in its intended orbit at 650 kilometres altitude, there were reportedly some issues …

By Blaine Curcio and Tianyi Lan Many would correctly say that much of the innovation in the Western space industry over the past decade has occurred because of the private sector. While billionaires such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos get a disproportionate share of media coverage, there are dozens …

SES Networks’ managed services will boost connectivity for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) services of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) provided to EU Member States and Agencies. These maritime surveillance activities supported by SES Networks are aimed at improving maritime security and safety operations, as well as response to …

Affordable worldwide internet coverage is one step closer as of 18 February 2019, after 18 million pounds (U.S.$23.2 million) of UK Space Agency funding was awarded to OneWeb through the European Space Agency (ESA), to aid the development of its next generation satellite constellation. A global communications network in space, …

Yahsat, the UAE’s leading global satellite operator, together with Thuraya, the mobile satellite services subsidiary of Yahsat, are displaying the latest government and military satellite communication technologies at this year’s International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, 17-21 February 2019. During the five-day exhibition, Yahsat Government …