Industry experts are calling for China and France to join forces in space exploration and development, citing the complementary strengths of both nations. Pang Zhihao, a well-known writer on spaceflight and an expert on space exploration technology, stated that China’s strengths lie in designing and building sophisticated spacecraft and organising large-scale space programs and possessing extensive science and technology resources and engineering expertise for space exploration. On the other hand, France’s expertise lies in creating delicate scientific instruments essential for many space projects and having abundant knowledge of space science. The call for collaboration comes after a joint declaration by…
Author: Team Interstellar
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Japanese telecommunications giant NTT has partnered with satellite operator SES to provide edge-based networking services to enterprise customers. The partnership will converge NTT’s networking and enterprise-managed services competence with SES’s satellite capabilities. It will combine NTT’s fully managed private-5G and Edge-as-a-Service solution with SES’s O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit communications system. The combined solution aims to offer expanded and reliable connectivity to companies operating in regions where terrestrial networks are lacking. It is aimed at helping energy, mining, maritime and manufacturing industries that have been limited by connectivity to carry out their digital transformation plans and increase revenue streams. The…
The acting Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Space Commission, Dr Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Tamimi, recently held a virtual meeting with Carlos de Mora, the Head of the Brazilian Space Agency, to explore possible areas of collaboration between the two entities in the space sector. During the meeting, Al-Tamimi outlined the Kingdom’s aspirations for the space sector and its strategic goals and emphasised the importance of accelerating efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries. He also called for developing future partnerships, especially in research, science, and technology, and promoting technical cooperation, innovation, and investment in the space sector to…
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited the Spacecraft Testing and Integration Complex at NASA’s Goddard Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland, during her official trip to the United States. Her visit to NASA’s biggest facility marks India’s growing interest and investment in the space sector, particularly in private sector participation. In June 2020, the government announced a significant transformation of the Indian space sector with enhanced participation of private players in India’s space programme. This move aimed to boost India’s market share in the global space economy, and within three years, the number of start-ups in the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) reached…
NEW DELHI: In order to examine ways and means to boost India’s space defence capabilities, the Indian Space Association (ISpA), which represents the private space industry, and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have organised the first edition of DefSpa, a three-day symposium on space defence here from April 11-13. According to DefSpa, the idea behind the event is to create a platform for all stakeholders interested in India’s military space capability by bringing together experts from multiple domains to discuss the latest trends and challenges in that domain. The focus will be on delivering space domain awareness and satellite…
GHGSat, the Canadian company that operates the world’s first and only high-resolution methane monitoring satellite system, has released its 2022 Methane Emissions Report, sharing key results and insights. The report highlights that GHGSat successfully launched three satellites in May 2022, doubling the size of its constellation. As a result, the company achieved a higher revisit frequency and greater coverage, measuring more emissions in 2022 than in the previous five years combined. The expansion of GHGSat’s fleet allowed it to fine-tune its offshore monitoring expertise, measure numerous world-first emission events, and partner with global organizations such as the International Methane Emissions…
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…
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…
