Policy and Law

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), the UAE’s flagship satellite solutions provider, will present its innovative space technologies at the upcoming COP28 in Dubai. One of the conference's primary aims is to address the challenges of global climate change. Yahsat is already working closely with various UAE Government entities and international organisations, including the United Nations. The company also actively commits to providing advanced, affordable, resilient, and reliable solutions that will address the challenges of global climate change. 

In this interview, Jean-Marc Piéplu, the EGNOS Exploitation Program Manager at the European GNSS Agency, discusses the role of EU Spine Operating Galileo and EGNOS within the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service. Editor in Chief Emma Gatti and Jean Marc discussed how the European GNSS Service Centre and the Galileo Reference Centres contribute to the provision of the Galileo Service, and the services provided by EUSPA.

Space Systems Command (SSC) has awarded a Command-and-Control System Consolidated (CCS-C) Sustainment and Resiliency (C-SAR) contract to Kratos Defense and Security Solutions to provide U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command satellite control capabilities and directly support the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) III, Milstar Satellite Communications System, Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF), and Wideband Global Satellite (WGS) satellite systems.

Satellogic Inc. has received a remote sensing license from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”) as part of Satellogic’s strategy to capitalize on high-value opportunities in the U.S. The license results in Satellogic being subject to NOAA’s oversight as Satellogic pivots operational control of its satellite constellation to its U.S. personnel and expands the Satellogic ground station network to include U.S.-based ground stations. Furthermore, The license followed a NOAA and inter-agency review of the Satellogic constellation assessing national security, foreign policy, and U.S. international risks and obligations.

The European Space Agency has announced the successful hot-fire test of the Ariane-6 rocket, passing a major full-scale rehearsal in preparation for its first flight. The teams on the ground went through a complete launch countdown followed by a seven-minute full firing of the core stage’s engine, as it would fire on a launch into space. The trial, using a test model on the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, was the longest ‘full-stack' run yet for Ariane 6’s lower liquid propulsion module with a Vulcain 2.1 engine.

In this Space Café Radio - SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Richard Lochhead, Member of the Scottish Parliament and Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade just before the Space Tech Expo Europe in Bremen. Torsten and Minister Lochhead spoke about the space industry in Scotland. Mr Lochhead highlights the rapid growth and impact of the space sector in Scotland, particularly in manufacturing small satellites. He mentions the presence of companies like Spire, AAC Clyde Space, and Mangata, which contribute to Scotland's reputation as a satellite manufacturing hub.

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Government of Japan, in cooperation with the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech), are providing opportunities for students from developing countries to study nano-satellite development. As a result, the Post-graduate Study on Nano-Satellite Technologies (PNST) Fellowship Program is making three slots in the Master Programme and three slots in the Doctoral Programme available. The program will also cover tuition fees and provide a stipend to cover living expenses. As a result, students are invited to submit their applications by 5 January 2024 and follow in the footsteps of more than 60 graduates over the years.

The United Arab Emirates, represented by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), is hosting the 2023 edition of the World Radio Conference in the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The conference began yesterday, Monday, November 20 and will continue till 15 December 2023. The conference holds every three to four years to review and, if necessary, revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite and non-geostationary-satellite orbits.

SpaceX has conducted the second test of its Starship Rocket to launch it into Space in an attempt to evaluate the spacecraft's ability. The Spacecraft lifted off successfully but the rocket's Super Heavy first stage booster exploded in a fireball over the Gulf of Mexico after crucially maneuvering to separate with its core Starship stage. Despite the booster's explosion, Starship continued its trip to space - crossing the 100km mark - until a SpaceX company broadcaster confirmed that mission control suddenly lost contact with the vehicle.

“Strategic Autonomy“is a bit like “Diversity”: you can keep repeating all day that mantra for space access, but that alone doesn’t make it happen. How much of a game changer  was the early November 2023 European Space Summit in Séville?