December 2, 2024

Asteroid Mining: Are Asteroids Worth Billions? The Potential Value of Space Resources (Source: Geo)
Asteroid mining is not just a futuristic concept but a potential goldmine for various industries. The actual value of these space resources depends on the type of metals they contain. The most valuable are platinum-group metals (PGMs), which are used in high-tech applications. Click here. (11/29)

Oman Ready for First Space Rocket Launch From Duqm (Source: Muscat Daily)
Oman is preparing for its first space rocket test launch, scheduled for Wednesday, from Duqm. The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT), in collaboration with the National Aerospace Services Company (NASCOM), is overseeing the launch, marking a significant step in the country’s space ambitions. MTCIT has also confirmed plans for three additional launches in 2025, with specific dates to be announced later.

The launch, named ‘Duqm-1,’ will take place from the launch pad in southern Duqm. The rocket, measuring 6.5m in length and weighing 80kg without fuel (123kg with fuel), is designed to reach an altitude of 140km above sea level at a speed of 1,530m/s. The flight is expected to last around 15 minutes. (12/1)

New EU Space Commissioner Outlines Priorities (Source: Space News)
Andrius Kubilius, a former prime minister of Lithuania, takes on a new portfolio that combines defense and space issues. Under the previous commission, space was handled by the commissioner for the internal market. “Europe must be part of this space revolution. However, we are confronted with a new set of challenges,” he said. Those challenges, he said, include a lack of funding, a “fragmented regulatory landscape” among European nations, and security risks.

He vowed at the hearing to maintain the EU’s flagship space programs: the Copernicus Earth observation constellation, Galileo navigation system and the new IRIS² secure broadband constellation that the European Commission announced Oct. 31 it would move forward with after reaching an agreement with a consortium of European satellite operators. He added he would support “enhancing their capabilities to provide special governmental services for our security needs.”

He also outlined five new European space initiatives. They include improving European access to space, passing a new European space law, supporting competitiveness of the European space industry in the global marketplace, planning for the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the EU “reflecting a new level of ambition” and responding to growing threats to space assets. (12/1)

Russia Launches Radar Imaging Satellite (Source: Russian Space Web)
Russia launched a radar imaging satellite Friday. A Soyuz-2.1a rocket lifted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Far East region at 4:50 p.m. Eastern and placed the Kondor-FKA No. 2 satellite into orbit. The radar imaging satellite is intended for civilian applications. (12/2)

Australia's Gilmour Delays Inaugural Launch of Eris Rocket (Source: Facebook)
Australian launch startup Gilmour Space Technologies has delayed its inaugural launch. The company announced last week that it pushed back the first orbital launch of its Eris small launch vehicle to no earlier than mid-January. The company received an Australian launch license last month that would have allowed a launch as soon as this month, but the company said that final testing work as well as airspace coordination led it to delay the launch until after the holidays. (12/2)

ESA Picks OpenCosmos to Develop Cubesat Trio for Earth Science (Source: Space News)
OpenCosmos has signed a contract with ESA for development of a trio of space science cubesats. The $36.5 million contract, signed during a conference last week, covers development and launch of NanoMagSat, part of ESA's Scout line of low-cost Earth observation missions. The three NanoMagSat cubesats will study the Earth's magnetic field and ionosphere. The first cubesat is scheduled to launch in late 2027 with the other two to follow in 2028. (12/2)

Astroscale UK Prepares for Satellite Servicer Review (Source: Space News)
Astroscale's British subsidiary is preparing for a critical design review early next year of a satellite servicer mission. The 500-kilogram servicer for the ELSA-M program, or End-of-Life Services by Astroscale-Multiple, is currently in a "flatsat" phase where its various components are laid out on a clean room table for testing and checkout. ELSA-M, scheduled for launch in 2026, will attempt to remove a defunct OneWeb satellite from orbit as a precursor to a commercial deorbit business Astroscale hopes to start offering toward the end of this decade. (12/2)

China Plans NextGen Beidou NavSats (Source: Space News)
China is planning to launch a new generation of Beidou navigation satellites in 2027. The country plans to complete key technology research for the next-generation Beidou system by 2025 and launch three test satellites around 2027, according to a plan released last week guiding development of the system through 2035. The upgraded Beidou system will use satellites in high (likely geosynchronous), medium and low Earth orbits, according to the report. Beidou is already widely considered to be superior to the GPS in some areas, and advanced capabilities in a next-generation system could see China far surpass the U.S. and others in positioning, navigation and timing capabilities. (12/2)

NASA Selects JHU for Development of NOAA Space Weather Sensors on SWFO-1 (Source: Space Daily)
NASA has awarded a $20.5 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, for the development of Suprathermal Ion Sensors as part of NOAA's Space Weather Next Program. These sensors will be critical for the Lagrange 1 Series project, providing real-time data to improve space weather forecasting. (11/27)

KSAT Teams with Starsite to Establish Lunar Support Site in Western Australia (Source: Space Daily)
Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) is partnering with Starsite Pty Ltd to build and operate a 20-meter antenna at a new site in Western Australia. Starsite, the Australian landowner, will manage and maintain the installation, which is designed to support key lunar missions. Starsite was chosen to host the facility based on its expertise and commitment to operational excellence. The collaboration between KSAT and Starsite ensured the site met stringent requirements for supporting lunar missions. (11/27)

SatVu Receives Major Funding to Advance Thermal Imaging Capabilities (Source: Space Daily)
SatVu, a prominent climate technology innovator, has secured Pounds 20 million in funding to propel its advanced high-resolution thermal imaging technology. The funding consists of a Pounds 10 million equity round led jointly by Adara Ventures and existing backer Molten Ventures, alongside an insurance payout. This investment marks the debut of Adara Ventures Energy Fund, dedicated to supporting transformative technologies that facilitate Europe's energy transition. (11/27)

Eclipse Maker Proba-3 to Revolutionize Solar Corona Observations (Source: Space Daily)
The elusive solar corona, a faint, ultra-hot layer of the Sun, has intrigued scientists for centuries. This region, responsible for solar winds and storms, is usually obscured by the Sun's intense light. While natural solar eclipses or specially designed instruments have provided glimpses, ESA's Proba-3 mission is poised to offer unprecedented access through advanced technology. Proba-3, consisting of two spacecraft operating as a single unit, will use a unique design to block the Sun's glare, enabling continuous observation of the corona. This mission will expand our understanding of solar dynamics, including the forces driving coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and the solar wind. (11/27)

Zenno Astronautics Gains Support From Japanese Space Leaders in Latest Funding Round (Source: Space Daily)
New Zealand-headquartered Zenno Astronautics has announced the initial close of its seed expansion funding round, marking a major milestone for the space-focused superconductor company. The round was led by New Zealand's Global From Day One (GD1), with notable contributions from Shasta Ventures and existing backers such as Nuance, K1W1, UniServices, NZVC, and New Zealand Growth Capital Partners (NZGCP)'s Aspire Seed Fund. (11/29)