Tag Archives: European Commission

This week, Dr Emma Gatti, our Editor in Chief, discussed with us the latest updates from the 16th European Space Conference in Brussels, Belgium, 23-24 January 2024. She spoke about : 1. The pressing issue of #launch vehicles in Europe, 2.⁠ ⁠⁠European Commission versus ESA, 3.⁠ ⁠⁠The highlights from the conference- specifically #militarisation of space

OHB System AG, a subsidiary of the space and technology group OHB SE, already selected as the project coordinator for ODIN'S EYE II, a space-based early warning system designed to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles, has now been funded: the European Commission, along with the European Defence Fund (EDF), has signed a grant agreement providing EUR 90 million in funding for the project. An industrial consortium, led by Bremen's space experts and comprising 43 companies from 14 European member states, will contribute to the development

The Council of the European Union (The Council) have adopted conclusions on ‘Space traffic management: state of play’. The conclusions address the challenges of an increasingly congested orbital space and the need for a common approach to ensure a safe and sustainable European space policy. As a result, the conclusions stress the urgency of developing an EU space traffic management (STM) approach, which will contribute to space safety, sustainability and security, and welcome the progress made so far.

Nicolas Peter has been appointed Acting President of the International Space University (ISU), ISU announced. He is succeeding Professor Pascale Ehrenfreund who has served as President since September 2021. 

Africa, much like the US, Europe, and China, has demonstrated its interest in using space as a means to a societal end. In Africa’s case, the continent has awakened to how space, specifically space science and technology, can assist in addressing Africa’s social and economic challenges. The way the African Space Strategy puts it, Africa needs “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena." The rapid global development of spatial activities is a nifty representation of the fact that the same awakening happened in other parts of the world way before Africa. This may mean that Africa is late to the party, but perhaps it's more encouraging to see it as Africa being able to learn the best model for space development from other more advanced spacefaring nations.

Kuva Space, a Finnish hyperspectral satellite imagery company, has successfully raised 16.6 million euros ($17.6 million) in a recent Series A funding round. The startup, founded in 2016, aims to accelerate its satellite launches and expand its market reach, especially in the United States. The funding will be utilised to enhance Kuva Space’s AI analytics platform.

The European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission have signed an agreement on the 21st of September to use space to help keep information secure. 

Summer is upon us, and as our gaze shifts towards the stars during those warm, clear nights, SpaceWatch.Global brings you its second collection or the Summer Listening Series. Based on the vote by our newsroom, we have mapped out an interstellar journey across five categories. This week we are starting with “Climate, Space and Earth.”

We are just halfway through 2023 and I have accumulated enough miles in the Space conference business that I feel I can sit down and put down some ideas, or notes at least, on what we at SpaceWatch.Global have seen and learned through the lens of the media in the past weeks and months. We have visited six countries, met thousands of people, and saw some new trends. But are these trends destined to ever be solved? Or are they just buzzwords echoed over and over again?