The Canadian Department of National Defence has awarded a C$15 million (U.S.$11.43 million) contract to Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) for development of multipurpose microsatellites to support Arctic surveillance. Upon successful completion and testing of the prototype, two additional microsatellites will be built to create a small formation.
Read More »Egypt Receives $72 Million Grant From China For EgyptSat-2 Project
China has agreed to grant U.S.$72 million for the EgyptSat-2 Earth observation satellite programme under a contract signed on 21 January 2019.
Read More »European Military Space: European Union Commissioner Calls For European Space Force Discussion
Some unnamed European Union member states are discussing the possibility of creating a European space force according to Elzbieta Bienkowska, the European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, and Entrepreneurship and who is also in charge of EU space policy.
Read More »Indian Military Space: ISRO Launches MicroSat-R Imaging Satellite For DRDO
A military Earth observation satellite made by several laboratories within India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and called MicroSat-R was launched on board an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on 24 January 2019 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.
Read More »UK Space Agency To Provide Satellite Data For Mexican Agricultural Development
SIAP, the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food - part of the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture (SAGARPA) - has signed a declaration of intent with the UK Space Agency to provide historic, statistical and satellite data to support Rezatec's development of a crop yield optimisation tool for Mexican farmers and other supply chain stakeholders.
Read More »Iran’s President Rouhani Claims Indigenous Satellite Launch To Happen “In The Coming Weeks”
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani struck a defiant note on 11 January 2019 when he countered the U.S. threat of consequences should his government carry out the launch of two satellites using an Iranian satellite launch vehicle.
Read More »Japan Reaches Out To Allies For Satellite Reconnaissance And Intelligence Cooperation
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has visited London and Paris as part of an effort to strengthen Tokyo's ties with Western intelligence in order to counter increasing Chinese military and espionage activities throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Read More »Danish University Uses Satellite Imagery To Map Global Poverty
How far have we come in achieving the UN's sustainable development goals that we are committed to nationally and internationally? Yes, it can be difficult to make a global assessment of poverty and poor economic conditions, but with an eye in the sky, researchers are able to give us a very good hint of the living conditions of populations in the world's poor countries.
Read More »DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-4 Imaging Satellite Suffers Technical Failure In Orbit
Maxar Technologies Inc., a global technology innovator powering the new space economy, today reported that its WorldView-4 satellite experienced a failure in its control moment gyros (CMGs), preventing the satellite from collecting imagery due to the loss of an axis of stability.
Read More »U.S. Warns Of Consequences As Iran Prepares To Launch Satellites
As Iran makes preparation to launch three satellites using Iranian launch vehicles, the United States has warned Tehran not to conduct the launches and condemned the Iranian space programme as a deceptive measure that in reality is designed to help build long-range ballistic missiles.
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