As the impact of geopolitical tensions and climate change challenges continue to be felt around the world, key players in Europe’s space sector came together in Spain last week to define the requirements of a future Space Data Space system for Europe.

ESA and Swissto12 have signed a contract for the full development and qualification of a new product line of satellites called HummingSat.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) with the Space Research Center at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich (UniBw M).

Governments and international disaster response teams have long relied on satellites to assess the impacts of disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes. Now ESA has partnered with ICEYE, a Finnish microsatellite manufacturer, to improve early warning systems for floods and wildfires and extend their geographical coverage globally.

Sending vast quantities of data between satellites speedily and securely means using light to communicate. Now a group of space companies, research centres and universities working with ESA has established a series of specifications on how exactly satellites should use light to talk to one another – and to link to their ground stations.

A competitive ‘no touch’ satcom service solution is now simplifying the deployment of satellite communication networks in isolated areas. ‘MOBISAT’ has been developed under the ARTES Core Competitiveness programme by Spanish company Integrasys, who specialise in engineering solutions for satellite systems. 

Austria-based Space-Lock has successfully developed a mini HDRA, known as MiRA (Mini Release Actuator), supported by ESA ARTES Core Competitiveness Programme - Advanced Technology and the Austrian Space Agency.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a landmark agreement with GSMA, heralding a major step forward in links between the mobile and satellite industries, and the accelerated integration of satellite-terrestrial connectivity.

Norwegian technology company Kratos has developed the first ever wideband fully software-defined hub, signalling a significant step forward in satcom ground systems.

In a workshop jointly organised by ESA and Eurescom GmbH in June in Gothenburg, Non-Terrestrial Networks – or ‘NTNs’ turned out to be the major talking point – and quite possibly the hottest topic on the table.