Satellite Launch Business

Viasat Inc., a global communications company, has announced the successful launch of ViaSat-3 Americas aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

ThrustMe , a French deep tech company, announced on the 17th of April that their NPT30-I2 iodine fueled electric propulsion system as part of the NorSat-TD satellite was successfully launched. ThrustMe designs miniaturized aerospace thrusters for small satellites, increasing the life of satellites and making them more affordable. The Norwegian Space Agency’s NorSat-TD satellite was onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. 

Andre-Hubert Roussel will step down as CEO of ArianeGroup- a French aerospace joint venture between Airbus and Safran - French newspaper La Tribune reported on the 30th of March. ArianeGroup lost nearly a quarter of its turnover in 2022, this is largely due to the Russian-Ukrainian war and delays in Ariane 6 - which could be postponed until the first half of 2024.

OneWeb has announced the successful deployment and contact of 36 satellites that NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota, India. Lift-off took place on Sunday, 26 March 2023, at 9:00 am local time. Furthermore, OneWeb’s satellites separated successfully from the rocket and dispensed over nine phases over a period of 1 hour and 14 minutes. In addition, OneWeb also confirmed signal acquisition on all 36 satellites.

Isar Aerospace has announced the closing of its USD 165m (EUR 155m) Series C round, making it one of the largest SpaceTech financing rounds globally and one of the largest European DeepTech fundraises. 7-Industries Holding, Bayern Kapital via its Scale Up Fund Bavaria, Earlybird Venture Capital, HV Capital, Lakestar, Lombard Odier Investment Managers, Porsche Automobil Holding SE (Porsche SE), UVC Partners, and Vsquared Ventures all backed the round.

In a bid for Europe, through the European Space Agency (ESA), to significantly increase its autonomy in human and robotic space exploration, a 12-person High-Level Advisory Group (HLAG) has presented an independent report on the state of European space exploration to the 315th session of the ESA Council at ESA Headquarters in Paris on 23 March 2023. The HLAG, which includes leaders across industry, Government, academia and civil society, came about in the summer of 2022 at the request of ESA’s Council.

In light of Virgin Orbit's pause operations amidst financial uncertainties, the Launch Company will partly resume operations after nearing a $200 million deal with Venture capital firm Matthew Brown Companies. According to Reuters, the Texas-based company will prevent Virgin Orbit's rocket from bankruptcy via a private share placement. 

Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., and Astraius Ltd. have announced a collaboration to enhance future satellite launch capabilities from Prestwick Spaceport. During a visit to the Spaceport by Scottish Government Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism, and Enterprise, Ivan McKee, the companies commemorated the announcement with a signing ceremony.

Two C-band Northrop Grumman Corporation satellites have successfully launched. The launch will enable SES to achieve another milestone of the Federal Communications Commission’s program to clear C-band spectrum to enable wireless operators to deploy 5G services across the U.S. (CONUS) and to continue delivering uninterrupted TV, radio, and critical data transmission services to millions of Americans.

In this  Space Café Radio - SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Andreas Lindenthal, Head of Business Operations & Products at Airbus Space Systems, about his personal views of the Munich Security Conference in February 2023. We also spoke about "Zeitenwende" in Space and where Germany and Europe stand.