Copernical Team
ESA signs contracts advancing Greece’s Earth observation capabilities
Today, the European Space Agency signed six contracts that will help position Greece as a key player in the field of Earth observation.
The scene is set for the European Launcher Challenge
Sierra Space completes PDR for Missile Tracking Satellites
Sierra Space has announced the successful completion of the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for missile warning and tracking satellites under a significant $740 million contract with the Space Development Agency (SDA). This contract, awarded in January 2024 through an Other Transaction Authority (OTA), includes the design, development, delivery, and maintenance of 16 missile warning and tracking
Expanding satellite broadband access to rural Europe
ESA is advancing efforts to make Europe more digitally inclusive with a new partnership aimed at extending internet access to remote and underserved regions. In an age where digital connectivity is crucial, many Europeans in rural villages, mountainous areas, and small islands still lack reliable internet access. To address this gap, ESA has teamed up with Swedish tech firm Forsway to intr
China's commercial space sector expands as firms outline ambitious plans
China's commercial space industry is witnessing significant momentum, highlighted by key enterprises unveiling ambitious development plans at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China) in Zhuhai, Guangdong province. LandSpace, a prominent private rocket firm, aims to debut its reusable ZQ-3 rocket in 2025. "The ZQ-3 has already completed successful 100-m
Space for Inspiration: shaping new markets beyond Earth
ESA invites you to join its fifth Space for Inspiration conference on the future of commercial space exploration in Luxembourg on 4 and 5 December.
China prepares Tianzhou 8 for upcoming launch to Tiangong station
China's space program is set to advance with the impending launch of the Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft, part of its continued support for the Tiangong space station. The mission aims to maintain the station's operation and supply chain, a critical aspect of China's long-term ambitions in space exploration. On Wednesday, both the Tianzhou 8 spacecraft and the Long March-7 Y9 carrier rocket we
Starfish Space raises $29M to propel Otter satellite servicing vehicles
Starfish Space has announced the successful completion of a $29 million funding round led by Shield Capital, with participation from new backers Point72 Ventures, Booz Allen Ventures, Aero X Ventures, Trousdale Ventures, and TRAC VC, alongside current investors Munich Re Ventures, Toyota Ventures, NFX, and Industrious Ventures. This funding will facilitate the final development of Starfish
Forsway awarded 2.3 MEUR by ESA to develop Xtend 5G connectivity system
Forsway, a leader in cost-effective hybrid satellite and terrestrial broadband solutions, has secured a significant funding contract of 2.3 million euros from the European Space Agency (ESA), with additional support from the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA). The project, known as Xtend 5G, will develop an advanced 5G NTN (Non-Terrestrial Network) hybrid satellite connectivity system that int
Getting Proba-3 ready for launch
Proba-3's Coronagraph spacecraft recently underwent a crucial 'fit check' with the launcher payload adapter, preparing it for its scheduled launch aboard an Indian PSLV-XL rocket on 4 December. Arriving at the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Satish Dhawan Space Centre earlier this month, the twin satellites completed functional testing at the SP-1B facility. This phase confirme