US, French Space Industry Meeting in DC This Week
The US is hosting the second US-France Comprehensive Space Dialogue this Wednesday, and most of the American space heavy hitters will be attending.
International
Stories around the biggest global space news, including from Europe, India, and Japan.
Slingshot Opens First Overseas Office in the UK
The space situational awareness (SSA) firm Slingshot Aerospace is opening two offices in the UK in its first expansion outside America’s borders.
Ukrainian Startup Raises Funding For In-Space Servicing Demo
Ukrainian start-up Kurs Orbital has raised €3.7M($4M) to build and fly a prototype docking port for in-space servicing and debris removal missions.
Swiss Start-up Studying Satellite Refueling for UK
The UK Space Agency has tapped in-orbit servicing start-up ClearSpace to research satellite refueling, taking a step toward the British agency’s commitment last fall to invest in space sustainability.
Russia Pursues New ASAT Capability Amid Declining Space Program
The news of Russia pursuing a new ASAT capability comes nearly two years after its invasion of Ukraine, which sparked international sanctions that harmed the nation’s economy and placed a strain on its once-great space program.
UK Boosts Spending On International Moon, Mars Partnerships
The UK Space Agency will invest £7.4M ($9.3M) into joint projects with India, Japan, Canada, and the US that will pave the way for exploration of the Moon and Mars, the agency announced Wednesday.
BlackSky Wins $50M Project To Give Indonesia Eyes in the Sky
BlackSky inked ~$50M-worth of contracts with the Indonesian Ministry of Defense to provide the agency access to the company’s commercial space-based intelligence, with plans to build a sovereign capability for the country down the road.
Satellite IoT Firm Opens Portugal Office
Spain-based FOSSA Systems is expanding internationally for the first time with the opening of a new subsidiary in Portugal, the company announced Tuesday.
Sateliot Raises €6M
Spanish satellite operator startup Sateliot announced yesterday that it has clinched €6M ($6.6M) in funding from Banco Santander, the largest bank in Spain.
The Projected Growth of the Middle Eastern Space Economy
Historically, Middle Eastern nations haven’t led the pack when it comes to impressive space tech or exploration, but that’s beginning to change as several space agencies in the region invest to realize their ambitious goals in orbit.
US Will Send International Astronaut to the Moon
The US will send an international astronaut to the lunar surface by the end of the decade, VP Kamala Harris is expected to announce at the National Space Council meeting on Wednesday afternoon.
The World’s Spacefaring in 2023
We’re widening our lens to look back at the achievements of civil space agencies around the globe—and strap in, because it’s been a busy year.