PRAGUE (EUSPA PR) — The European Commission, the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and the European Investment Fund (EIF) committed to multiplying the benefits of space technology to businesses. This initiative implies attracting more private investment funds, running capacity building activities, sharing expertise, organizing matchmaking, and promoting the markets. CASSINI is central to this endeavour. DG DEFIS Director-General Timo Pesonen, EUSPA Executive Director, […]

BRUSSELS (European Commission PR) — On the 25^th of January 2022 in Brussels, and in the context of the CASSINI Initiative, European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton signed a joint statement, together with Vice-President of the European Investment Bank Kris Peeters and Chief Executive of the European Investment Fund Alain Godard, officialising their joint commitment for the “Cassini Seed and Growth Funding Facility”.

The objective of this €1 billion space investment fund is to attract more venture capital funds to become active investors in European small and medium size companies developing space technology and digital services using space data.

For months everyone has wondered who it was who gave up his seat aboard the Inspiration4 commercial space mission to Chris Sembroski. Now we know. The New York Post reports: Kyle Hippchen, 43, said he’s still struggling with the disappointment of learning that he could not claim his seat on the space flight last September since he weighs 330 pounds, above the 250-pound weight limit for the voyage. “It hurts too […]

ADELAIDE, South Australia (Southern Launch PR) — Southern Launch and TiSPACE have today released footage from their maiden test launch attempt of the Hapith I launch vehicle from the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex. The video features never-before-seen footage as the two companies worked collaboratively together to conduct Australia’s first commercial space launch attempt in over 50 years. Lloyd Damp, Southern Launch CEO said, “We are thrilled to present this […]

MELVILLE, NY (Comtech PR) — Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL), a leading global provider of next-generation 911 emergency systems and secure wireless communications technologies, announced today that, in keeping with generational renewal cycles occurring across its core businesses, Comtech has established two business units focused on exploiting long-term and growing business opportunities in the satellite ground station market.

These two new business units, each of which will have its own agile and nimble business structure, will formalize and improve Comtech’s ability to serve U.S. and allied governments as a defense contractor and will facilitate the establishment of a major innovation center for Comtech’s growing commercial very-small aperture terminal (“VSAT”) platforms based in Canada. Daniel Gizinski and Dr. Vagan Shakhgildian have been appointed Presidents of two recently created U.S. and Canadian-based subsidiaries, respectively.

HOUSTON, Jan. 31, 2022 (KBR PR) – KBR (NYSE: KBR) was selected to continue providing high-end astronaut medical support services for the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) European Astronaut Centre (EAC) Space Medicine Office in Cologne, Germany.

Under the terms of the recompete contract, KBR will be the primary provider of space medicine support services to ESA, which is introducing a new service model. This work is scheduled to be performed over a three-and-a-half-year period.

A partner to ESA for more than 20 years, KBR’s major activities include astronaut medical care, engineering support, rehabilitation, fitness, project management, healthcare administration, psychology and behavioral health, nutrition, radiation, education coordination, and operational research.

MADRID, January 31, 2022 (Thales Alenia Space PR) – Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), announced today that it has signed a contract with the South Korean aerospace manufacturer and defense company, LIG Nex1 Co., Ltd., to provide a state-of-the-art Digital Processor for the GEO-KOMPSAT-3 communications satellite.

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MOSCOW (Roscosmos PR) — General Director of the Research and Production Association Energomash named after Academician V.P. Glushko (part of the Roscosmos State Corporation) Igor Arbuzov, in an interview with the Roscosmos program Big Space, spoke about the results of the enterprise’s work in 2021.

LONG BEACH, Calif., January 27, 2022 (Relativity Space PR) – Relativity Space,  announced today that the company has been selected by NASA as one of 12 companies to provide launch services for the agency’s Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) missions, providing new opportunities for science and technology payloads and fostering a growing U.S. commercial launch market.

LONG BEACH, Calif., JANUARY 28, 2022 (Virgin Orbit PR) — Leading US-based space launch and space services company Virgin Orbit (Nasdaq: VORB) announced today the addition of industry leader Dr. Candace Givens as its new Vice President of Engineering. Dr. Givens joins the Virgin Orbit team as the company scales up its flight rate to accommodate high demand seen from commercial customers, the national security community, the international community, and NASA.

Dr. Givens joins a team that has uniquely demonstrated the ability to bring new technology to spaceflight and move it into regular launch operations—Having now completed their third commercial spaceflight and having deployed 26 satellites during the first 12 months of operations. In her role as Vice President of Engineering Dr. Givens will work closely with Virgin Orbit chief engineer and senior vice president of technology Kevin Sagis who has been instrumental in developing, proving and establishing the air-launched LauncherOne System. 

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MOSCOW (Roscosmos PR) — On Wednesday, January 26, 2022, the Russian Academy of Sciences hosted the Council on Space, which was attended by representatives of the State Corporation Roscosmos and the Scientific and Production Association named after S.A. Lavochkin (Khimki).

Alexander Shirshakov, First Deputy General Director – General Designer of NPO named after Lavochkin, spoke about the progress of work on the creation of automatic interplanetary stations Luna-25 and ExoMars 2022. The Luna-25 apparatus, which is to go to the Moon in July 2022, is at the stage completion of ground experimental testing.