Focus: Europe
January 25, 2021
German rideshare provider Exolaunch was a part of SpaceX’s Transporter-1 mission on Sunday, the largest rideshare mission to date, carrying 143 satellites in total. Exolaunch brought 30 satellites along for the flight, including satellites for new and returning customers totaling 500 kilograms of capacity. Exolaunch integrated satellites for customers including the German Aerospace Center (DLR),…
January 25, 2021
Satellite operator Inmarsat will provide connectivity services to a United Kingdom government initiative, Project HEART, which aims to build the U.K.'s first automated, zero-carbon regional air transportation network by 2025. Project HEART, which stands for "Hydrogen, Electric, and Automated Regional Transportation," will develop hydrogen-powered, automated and remote piloting solutions for small aircraft carrying between 9…
January 21, 2021
Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) has signed a deal to work on space-to-ground optical communications with Airbus Defence and Space Netherlands. Optical communication between ground stations and satellites in orbit enables broadband connectivity via space, providing a solution for the growing demand for data. The companies on Thursday announced an MoU to collaborate on ground equipment…
January 20, 2021
The European Commission (EC) awarded 1.47 billion euros ($1.77 billion) to Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence & Space on Tuesday to build and launch Europe's second-generation Galileo satellite positioning system. Thales and Airbus beat out German manufacturer OHB for the contract, and will each produce six satellites for the 12-satellite constellation. OHB is building…