SpaceTalks 4.0 - 2024

Positioning Navigation and Timing

Iridium Acquires Satelles to Expand Reach in PNT Market

Iridium

Iridium Communications Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire Satelles, Inc., a provider of satellite-based time and location services (STL) that complement and protect GPS and other GNSS-reliant systems. This acquisition continues Iridium's philosophy of investing in differentiating technologies uniquely suited to its network that significantly outperform competing solutions. STL will consequently become a new business line of Iridium, led by Satelles CEO Dr. Michael O'Connor, who will report to Iridium CEO Matt Desch. 

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Viasat Demonstrates UK Sovereign Satellite Navigation Overlay

Viasat

Viasat, Inc. has demonstrated a UK satellite-based augmentation system (UK SBAS) for the first time, showing how highly accurate GPS data can maximize safety and improve efficiency. The test flight, from Cranfield Airport using the National Flying Laboratory Centre's Saab 340B aircraft showcased a UK-based SBAS that delivers more precise, reliable navigation data.

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Space Cafè Radio – Es’hailSat ep. 1 Mr. Hamad Al-Mannai

Hamad Al-Mannai, the Vice President of Commercial at Es'hailSat, shares the company's story and its achievements in a conversation with Emma, the Editor in Chief of SpaceWatch Global. The company was founded in 2010 with the aim to provide Qatar with independent satellite capabilities and contribute to Qatar's National Vision 2030.

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Airbus Begins Galileo Second Generation Satellite Production

Full production has begun on the six Galileo Second Generation (G2) satellites at Airbus’ site in Friedrichshafen, Germany, with the arrival of the first satellite Flight Model structure from Beyond Gravity in Zurich. After initial preparation, the panels will travel to other Airbus sites before final integration and testing at Friedrichshafen. Furthermore, the Galileo G2 satellites are scheduled for launch in the coming years to support the initial deployment and validation of the G2 System.

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Space Café Radio – The sins of Ariane – with Prof. Patrizia Caraveo

In this latest episode of Space Café Radio, our editor in chief Emma Gatti converses with guest Patrizia Caraveo, research director at the Italian Institute of Astrophysics (INAF) about Europe’s challenges within the space industry. The conversation revolves around the recent news of the EU commissioning the launch of part …

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Hisdesat Partners NATO for Uncrewed Maritime Exercise

Hisdesat, the Spanish governmental satellite services provider of defense, security and intelligence, has provided secure satellite communications for the Dynamic Messenger-23 exercise, an annual NATO exercise that aims to assess the ability of allied naval forces to integrate unmanned systems in maritime operations.

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Hisdesat Announces Date of Launch of first SpainSat NG satellite

Hisdesat

Hisdesat, the Spanish Government satellite operator, has announced that the first satellite in the SPAINSAT NG program, SpainSat NG-I, will be ready for launch in the summer of 2024 after confirming that the program is making good progress. Space X will be responsible for launching the Spanish satellite into orbit with a Falcon 9 launcher from its base at Cape Canaveral or from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

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Spire Global Win ESA Contract for Surveillance System

Spire

The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded Spire Global a €16 million phased contract for the EURIALO project. The project will develop the preliminary design and demonstrator for a global space-based independent aircraft surveillance system. It is part of ESA’s program of Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) in its Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications.

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Our Space Café “33 minutes with Josef Aschbacher  – European Space Ambitions – ESA Agenda 2025, updates and goals”

Our Space Café “33 minutes with Josef Aschbacher  – European Space Ambitions – ESA Agenda 2025, updates and goals” took place on the 7th July 2023. Josef Aschbacher earned both his Master’s degree and PhD in natural sciences from the University of Innsbruck. His impressive international career in the space sector spans over 35 years and encompasses work at the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission, the Austrian Space Agency, the Asian Institute of Technology, and the University of Innsbruck. 

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MDA and Thoth Technology Create Canadian SDA Capability

MDA

MDA Ltd has announced it is working with Thoth Technology Inc. to create a made-in-Canada deep space radar surveillance and space domain awareness (SDA) capability. As part of a strategic cooperation agreement, MDA will integrate its commercial data services with Thoth's ground-based radar technology to provide unprecedented levels of sovereign monitoring in deep space over Canada, providing both detection and characterization of space objects.

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