Satellite

The European Space Agency-built (ESA) Ariane 6 heavy-lift launch system’s inaugural flight is only to be expected by Q4 2023 instead of the original plan of early 2023, ESA said. Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s Director General stressed however, that this was merely a planned date, which might have to be amended. Several key milestones will have to be achieved is a timely manner, for it to become reality, he added.

Space-powered Radio Frequency Reconnaissance Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) and Mission-as-a-Service (MaaS) provider Kleos Space, has been awarded a contract from the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) as part of the Strategic Commercial Enhancements Broad Agency Announcement (SCE BAA) Framework, Kleos said.

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.

Our Space Café WebTalk “33 minutes with Dennis Stone about the World Space Week 2022: An insight into space and sustainability” took place on Tuesday, 4th October. Dennis is a volunteer president of the World Space Week Association, the global coordinator of the UN-declared World Space Week

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

Global network company Rivada Space Networks, has signed a partnership agreement with quantum-secure communications systems provider SpeQtral to advance secure, global connectivity for governments and enterprises, Rivada said. Quantum-secure communications systems like Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology are crucial for secure, satellite-enabled connectivity networks.

French startup Share My Space, won a contract to provide real-time space traffic mapping for the first three flights of Isar Aerospace’s launch vehicle Spectrum, Share My Space said. The first test flight of the Spectrum launch vehicle is planned for 2023.  Isar Aerospace chose Share My Space over other solutions as its optical sensors allow for great flexibility and real autonomy.

Laser communications products provider Mynaric, has been chosen to provide Northrop Grumman with optical communications terminals for 14 satellites as part of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 1 Tracking Layer program, Mynarix said. 

UK-based spaceflight company Orbex, has secured a US $45.53 million funding in a Series C funding round, led by a new investor, the Scottish National Investment Bank, Orbex said. The company will use the financing to scale up its resources ahead of its first vertical launch from UK soil.

Astra, an American launch vehicle company, is celebrating cumulative committed orders for more than 200 engines and two complete programs of Astra Spacecraft Engines, already delivered.