BACKNANG, Germany (TESAT PR) — With more than 500,000 hours of operation and 10 Optical Communication Terminals (OCTs) in space, TESAT is the only provider worldwide for in-orbit-verified OCTs. As the market leader for space communication equipment, TESAT is setting-up manufacturing operations in the U.S. to meet the growing demand for OCTs from the U.S. Government and the commercial space industry. TESAT is currently providing OCTs for four different U.S. spacecraft primes in support of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Transport Layer and Tracking Layer and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Blackjack program.
Computer-generated image of Gilmour Space’s new rocket, Eris. (Credit: Gilmour Space Technologies)
The development of the AFTS for Gilmour Space Technologies’ Eris launch vehicle will establish a new paradigm for launch vehicles, reducing launch costs and providing a more versatile and reliable service to users.
GOLD COAST, Australia & MADRID, Spain, February 8, 2022 (Gilmour Space Technologies PR) — SENER Aeroespacial, a company of the SENER engineering and technology group, and Australian launch services company Gilmour Space Technologies, are working together on an Autonomous Flight Termination System (AFTS) for the Eris launch vehicle, which is being developed for the small satellite market.
Engineering model of Hera’s onboard computer in redundant configuration. (Credit: QinetiQ Space)
PARIS (ESA PR) — If we were to talk about our bodies in the technical terms that we typically use to talk about spacecraft, our bones, muscles and ligaments would be our ‘hardware’, our brain the ‘central processing unit (CPU)’, and our nervous system the ‘software’.
Both companies will work together to develop new insurance products and services. Tokio Marine’s investment forms part of the wider Series D funding round during which ICEYE raised $136M.
HELSINKI, Finland, February 8, 2022 (ICEYE PR) –ICEYE,a world-leading synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data provider and expert in NatCat solutions, today announced that Tokio Marine Holdings (Tokio Marine) has made a strategic investment in the company as it looks to develop new insurance products and services that utilize satellite data. The announcement is part of ICEYE’s Series D funding round which was led by Seraphim Space and raised a total of $136M.
As part of the new alliance between the two companies, ICEYE and Tokio Marine will collaborate on a series of initiatives designed to facilitate the digital transformation of insurance claims capabilities and develop new insurance products and services to address the increasing frequency and severity of natural catastrophes and the growing impact of climate change.
Wally Funk standing with a U.S. Air Force jet. (Credit: Blue Origin via Smithsonian Magazine)
WASHINGTON, DC (National Air and Space Museum PR) — The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum awards its Michael Collins Trophy annually for Lifetime and Current Achievements. The 2022 recipients are Wally Funk for Lifetime Achievement and the Mars Ingenuity Helicopter Team for Current Achievement; they will receive their awards at a ceremony March 24 at the museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
Notional image of a SBIRS Missile Warning Satellite built on the new, more resilient LM 2100 Combat Bus™ (Credit: Lockheed Martin)
PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. (Space Operations Command PR) – Space Operations Command has accepted Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous satellite 5 as operationally capable and has presented it to United States Space Command for operational use.
Westcott Venture Park (Credit: Satellite Applications Catapult)
WESTCOTT, UK (Satellite Applications Catapult PR) — The Satellite Applications Catapult is pleased to announce its expansion at Westcott Venture Park due to a £5.7m investment in new facilities. ‘Building 4000’ is set to house an In-Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing facility alongside the expansion of the Healthy and Agri Living Labs. These exciting initiatives will help the UK secure a 10% share of the global space market.
Veteran marketing innovator will lead Company’s commercial and consumer business and evolution of iconic consumer brand
LAS CRUCES, N.M., February 8, 2022 (Virgin Galactic PR) — Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) (the “Company” or “Virgin Galactic”), an aerospace and space travel company, announced today that Blair Rich has been appointed President and Chief Business Officer, Commercial and Consumer Operations as the company prepares for the launch of commercial service later this year. In this newly created role, Rich will lead all aspects of the Company’s commercial strategy including sales, marketing, business and product development, communications, operations, and customer experience.
Rich has more than two decades of experience building some of the world’s most recognizable global brands. Most recently, she served as President of Worldwide Marketing for Warner Bros.’ Theatrical and Home Entertainment divisions. For the past year, she has served as a consultant and strategic advisor to Virgin Galactic. During that time, she helped the Company develop and grow its commercial strategy, including the marketing for Sir Richard Branson’s inaugural spaceflight as a member of the Unity 22 crew, which was viewed by tens of millions of people around the world.
Successful completion of final test of the LOFTID inflation system means it’s ready for integration with the rest of the re-entry vehicle. (Credits: NASA)
HAMPTON, Va. (NASA PR) — No, we’re not pumping up inner tubes for a pool party, but the successful inflation of this stack of test rings marks the final test of the inflation system for NASA’s LOFTID demonstration which will make a splash when it lands in the Pacific Ocean after launch.
Matthias Maurer conducting the MASON concrete experiment. (Credit: ESA/NASA)
Matthias Maurer researches the hardening of concrete in zero gravity.
Climate protection through more efficient use of raw materials.
Experiments in space provide data for technical developments on earth.
Cooperation DLR with the universities of Cologne and Duisburg-Essen.
The experiment is part of the Cosmic Kiss mission.
COLOGNE, Germany (DLR PR) — How does freshly poured concrete behave in zero gravity? And how can this contribute to environmental protection on Earth? In early February 2022, the German ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer searched for answers to these questions on the International Space Station experiment “MASON/Concrete Hardening” is a joint project of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the University of Cologne and the University Duisburg-Essenand takes place as part of the Cosmic Kiss mission.
Astra Space stock sunk after the company’s Rocket 3.3 booster suffered a last-second abort as its first-stage engines began to fire. Words is the company will attempt to once again launch four CubeSats from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Wednesday.
$50M investment led by Prime Movers Lab will build the most sustainable satellite network in history and power a new era of space-based applications
E-Space is founded by industry pioneer Greg Wyler, who established both O3b Networks and OneWeb
STUART, Fla., and TOULOUSE, France, Feb. 7, 2022 (E-Space PR) – E-Space today announced it has closed the largest seed funding round in space technology history with a $50 million investment led by Prime Movers Lab.
E-Space is pioneering a new network, with filings in hand for potentially over one hundred thousand secure communication satellites, to help businesses and governments access the power of space to solve problems on Earth. Created by industry pioneer Greg Wyler, who previously founded both O3b Networks and OneWeb, E-Space is enabling a new generation of space-based communications capabilities. In a world where satellites are becoming space polluters, the new E-Space systems have the double bottom line of sustainability as they will eventually actively and sacrificially capture and deorbit small debris in space while performing their function as communications satellites.
