The French government has proposed a new military programming law (LPM) from 2024 to 2030, which is expected to allocate €400 billion in investments and a total of €413 billion in military requirements. The main focus of the proposed LPM is to support new capability efforts and ongoing programs through the end of the decade. The investments are for additional munitions and weaponry in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine and the likelihood of high-intensity conflict in Europe. French officials are also reasoning growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific and the rapid pace of technology disruption as incentives for the priorities…
Author: Team Interstellar
Read More
The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has been created to promote and supervise non-government entities (NGEs) in their space activities. IN-SPACe aims to promote the benefits of space exploration and applications to the general public. The organization is pleased to announce exciting opportunities to innovate in the agriculture sector in India by leveraging space technology. As the demand for food increases globally, it is essential to develop sustainable and efficient solutions to meet this demand. Space technology has enormous potential for improving agricultural practices and contributing to a more sustainable food system. By using space data, satellites,…
The development of a spaceport in Kyushu, Japan, has been delayed due to a lack of funding following the bankruptcy filing of Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc. The Oita Prefecture teamed up with Virgin Orbit in 2020 to create Japan’s first Asian spaceport at Oita Airport using a Boeing 747 for horizontal rocket launches. However, the bankruptcy has forced the project to be postponed, leaving Japan’s attempt to enter the commercial satellite launches market in further difficulty after recent rocket launch failures. Virgin Orbit, founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, had marketed itself as a launch platform for military and intelligence…
Italian space company D-Orbit has signed a €26 million contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the IRIDE space-based observation programme initiated by the Italian government. Under the deal, D-Orbit will provide one synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite and manage its flight operations segment for the end user. The contract also includes an option for an additional SAR satellite worth €24 million. MetaSensing, an Italian firm specialising in advanced radar technologies, will provide the SAR sensor. The IRIDE programme will be managed by the ESA and the Italian Space Agency (ASI). The programme would include a satellite constellation, ground…
China has invited Venezuela to join its International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project alongside Russia. Venezuela would be the first country to partner with China and Russia on the project, which is set to be constructed in the early 2030s using super heavy-lift launch vehicles. The launches will follow smaller precursor missions scheduled to take place later this decade. On March 30, Marglad Bencomo, Executive Director Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (ABAE), visited China’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) to discuss cooperation and exchanges. She met Wu Yanhua, former deputy director of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and currently…
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, has announced that the Indian government is considering revising its foreign direct investment (FDI) policy for the space sector. Presently, the FDI policy in the space sector allows up to 100% FDI in satellite establishment and operations through the government route only. However, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), the regulatory and promotional body for space activities, is involved in revising the FDI policy, which is expected to give private players a chance to invest in this…
Germany’s army has launched its new military space command with a twist of Star Wars cosplay. Instead of the traditional military officers in formal attire, the German military top brass was surrounded by characters straight out of the evil Galactic Empire seen in the iconic movie series Star Wars. Cosplay Darth Vader and a few cosplay stormtroopers were present at the inauguration of the €40 million space command headquarters. The premise of the evil, authoritarian Galactic Empire, ruled by Darth Vader, was inspired from the ideology moorings of the Nazi party in the 1930s and 1940s Germany. However, the space…
The Indian government has approved constructing and establishing the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory-India (LIGO-India) project at an estimated cost of Rs 2,600 crore. Union Minister Jitendra Singh revealed that the project would come up in Hingoli, Maharashtra and is likely to be completed by 2030. LIGO-India will be an advanced gravitational-wave observatory and is part of a global network of observatories. The project would be a collaborative effort between Indian research institutions, the LIGO Laboratory in the United States, and other international partners. The project received in-principle approval from the Indian government in February 2016, and since then has…
The White House has released a new national R&D strategy outlining the Biden Administration’s vision to ensure US dominance in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The Office of Science and Technology Policy has released a new national strategy enabling the US to realise LEO research initiatives’ economic, scientific, educational, and diplomatic benefits. The strategy document lists the following agenda: Advancing groundbreaking research and development for the US Strengthen the US government’s partnerships with the private sector Create opportunities for the commercial sector to innovate Strengthen international cooperation and maintain the US’s leadership in LEO Promote STEM education and workforce development…
Thales, a French multinational company specialising in aerospace, defence and security, has announced the launch of a collaborative project called SCRED. The project involves 11 French companies and organisations dedicated to cybersecurity, aiming to create a single platform that provides cyber threat intelligence services to companies and government entities over the next three years. This initiative is part of the France 2030 investment plan and national cyber strategy, which aims to support the development of the country’s cybersecurity sector. The project was selected after a call for projects launched by the French public investment bank, Bpifrance. Thales will lead the…
