Satellite

As previously reported in SpaceWatch.Global, South Korea has followed through on its threat to change the preferred bidder for its five-satellite reconnaissance constellation, tapping Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to lead the programme.

n order to compete with its main geopolitical rival, India, Pakistan is beginning to organise and expand its space resources. Pakistan is set to launch an ambitious space programme in the next fiscal year. Its primary goals include contending with Indian space developments. as well as reducing its own dependence on foreign satellites for civil and military purposes, according to med

After losing out to Space Systems Loral for the AMOS-8 Satellite, it is being reported that Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is likely to receive a satellite order from the Israeli government in a bid to save its satellite business, and adding to the woes of struggling Spacecom Satellite Communications, Ltd.

Nigeria's NigComSat and Turkey's Turksat have agreed to jointly carve out a share of the satellite communications market in Africa, where they will collaborate to ensure the deployment of satellite solutions.

Effective Space is poised to launch two spacecraft in 2020 that promise to transform our capabilities in space through in-orbit servicing. These SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft can extend the life of satellites that are reaching the end of their operational term, giving them a new lease of life, and enabling operators to continue bringing in revenues from their space assets long after they would originally have been decommissioned. This is true disruptive technology that will ultimately lead to many other avenues in the in-orbit servicing sector, and can help to tackle the critical challenges that the satellite industry faces such as how we deal with space debris. Helen Jameson, Editor-in-Chief, Spacewatch.Global, spoke to Daniel Campbell, UK Managing Director of Effective Space to get the lowdown on a company that is set to deliver unprecedented services to the space community.

Two NewSpace companies are set to leverage their synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and data analytics capabilities to help decision makers across the oil industry.

Yahsat has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a majority stake in the mobile satellite services operator Thuraya, also based in the UAE, subject to final pre-closing conditions being met. The acquisition of the UAE’s first home grown satellite operator, Thuraya, will significantly expand Yahsat’s current satellite solutions portfolio for both commercial and government verticals, as well as its global footprint.

A UK-headquartered company is pioneering last-mile logistics in space and has announced a strategic partnership with ArianeGroup for the provision of electric propulsion systems for its SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft. Effective Space, based in London, is preparing to deploy and operate a fleet of small SPACE DRONE™ spacecraft that will deliver, position, maintain, monitor and guarantee space assets in orbit and beyond.

The UK is seriously considering the development of its own satellite navigation system as a reaction to the “adjustment” of UK involvement in the EU Galileo programme, post Brexit. A row has erupted between London and Brussels after the EU revealed that UK companies could potentially be prevented from having any more involvement in the programme which was initiated in the 1990s and into which the UK has already pumped 1.4 billion euros. In addition, it has been hinted by the EU that there could be trust issues with sharing sensitive information with the UK after Brexit is concluded.

Due for launch on May 5th from Vandenberg Air Force Base, the InSight Mission or Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport, is a Mars lander designed to give the deepest understanding yet of the ‘inner space’ of Mars including its crust, mantle and core.