Military/Aerospace Electronics

Seraphim, the London-based, space-focused VC, has published its predictions for the space sector in 2023, highlighting some of the biggest trends they expect to see in 2023. The seven points comprise: cell phone connectivity from space, commercialisation of the moon beginning in earnest, a trio of drivers underpinning revenue growth, a record year for new space agencies to be created, ...

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) will be building an ESPA-Grande class satellite, perform payload integration, and space vehicle test for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Oracle spacecraft programme. The San Diego-based company has announced it’s under contract to Advanced Space LLC to contribute to Oracle, which will demonstrate space situational awareness and Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) techniques. Specifically, ...

Astrocast, the satellite IoT service provider, has successfully launched four 3U spacecraft, which it describes as a significant milestone for building its nanosatellite IoT network. The launch sees the company increase its commercial constellation to 18 satellites, which makes Astrocast one of the top 3 LEO satellite operators in Europe (based on the number of commercial satellites currently in low ...

Open Cosmos, the Harwell, Oxfordshire-based company, has successfully launched its MENUT Earth Observation satellite into space. The 6U nanosatellite – which will monitor weather and environmental changes, along with the sustainable use of natural resources – was deployed into sun-synchronous orbit by Exolaunch’s EXOpod Nova deployer, launched as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-6 mission. Open Cosmos was contracted by the Institut ...

Terran Orbital, the small satellite specialist, has announced the formation of a new Optical Solutions Group (OSG) focused on electro-optical (EO) satellite imaging products. The new group will concentrate on development of new EO products and provide custom-made systems, for Earth Observation and Space Domain Awareness. Alex Pertica Based in Boca Raton, Florida, the company has recruited industry veteran and ...

The UK space regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), has given its go ahead to Virgin Orbit to carry out space launches from Spaceport Cornwall. This will represent the first satellite launch from European soil. Specifically, it has issued launch and range licences to Virgin Orbit to undertake launch activities from the UK. Public safety, the environment and international obligations ...

SWOT, a UK-backed mission to observe huge swathes of ocean and surface water in unprecedented detail, has launched into space. Dubbed SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography), the international mission‘s satellite took off from Vandenberg in California on 16 December. It is the first to measure all the water on earth both on land and the oceans, and it will ...

Euroconsult, the Paris based consultancy specialising in space, has released its 2022 Government Space Programmes report. Headline points for 2022 include government space funding reaching $103bn, which is an increased of 9% from last year. According to the organisation, 86 countries have been recorded to invest in space activities this year, with the Middle East notably increasing their expenditure. Furthermore, ...

SaxaVord Spaceport, in the Shetland Islands, has announced partnerships with Lerwick Engineering and Fabrication (LEF) and T12 Consultancy to deliver its rocket launch rail. The launch rail – as its name suggests – is the critical component for directing launch vehicles and allow for suborbital launches. The installation work is being supported by £378,000 of funding from the UK Space ...

The UK Space Agency and the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) – the UK’s national laboratory for nuclear fission – are to collaborate on building a UK space battery. It is described as the first space battery to be powered by Americium-241, a radioactive isotope of the synthetic element americium. The work, funded by the UK Space Agency (UKSA) and delivered ...