December 20, 2020

Russia Plans First Launch of New Crewed Spacecraft Atop Angara Rocket in December 2023 (Source: TASS)
Roskosmos has planned the first launch of the Angara with the new manned spacecraft Orel without a crew on December 15, 2023. Dmitry Rogozin said another flight is expected in 2024 with a docking to the International Space Station. The crewed flights of the ship will begin in 2025. (12/19)

Redwire Acquires LoadPath, a Leading Developer of Payload Adapters for the Space Industry (Source: Redwire)
Redwire, a new leader in mission critical space solutions and high reliability components for the next generation space economy, announced today that it has acquired LoadPath, a leading developer of payload adapters, deployable structures, and thermal products for the space industry. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. (12/15)

Hughes Selected by OneWeb for Ground System Development and Production under New $250 Million Contract (Source: Hughes)
Hughes Network Systems has been chosen by OneWeb to develop and manufacture essential ground system technology for the new LEO constellation. In a three-year contract valued at approximately $250 million, Hughes will produce the gateway electronics for the OneWeb system as well as the core module that will be used in every user terminal. (12/16)

Satellite Ground Segment a Key Enabler for Satcom Growth; $137 Billion by 2029 (Source: Intrado)
NSR’s Global Satellite Ground Segment, 5th Edition report, forecasts global, cumulative revenues for the Commercial Satellite Ground Segment by 2029 at $138 Billion. Data-driven applications are very dynamic with VSAT platforms growing at double-digit rates in the next 10 years. Backhaul, Consumer Broadband, and specialized Enterprise VSAT show the highest interest in this category. For Antennas and RF Chains, the focus is on high-end segments like Earth Stations, where opportunities will come from feeding Broadband networks and the transition to Q/V-Bands, or Mobility, with sophisticated requirements keeping margins at healthy rates. (12/17)

Spanish Launcher Startup PLD Gains New Investor (Source: PLD Space)
Spain's Ministry of Science and Innovation's CDTI agency has acquired a stake in PLD Space through its Innvierte program. This initial tranche of 450,000 euros in a bridge financing round could subsequently be supplemented by further economic contributions up to a maximum of 15 million euros. PLD Space has to date obtained over 28 million euros of private investment and institutional support, mainly in Spain. PLD Space is preparing to launch the MIURA 1 rocket toward the end of 2022. (12/17)