TORONTO, Ontario, Canada (Space Flight Laboratory PR) – Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) announced the successful deorbiting of the 3.5kg CanX-7 demonstration nanosatellite using drag sail technology designed to reduce the time retired small satellites spend in orbit as space debris. CanX-7 burned up in Earth’s atmosphere in April, just five years after drag sail deployment and roughly 178 years before it would have without any deorbit technology.
(more…)
SWINDON, UK (UK Space Agency PR) — Trailblazing technology that will help tackle climate change and predict global disasters using satellites is receiving new funding from the UK Space Agency.
Eleven UK organisations have been awarded a share of just under £7 million of government funding to put into action the latest advances in space innovation. The majority of the projects focus on climate change or environmental management, with others designed to secure our telecommunication systems and protect digital infrastructure against cyber-attacks.
(more…)
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has awarded 14 contracts worth just over CAD $9 million (US $6.6 million) to eight companies under its Space Technology Development Program (STDP).
MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) received a total of six contracts worth CAD $3.5 million (US $2.6 million). COM DEV of Cambridge, Ont., received a pair of contracts worth nearly CAD $1.6 million (US $1.1 million). And UrtheCast of Vancouver received a contract worth $999,916 (US $736,131).
“As part of a competitive process, proposals are selected based on the applicant’s (mainly industry) capacity to advance the development of specific space technologies for which they receive financial support of up to 75% of their project cost,” CSA said on its website.
The space agency plans to award additional contracts under the STDP. Details of the awards are below.
(more…)
CAMBRIDGE, ONT. November 5, 2015 (COM DEV PR) — COM DEV International Ltd. (TSX:CDV), a leading manufacturer of space hardware subsystems, today announced that it has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement with a subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE:HON) pursuant to which (i) Honeywell will acquire the equipment business of COM DEV by way of an acquisition of all of the outstanding common shares of COM DEV for cash consideration of up to $5.25 per common share, representing an enterprise value of approximately $455 million [$342 million USD], and (ii) the exactEarth Ltd. data services business will be spun out as a publicly traded company with COM DEV’s shareholders receiving their pro rata interest in COM DEV’s 73% ownership in exactEarth Ltd. (collectively, the “Transaction”). (All figures in this news release are stated in Canadian dollars.)
LONGUEUIL, Quebec (CSA PR) — The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has awarded five contracts to Canadian industry to perform feasibility studies on five potential future microsatellite missions.
These proposed missions would address Canada’s domestic needs in security, health, forest fire surveillance, weather surveillance and water quality monitoring. As well, the missions would allow the Canadian space sector to advance industrial capabilities in microsatellite technology, especially in mission development, and advanced optical and communications payloads.
Com Dev ousts Canadian head after profit warning
CBC News
Satellite component maker Com Dev International Ltd. has replaced the head of its Canadian unit after warning of disappointing quarterly results due to cost overruns.
