PARIS (ESA PR) — Today, as Φ-week gets underway, ESA has signed a contract with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd to build the HydroGNSS Scout mission. Embracing the concept of New Space, HydroGNSS is a micro satellite that will use a technique called Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reflectometry to measure climate variables such as soil moisture, freeze–thaw state over permafrost and inundation.

The contract, worth €24 million, was signed by ESA’s Acting Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Toni Tolker-Nielsen and Managing Director of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, Phil Brownnett.

The Wall Street Journal has a fascinating story about the fight between SpaceX and Dish Network over frequency allocation. While SpaceX is spending billions to deploying thousands of satellites for its global Starlink broadband network, Dish Network wants the Federal Communications Commission to allow it to send Internet signals via cell phone towers. In later filings with the FCC, Mr. Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp., better known as SpaceX, told […]

SPRINGFIELD, Va. (NGA PR) – The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency will begin offering its analysts non-traditional data and services related to commercial radio frequency data to address a wide range of key intelligence topics.

The services are provided by HawkEye 360 through the Radio Frequency Emitter Data contract, which was awarded in July for a total of up to $10 million. The services will augment collection by national assets and provide NGA with a means to produce and deliver global datasets that utilize automated techniques to detect, characterize and geolocate emitters of radio frequency energy. This energy output is typically associated with communication and navigation equipment. The resulting datasets will support NGA’s research and analysis of national intelligence issues and address a wide range of key intelligence topics such as military, non-state and transnational criminal activity.

“Space Launch LIVE: Shatner in Space“Airing Live on Discovery and Science Channel, Wednesday, October 13, 8:30 -10:30 AM Discovery and Science Channel brings viewers the highly-anticipated launch of Star Trek star William Shatner as he takes his first flight into space — at the age of 90, soon to be the oldest person to fly to space — on Blue Origin’s New Shepard, a cutting-edge suborbital rocket. Scheduled for Wednesday after […]

It will begin operating from San Diego before the end of the year with telecoms and IoT device experts from both companies

BARCELONA, Spain (Sateliot PR) — Sateliot, the satellite operator that will launch a constellation of nanosatellites to universalize the Internet of Things with 5G coverage, will enter the U.S. market before the end of this year thanks to EvoNexus – the accelerator sponsored by the microchip manufacturer Qualcomm and the operator Verizon.

After evaluating more than 414 companies from around the world, EvoNexus has recognized the technological and innovative potential in the fields of space and telecommunications of Sateliot and six other companies, which have been selected to develop 5G use cases together with strategic partners in their areas of expertise.

ISpA aims to contribute towards the accelerated development of India’s space industry and making the country a leading player in this segment.

New Delhi, 11 October, 2021 (ISRO PR) — The Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today launched the Indian Space Association (ISpA) – the premier industry association of space and satellite companies. Also present on the occasion were Shri Ashwin Vaishnav, Union Minister of Communications, Electronics & IT;  Shri Ajit Doval,  National Security Advisor of India; Dr Jitender Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State – Department of Space; Gen  Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff of India; Shri K Sivan, Chairman, ISRO and Shri Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe.

Speaking on the occasion the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said: “Today is the day the Indian space sector receives new wings. For 75 years since independence, Indian space has been dominated by a single umbrella of Indian government and government institutions. Scientists of India have made huge achievements in these decades, but the need of the hour is that there should be no restrictions on Indian talent, whether it is in the public sector or in the private sector. In a way, the country has given a new gift to the talent of India’s entrepreneurs by opening up India’s space sector in its 75th year of independence. Let this collective power of India’s population take the space sector forward in an organized manner. The Indian Space Association (ISpA) will play a huge role in this.”  

LONG BEACH, Calif. (Rocket Lab PR) — Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (“Rocket Lab” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: RKLB), a leading launch provider and space systems company, has today announced it has scheduled two dedicated launches in November for Spaceflight Inc.’s customer, real-time geospatial and global monitoring company BlackSky (NYSE: BKSY).

• ISRO’s PSLV and GSLV-MkIII to become a part of launch programme for OneWeb’s LEO satellites that will beam high speed broadband on earth

LONDON and NEW DELHI, India, 11 October 2021 (OneWeb PR) — Bharti-backed OneWeb, the low Earth orbit satellite communications company, today announced an  arrangement through Letter of Intent with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), to use the Indian-built PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and the heavier GSLV-MkIII (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) as potential platforms to launch OneWeb’s satellites in India from 2022.

The Rocket Lab-built and jointly operated Photon spacecraft will enable high-value products to be manufactured in space and returned to Earth

LONG BEACH, Calif., August 11, 2021 (Rocket Lab PR) – Leading launch and space systems company Rocket Lab today announced it has signed a deal with in-space manufacturing company Varda Space Industries to produce three Photon spacecraft that will integrate with their space factories, enabling high-value products to be manufactured in zero-gravity and returned to Earth in Varda’s re-entry capsule.

The Washington Post has a story examining the dysfunction at Jeff Bozos’ Blue Origin space company. It’s not a pretty portrait of the company under CEO Bob Smith. The new management’s “authoritarian bro culture,” as one former employee put it, affected how decisions were made and permeated the institution, translating into condescending, sometimes humiliating, comments and harassment toward some women and a stagnant top-down hierarchy that frustrated many employees. As […]

SOLNA, Sweden (SSC PR) — Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) have signed a EUR 12 million [US $13.9 million] loan agreement for the finalization of a new spaceport at Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, northern Sweden. The 12-year maturity loan will finance the investments to unlock the use of reusable rockets and the ability to launch small satellites into orbit as early as 2022, making Esrange the first major orbital launch site in the EU.

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 7, 2021 (Lockheed Martin PR) —  Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today announced that Space Executive Vice President Richard F. Ambrose has decided to retire on March 1, 2022, after more than 20 years of service to the company. He will remain in his current role until a successor is announced.

Ambrose joined Lockheed Martin in 2000 and served as the president of the Information Systems & Global Solutions-National business; vice president and general manager of the Surveillance and Navigation Systems line of business within Space; and vice president and general manager of Mission Systems and Sensors’ Tactical Systems.

“We are grateful to Rick for all his contributions to our company and for his strategic leadership of our $11 billion Space portfolio that provides advanced technology and mission-driven solutions for national security, civil and commercial customers,” said Lockheed Martin Chairman, President and CEO James Taiclet. “I join the Lockheed Martin team in thanking him for his service and wishing him all the best in his upcoming retirement.”