https://spacewatch.global/tag/laurent-jaffart/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Wed, 06 May 2026 07:21:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/laurent-jaffart/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/05/swissto12-partners-with-hps-lss-to-develop-antenna-reflector-for-a-commercial-geo-telecommunications-satellite/ Wed, 06 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73630 SWISSto12 has announced a major contract with German high-performance space subsystem providers HPS/LSS to enable the world’s first direct-to-device media broadcasting capabilities from geostationary orbit. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/04/esa-contracts-kepler-led-consortium-for-the-third-phase-of-the-hydron-laser-communications-project/ Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73164 ESA has awarded Kepler €18.6 million to lead the next phase of HydRON, its high-throughput laser communications network for satellite constellations.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/04/astrolight-joins-kepler-led-team-on-esas-hydron-optical-communication-network-project/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:29:58 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73014 Kepler Communications is leading a group of industry partners, including Astrolight, on a multimillion-euro contract under the European Space Agency’s High-throughput Optical Network (HydRON) project to develop HydRON’s user-terminal segment, known as Element 3. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/03/ssc-spaces-new-optical-ground-station-in-chile-part-of-esas-scylight-program-is-ready-for-operations/ Wed, 11 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=71882 SSC Space has announced that its new Optical Ground Station at its Santiago site is now ready for operations, following the Ground Station's successful installation and acceptance testing. The new station is part of SSC Space's optical service development project NODES, within the European Space Agency’s ScyLight program.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/03/mynaric-wins-esa-contract-to-develop-optical-communications-technology-for-hydron-project/ Thu, 05 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=71697 The European Space Agency has awarded Mynaric with a contract to build a laser communications Demonstration System for its High Throughput Optical Network (HydRON) project. The HydRON project aims to bolster the resilience of European communications infrastructure by deploying a high capacity, secure and interoperable optical data relay network across low and medium Earth orbits. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/02/spacewatchgl-opinion-stop-hugging-start-communicating-europes-space-autonomy-debate-at-msc-2026/ Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=71378
Written by Torsten Kriening
The 62nd Munich Security Conference has quietly become the place where European space policy gets real. Not the kind of reality you get at space industry conferences, where everyone agrees that space is important and then goes back to their national corners. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/02/esa-appoints-laurent-jaffart-as-director-of-its-new-resilience-navigation-and-connectivity-directorate/ Mon, 02 Feb 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70847 The European Space Agency Council has approved the reassignment of Laurent Jaffart, currently Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications to the newly created position of Director of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity Directorate, which will take effect from 1 February 2026. n this new role, Jaffart will subsequently help establish a clear design authority within ESA, crucial for the success of the European Resilience from Space (ERS) program. and for the timely development of essential security and defense technologies.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/orbit-fab-to-lead-esa-funded-consortium-in-delivering-astral-in-orbit-refueling-project/ Mon, 24 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69158 Orbit Fab has won a UK Space Agency and European Space Agency contract to deliver the Advancing Satcom Technology with Refueling and Logistics (ASTRAL) project. ASTRAL involves an in-orbit experiment by 2028 to de-risk and validate Orbit Fab’s RAFTI™ and GRASP refueling interfaces in a realistic docking and propellant-transfer scenario. The mission will establish the performance of these systems in its operational environment– a crucial step in proving the viability of sustainable satellite servicing and refueling. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/astrolight-and-esa-are-building-an-arctic-region-optical-ground-station-in-greenland/ Wed, 12 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68946 Astrolight has begun building an Optical Ground Station in Greenland, in partnership with ESA's Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications. The new facility, expected to be completed by the end of 2026, will serve as a crucial node between satellites orbiting Earth’s polar region and ground-based data networks. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/10/aschbacher-presents-european-resilience-from-space-program-in-brussels/ Thu, 30 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68656 ESA DG Josef Aschbacher has presented the European Resilience from Space program, a new optional program that will be open for subscriptions from Member States at November's ESA Ministerial Council. Aschbacher made the announcement during the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI)-organized Space for European Resilience conference in Brussels.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/10/esa-signs-contract-on-saga-mission-for-european-quantum-key-distribution-capability/ Thu, 02 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68093 ESA's and the Thales Alenia Space-led Security And cryptoGrAphic (SAGA) mission has entered the system definition and preliminary design phase (Phase B2), marking the beginning of the development of the first quantum key sharing mission designed for European governments. With Thales Alenia Space leading the consortium to design the mission, SAGA aims to design, develop and demonstrate how space-based quantum key distribution (QKD) services can bring a new level of security for Europe. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/06/astroscales-elsa-m-spacecraft-completes-critical-design-review-to-launch-in-2026/ Wed, 04 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=65616 Astroscale UK has successfully completed the Critical Design Review for the ELSA-M In-Orbit Demonstration spacecraft. Set to launch in 2026, ELSA-M will be the world’s first commercial end-of-life service for prepared satellites. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/05/cto-and-esa-collaborate-on-european-space-based-5g-connectivity/ Tue, 27 May 2025 06:00:56 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=65488 Constellation Technologies & Operations (CTO) has signed a memorandum of intent with ESA to conduct joint experiments in LEO. These tests will focus on the “Early Test”, the first regenerative payload operating in the 5G mmWave band, onboard a satellite scheduled for launch in June 2025.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/03/esa-and-itu-sign-agreement-on-optimizing-satellite-communications/ Thu, 06 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=64284 ITU and ESA have announced a collaborative effort to improve mitigation measures against harmful interference in satellite systems. Both organizations signed an agreement on 4 March in Barcelona, Spain, formalizing their plans for closer cooperation on key issues for global digital communications.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/10/esa-launches-moonlight-program-for-lunar-infrastructure/ Thu, 17 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=61744 ESA has launched its Moonlight program, an initiative to create a satellite constellation orbiting the Moon for communications and navigation services. With over 400 planned lunar missions by space agencies and private companies in the next two decades, this program marks a significant step towards sustainable lunar exploration and the development of a lunar economy.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/12/esa-council-appoints-two-new-directors/ Fri, 15 Dec 2023 07:00:41 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=52846 The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced the appointment of two new Directors by its 22 Member States at its council meeting. As a result, Laurent Jaffart will become the next Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications, and Marco Ferrazzani will become the next Director of Internal Services.]]>