# New Space Consulting

> Empowering the New Generation of Space Innovators


## Posts

- [Starpath Robotic receives $12 million funding for Lunar Water Mining](https://newspace.consulting/starpath-robotic-receives-12-million-funding-for-lunar-water-mining/): @Starpath Robotics, which recently came out of stealth mode (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tolgaors_lunarmining-rocketfuel-insituresourceutilization-activity-7209555665969700864-EYUw), is focusing on a critical aspect of In-Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU): harvesting water ice from the lunar surface regolith to produce liquid oxygen (LOX), a crucial component in rocket propellant. The company’s innovative approach has attracted significant investment, with a recent $12 million seed round. This funding will support Starpath’s rapid expansion, with plans to increase its current team of employees. Starpath’s ambitious architecture involves deploying swarms of mining rovers to extract hundreds of tons of water from the lunar south-pole. The water would then be processed in autonomous lunar plants […]
- [From Electron to Neutron: Rocket Lab's Leap into the Medium-Lift Launch Market](https://newspace.consulting/from-electron-to-neutron-rocket-labs-leap-into-the-medium-lift-launch-market/)
- [𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐬: 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐒𝐲𝐬 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠'𝐬 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%90%85%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%a6-%f0%9d%90%92%f0%9d%90%a9%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%9c%f0%9d%90%9e-%f0%9d%90%91%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%9c%f0%9d%90%a4%f0%9d%90%ac-%f0%9d%90%ad%f0%9d%90%a8/): In the rapidly evolving landscape of NewSpace start-ups, SolSys Mining, co-founded by Øystein R. Borgersen, stands out as an example of innovation and adaptability. Originally conceived as an asteroid mining company in 2018, SolSys has strategically pivoted to focus on lunar resource utilization, positioning itself as part of the eco-system enabling humanity’s return to the Moon. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐡 SolSys Mining recently achieved a significant milestone by completing an ESA funded project titled ELISA “Enabling Lunar In-Situ Agriculture by Producing Fertilizer from Beneficiated Regolith.” The project tackled a major challenge in lunar farming using In-Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU): […]
- [3D Printing in Space: Forging the Path to Self-Sustaining Space Missions](https://newspace.consulting/3d-printing-in-space-forging-the-path-to-self-sustaining-space-missions/): The future of space exploration is being reshaped by innovative technologies, with 3D printing at the forefront. This transformative approach to manufacturing is poised to revolutionize how we build and maintain parts and structures in space, offering unprecedented flexibility and efficiency. 3D printing, also known as Additive Manufacturing, is a process that builds objects layer by layer until the desired shape is formed. Originally used primarily for prototyping, it has evolved into a powerful tool for making components as needed quickly. The Business in Space Growth Network (BSGN) In-orbit Manufacturing Accelerator (IMA), led by @Satellite Applications Catapult, is supporting @Photocentric, a […]
- [XROOTS: Advancing Space Farming for Long-Duration Missions](https://newspace.consulting/xroots-advancing-space-farming-for-long-duration-missions/): The success of long-duration space missions and the establishment of extraterrestrial settlements heavily rely on the ability to produce food in space. @Sierra Space, in collaboration with @NASA, has been at the forefront of developing innovative plant growth systems to address this challenge. The eXposed Root On-Orbit Test System (XROOTS), launched to the International Space Station (ISS) in February 2022, is the latest advancement in space farming technology. Building upon the success of the Veggie system, which has been used to grow various crops on the ISS since 2014, XROOTS aims to overcome the limitations of soil-based plant growth in microgravity […]
- [Proba-3: Pioneering Formation Flying in Space](https://newspace.consulting/proba-3-pioneering-formation-flying-in-space/): The European Space Agency (ESA) is set to launch Proba-3, the fourth mission in its PRoject for On-Board Autonomy (PROBA) series. This mission aims to demonstrate precise formation flying techniques and technologies while observing the Sun’s corona over a two-year period. Proba-3 consists of two spacecraft – a coronagraph and an occulter – operating in a highly elliptical orbit. These satellites will function as a virtual telescope, maintaining a precise 150-meter separation during scientific operations near the orbit’s apogee. This unprecedented level of precision will enable detailed studies of the Sun’s corona closer to its surface than ever before. The mission’s […]
- [Pioneering Safety using Runtime Assurance for AI based Autonomous Systems in Space](https://newspace.consulting/pioneering-safety-using-runtime-assurance-for-ai-based-autonomous-systems-in-space/): As we venture further into the cosmos, autonomous systems are becoming increasingly crucial for space exploration. These systems promise to extend our reach beyond human limitations, but they also present unique safety challenges. How do we ensure the safety of missions that operate millions of miles from Earth, often in unpredictable environments? One promising approach gaining traction in aviation and aerospace is RunTime Assurance (RTA). This technology works by safely bounding AI behaviors through intelligent safety filtering techniques and involves monitoring complex systems in real-time, ready to intervene if safety parameters are breached. The significance of RTA in space exploration: 1. […]
- [Outpost's Innovative Approach to Space Cargo Return](https://newspace.consulting/outposts-innovative-approach-to-space-cargo-return/): @Outpost is developing a novel solution for returning cargo from orbit, addressing the growing need for efficient space-to-Earth logistics. The company’s journey began with a focus on safely bringing space debris back to Earth and has evolved into an ambitious plan to revolutionize orbital cargo return. Outpost’s latest venture involves launching shipping container-sized spacecraft called Carryall into orbit. These vehicles are designed to advance in-space manufacturing and research by providing a more efficient cargo return capability than traditional methods. The Carryall system combines several technologies to achieve its goals. It features a satellite bus for orbital maneuvering, a deployable heat shield […]
- [The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) Mission: Unraveling the Origins of Phobos and Deimos](https://newspace.consulting/the-martian-moons-exploration-mmx-mission-unraveling-the-origins-of-phobos-and-deimos/): The @Jaxa-led Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, scheduled for launch in 2026, is an ambitious project aimed at exploring Mars’ two moons, Phobos and Deimos. This mission will not only study these enigmatic satellites but also attempt the first-ever sample return from the Martian moon Phobos. A primary scientific goal of MMX is to clarify the origin of the Martian moons. Scientists hope to determine whether Phobos and Deimos were once part of Mars or if they have a different origin. This investigation is crucial for understanding the formation and evolution of the Martian system. Upon reaching Martian space, the spacecraft […]
- [GITAI S2 Robotic System Achieves Milestone on ISS towards In Space Assembly and Servicing](https://newspace.consulting/gitai-s2-robotic-system-achieves-milestone-on-iss-towards-in-space-assembly-and-servicing/): GITAI’s S2’s extraveHicular multi-Objective in-Space servicing Task (GHOST) demonstration represents a significant progress in space robotics. This initiative demonstrates the capabilities of the “S2” variant of GITAI’s 2-meter class Modular Robotic Arm and extravehicular robotic system. The S2 system, an autonomous dual robotic arm, has completed a series of experiments that expand the possibilities for in-space operations. These achievements contribute to the development of commercial space activities, including plans for long-term lunar presence and sustainable on-orbit servicing infrastructure. Project GHOST has advanced GITAI’s extravehicular robotic system to NASA’s Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7. This progress allows both public and private sectors […]
- [Hera's sidekick Milani: Pioneering Asteroid Exploration with CubeSat Technology](https://newspace.consulting/heras-sidekick-milani-pioneering-asteroid-exploration-with-cubesat-technology/): The Hera mission, part of the ESA-NASA AIDA collaboration (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tolgaors_planetarydefense-asteroidmission-nearearthobject-activity-7221849257014657024-inVZ), will deploy two shoe-box sized 6U CubeSats near the Didymos binary asteroid system. The Milani CubeSat was named after Andrea Milani, who was a planetary defence pioneer who first devised what became ESA’s Near Earth Object Coordination Centre. Equipped with full 6-DOF maneuvering capabilities, Milani will operate autonomously post-deployment. Its primary scientific instrument, the ASPECT hyperspectral imager, will conduct detailed surface mapping of both Didymos and Dimorphos. ASPECT’s spectral range allows for comprehensive characterization of surface properties, including space weathering, shock effects, evidence of surface material transfer, and surface roughness. Additionally, Milani […]
- [Advancing Planetary Defense Capabilities through International Collaboration](https://newspace.consulting/advancing-planetary-defense-capabilities-through-international-collaboration/): The international Asteroid Impact Deflection Assessment (AIDA) collaboration, aimed at enhancing our understanding of near-Earth objects (NEOs) and validating planetary defense techniques. The AIDA mission is a joint international collaboration between NASA, European Space Agency (ESA), German Aerospace Center (DLR), Côte d’Azur Observatory (OCA), and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.  AIDA consists mainly of the NASA DART and ESA Hera missions. Asteroid Didymos and its small moonlet Dimorphos make up what’s called a binary asteroid system – meaning the small moon (Dimorphos) orbits the larger body (Didymos). Dimorphus has a radius of 85m and mass of 5 billion kg. Following […]
- [Nuclear Micro-Reactors: Powering the Future of Space Exploration](https://newspace.consulting/nuclear-micro-reactors-powering-the-future-of-space-exploration/): As space agencies and private companies set their sights on long-term lunar missions and deep space exploration, the need for reliable, long-lasting power sources becomes increasingly critical. Nuclear micro-reactors are emerging as a promising solution to meet these challenging energy demands in space. @UK Space Agency (UKSA) under the National Space Innovation Programme, awarded £4.8m co-funding to Rolls-Royce, to accelerate the development of their space nuclear power technology, bringing the UK closer to demonstrating a full system space flight reactor by the end of this decade. The Rolls-Royce micro-reactor is designed to produce at least 50-100 kW of power, offering several […]
- [LUMIO CubeSat to Monitor Meteoroid Impacts on the Moon](https://newspace.consulting/lumio-cubesat-to-monitor-meteoroid-impacts-on-the-moon/): The @European Space Agency’s LUnar Meteoroid Impacts Observer (LUMIO) mission is set to enhance our understanding of meteoroid impacts on the Moon. This innovative CubeSat, scheduled for launch as early as 2027, will observe and characterize meteoroid strikes on the lunar farside. LUMIO builds upon the success of its ESA-supported precursor, the NEO Lunar Impacts and Optical TrAnsients (NELIOTA) project, which began in 2017 to monitor the Moon for impact flashes using a refurbished telescope. LUMIO’s primary objective is to detect the brief flashes of light produced when meteoroids impact the lunar surface. By continuously monitoring these impacts, the mission will […]
- [Look Up: Asteroid Apophis to Make Historic Close Pass by Earth in 2029](https://newspace.consulting/look-up-asteroid-apophis-to-make-historic-close-pass-by-earth-in-2029/): In the realm of space exploration, few events capture the imagination quite like a close celestial encounter. On April 13, 2029, asteroid 99942 Apophis, named after the Egyptian god of chaos and destruction, will pass within 32,000 km of Earth—closer than some telecommunications satellites in geostationary orbit and visible in the night sky to the naked eye from parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. This rare flyby presents an unprecedented opportunity for scientific discovery and planetary defense research. Enter the European Space Agency’s Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (RAMSES). This ambitious project, named after an  Egyptian pharaoh, aims to rendezvous […]
- [Existence of Lunar Caves Confirmed: Natural Shelters for Humans and Infrastructure](https://newspace.consulting/existence-of-lunar-caves-confirmed-natural-shelters-for-humans-and-infrastructure/): A recent paper  “Radar evidence of an accessible cave conduit on the Moon below the Mare Tranquillitatis pit” has confirmed the existence of caves on the moon, opening up exciting possibilities for future lunar exploration and habitation. These subterranean structures, known as lunar lava tubes, offer a promising solution for protecting humans and vital electronic equipment from the harsh conditions on the lunar surface.  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-024-02302-y Lava tubes are natural underground tunnels formed by ancient volcanic activity. They are formed when the upper part of a given lava stream cools down and crusts while the lower part of it continues to flow, […]
- [FASTNAV: Lunar Exploration with High-Speed Rover Navigation](https://newspace.consulting/fastnav-lunar-exploration-with-high-speed-rover-navigation/): The Multi-Range Navigation for Fast Moon Rovers project, also known as FASTNAV, has worked on developing, maturing, and demonstrating a navigation solution for a new generation of lunar exploration rovers, with greater continuity of operation making it possible to reach farther distances and higher speeds. This innovative project, led by @GMV’s UK subsidiary and supported by the @European Space Agency (ESA), represents a significant leap forward in planetary navigation technology. The FASTNAV system aims to increase the average rover travel speed to 1 m/s, a substantial improvement over the current 0.13 m/s. This advancement is crucial for meeting ESA’s lunar exploration […]
- [NASA Explores Fungal-Based Habitats for Space Exploration](https://newspace.consulting/nasa-explores-fungal-based-habitats-for-space-exploration/): @NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program has selected a novel habitat-growing concept for further development. The Mycotecture Off Planet project, led by Dr. @Lynn Rothschild at @NASA Ames Research Center, aims to investigate the potential of using fungi to create habitats for future space missions. The project has received a Phase III NIAC award, providing $2 million over two years to advance the concept. This research explores the possibility of astronauts carrying compact structures containing dormant fungi, which could potentially grow into functional habitats when activated with water. The concept leverages mycelia, the thread-like networks that form the main body of […]
- [Pulsed Plasma Rockets: A Potential Game-Changer for Space Exploration](https://newspace.consulting/pulsed-plasma-rockets-a-potential-game-changer-for-space-exploration/): A promising new propulsion system called the Pulsed Plasma Rocket (PPR) is being developed by Howe Industries. This innovative technology utilizes plasma, the fourth state of matter, to generate high-efficiency propulsion for spacecraft. The Pulsed Plasma Rocket (PPR) is originally derived from the Pulsed Fission Fusion concept, but is smaller, simpler, and more affordable.  https://www.nasa.gov/general/pulsed-fission-fusion-puff-propulsion-concept/ Our world is usually broken down into three states of matter: solid, liquid and gas. When matter is cold, it is solid. As it heats up, it turns into a liquid. When more heat is applied, you get a gas. As you add even more heat, […]
- [Japan's Ambitious Plan to Beam Solar Power from Space by 2025](https://newspace.consulting/japans-ambitious-plan-to-beam-solar-power-from-space-by-2025/): Japan aims to beam solar power from space to Earth by 2025. This initiative, part of the On-orbit experiment of HIgh-precision beam control using small SAtellite for MicrowAve power transmission (OHISAMA) project (Japanese for “sunshine”), aims to demonstrate the feasibility of space-based solar power generation and transmission. The project, led by the Japanese space agency JAXA and involving public-private partnerships, will launch a small satellite weighing about 180 kilograms (400 pounds) into low Earth orbit. This miniature space-based solar power plant will use a 2-square-meter photovoltaic panel to generate electricity, which will then be converted into microwaves and beamed to receiving […]
- [ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) Mission: Unlocking Secrets of the Gas Giant and Its Moons](https://newspace.consulting/esas-jupiter-icy-moons-explorer-juice-mission-unlocking-secrets-of-the-gas-giant-and-its-moons/): The @European Space Agency’s JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) mission, launched on April 14, 2023, marks a significant milestone in our exploration of the outer solar system. This ambitious project aims to conduct detailed observations of Jupiter and three of its largest moons: Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa. JUICE’s journey to Jupiter will take approximately 7.5 years, involving multiple planetary flybys for gravity assists. The spacecraft is expected to arrive at Jupiter in July 2031, where it will spend at least three years studying the Jovian system. NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, scheduled to launch in October 2024 will be the first spacecraft […]
- [NASA's OSIRIS-REx Mission Reveals Surprising Phosphate Findings in Bennu Sample](https://newspace.consulting/nasas-osiris-rex-mission-reveals-surprising-phosphate-findings-in-bennu-sample/): Early analysis of the asteroid Bennu sample, returned by NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-Rex) mission, unveils unexpected discoveries. Among the most intriguing findings is the presence of magnesium-sodium phosphate, a mineral not previously detected by the spacecraft’s remote sensing instruments during its time at Bennu. This phosphate discovery, reported in a recent publication in Meteoritics & Planetary Science, offers new insights into Bennu’s composition and potential history. The mineral’s purity and grain size are unprecedented in meteorite samples, distinguishing it from similar phosphates found in other asteroid samples. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/maps.14227 The presence of this water-soluble phosphate, along […]
- [Sun Journalism 2024: 'Out-of-control 1,120mph debris from NASA asteroid impact headed for Earth' ...aka minuscule debris pebbles destined to become shooting stars.](https://newspace.consulting/sun-journalism-2024-out-of-control-1120mph-debris-from-nasa-asteroid-impact-headed-for-earth-aka-minuscule-debris-pebbles-destined-to-become-shooting-stars/): In a shocking turn of events that absolutely no one could have predicted, NASA’s attempt to save humanity from certain doom has instead unleashed a terrifying barrage of… wait for it… space confetti. The Double Asteroid Redirect Test (DART) mission, which successfully demonstrated our ability to direct an asteroid off course, has inadvertently created Earth’s most anticlimactic threat. According to a paper by Dr. Eloy Peña-Asensio and his team (https://arxiv.org/pdf/2408.02836), fragments from the Dimorphos impact could reach our planet in as little as seven years. But before you start stocking up on canned goods and building your underground bunker like a […]
- [Making Lunar History: Chang'e-6 Completes First-Ever Far Side Sample Return](https://newspace.consulting/making-lunar-history-change-6-completes-first-ever-far-side-sample-return/): China’s Chang’e-6 mission has achieved a historic milestone in lunar exploration, successfully returning the first-ever samples from the Moon’s far side. This mission, which concluded with a landing in Inner Mongolia on Tuesday, will help our understanding of lunar geology and planetary formation. The Chang’e-6 mission, named after the Chinese moon goddess, touched down on the 2nd of June on the side of the moon that is never seen from Earth. Only one side of the moon is visible to Earth because it is tidally locked and completes one full rotation in the time it takes to circle the planet. The […]
- [Starpath Aims to Produce Rocket Fuel on the Moon](https://newspace.consulting/starpath-aims-to-produce-rocket-fuel-on-the-moon/): Emerging from stealth mode, Starpath Robotics has revealed its ambitious plans to mine and refine water on the Moon and Mars to create rocket propellant. The start-up creates the hardware to acquire and process extraterrestrial materials into propellant. Starpath’s initial plan involves deploying a fleet of approximately 50 mining machines on the lunar surface to extract water-rich regolith from inhospitable regions like the permanently shadowed craters at the lunar South Pole. The collected material will be transported to processing plants or refineries, where it will be purified into water and then separated into its constituent elements. The most water-rich sites on […]
- [Space Forge Secures £8M to Build UK's First National Microgravity Research Center](https://newspace.consulting/space-forge-secures-funding-to-build-uk-first-national-microgravity-research-center/): Space Forge has secured nearly £8 million in funding from the UK Space Agency’s Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund (SCIF). With a total project value of £13 million, which will be reached through match contributions, this significant investment will enable the establishment of the National Microgravity Research Center, a facility set to act as a catalyst for advanced material research and production. Space Forge’s National Microgravity Research Centre will play a pivotal role in advancing in-space manufacturing research, with a primary focus on inorganic crystal structures grown in microgravity conditions for use in electronics. The global semiconductor industry is anticipated to grow […]
- [A Swarm of Tumbleweed Rovers To Scale Up Mars Data Collection at a Fraction of the Cost](https://newspace.consulting/swarm-of-tumbleweed-rovers-to-scale-up-mars-data-collection/): While NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers have captured the world’s attention with their discoveries on Mars, nearly half of Mars missions have unfortunately ended in failure over the years. Team Tumbleweed offers an innovative approach that dramatically improves the odds of success while exponentially reducing the costs of Mars missions: sending a swarm of low-cost, wind-driven rovers that will roll across the Martian surface like tumbleweeds, plants commonly found in deserts. Team Tumbleweed’s mission is to make deep space accessible for everyone. The New Space start-up has a lot of groundbreaking ideas for cost savings and sustainability. One of them is […]
- [SunCubes: Pioneering Wireless Power Transmission for Space, Satellite, and Terrestrial Applications](https://newspace.consulting/suncubes-pioneering-wireless-power-transmission-for-space-satellite-and-terrestrial-applications/): Despite remarkable advancements in the space sector and the continuous enhancement of space technologies’ efficiency and reliability over the past decade, the issue of power supply continues to obstruct the progress of space activities. In order to enhance the sustainability and flexibility of space operations, Wireless Power Transmission  (WPT) emerges as a compelling solution to reduce the size, weight, and cost of Electric Power Systems (EPS).  The compactness and lightweight nature of laser systems stand out as their primary strength compared to other power supply options, making them well-suited for spacecraft and rover payloads. SunCubes’ laser power beaming technology has the […]
- [M-MATISSE: A New Frontier in Understanding Mars' Ionosphere-Thermosphere and Magnetosphere](https://newspace.consulting/m-matisse-a-new-frontier-in-understanding-mars-ionosphere-thermosphere-and-magnetosphere/): The @European Space Agency (ESA)  announced in November 2023 that the Mars-Magnetosphere ATmosphere Ionosphere and Space-weather SciencE (M-MATISSE) mission is one of three concepts chosen for a 3-year Phase A study. This selection brings M-MATISSE one step closer to potentially being launched as ESA’s seventh medium-sized mission (M7) in 2037 under the Voyage 2050 plan. Led by the @University of Leicester, M-MATISSE aims to revolutionize our understanding of the complex interactions between Mars’ magnetosphere, ionosphere, thermosphere, and the solar wind. The mission will consist of two orbiters, affectionately named Henri and Marguerite after the French artist Henri Matisse and his daughter, […]
- [First Metal 3D Printing on the ISS: A Significant Step Towards In-Orbit Manufacturing](https://newspace.consulting/first-metal-3d-printing-on-the-iss-a-significant-step-towards-in-orbit-manufacturing/): A consortium led by @Airbus has successfully conducted the first metal 3D printing on the International Space Station (ISS). The historic event took place on Thursday, May 30, when the printer created a small S-shaped curve using liquefied stainless steel. The @European Space Agency believes this test demonstrates the printer’s readiness to start manufacturing usable materials in the near future. The metal 3D printer, weighing approximately 180 kg (396 lbs), arrived at the ISS on January 30 this year, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Cygnus NG-20 mission. While plastic-based 3D printers have been used on […]
- [Luleå University of Technology Leads ESA Study of Pioneering Space Mission to Dwarf Planet Ceres](https://newspace.consulting/lulea-university-of-technology-leads-esa-study-of-pioneering-space-mission-to-dwarf-planet-ceres/): @Luleå University of Technology is spearheading an ambitious project called CALICO (Ceres Autonomous Lander Into Crater Occator) to investigate the potential for past or present life on the dwarf planet Ceres. Ceres is the largest planet in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and it is the only dwarf planet located in the inner solar system. The proposed mission, which involves landing a spacecraft on Ceres to analyze its surface material, has been selected by the @European Space Agency (ESA) for further study. Ceres, classified as an ocean world, has garnered significant scientific interest due to the possibility that it […]
- [Space Solar: Harnessing the Sun's Power 24/7 for a Greener Earth" 🌞🌍](https://newspace.consulting/space-solar-harnessing-the-suns-power-24-7-for-a-greener-earth-%f0%9f%8c%9e%f0%9f%8c%8d/): As we strive towards a Net Zero future by 2050, it’s becoming increasingly clear that our current renewable energy infrastructure may not be sufficient to meet our growing energy demands. Space Based Solar Power (SBSP) – a revolutionary concept that could provide clean, continuous, and reliable energy on a global scale provides a sustainable solution. U.K.-based startup @Space Solar is leading the charge with their scalable Constant Aperture Solid State Integrated Orbital Phased Array (CASSIOPeiA) design. This innovative system, spanning 1.7 km in diameter and 4 km in length, is equipped with hundreds of thousands of integrated power modules that receive […]
- [Chang'e 6 Probe Successfully Transfers Lunar Samples in Orbit, Setting Stage for Return to Earth](https://newspace.consulting/change-6-probe-successfully-transfers-lunar-samples-in-orbit-setting-stage-for-return-to-earth/): China’s Chang’e 6 mission has successfully transferred the first-ever samples collected from the far side of the moon between spacecraft in lunar orbit. This was a crucial step for the samples’ eagerly anticipated return to Earth. The Chang’e 6 rocket, carrying the lunar samples, blasted off from the moon’s surface on June 4 and entered lunar orbit. It then approached the Chang’e 6 orbiter. The rendezvous and docking procedure utilized a “handshake” and “hold tight” method, which took approximately 21 seconds to complete, ensuring a secure connection between the two spacecraft. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced that the Chang’e […]
- [Europe's First Mars Rover will use New Nuclear Power Source](https://newspace.consulting/europes-first-mars-rover-will-use-new-nuclear-power-source/): The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that its upcoming Mars mission will feature a new nuclear-powered device that uses the radioactive decay of americium. This marks the first time such a device will be used in a spacecraft, signifying a significant step towards ESA’s goal of reducing its dependence on other space agencies for power systems in future missions to other planets. Europe’s first Mars rover, Rosalind Franklin, has faced numerous delays due to technical issues, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the cancellation of ESA’s partnership with the Russian space agency Roscosmos following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. To proceed without Roscosmos, […]
- [ISS Cold Atom Lab: Unveiling the Secrets of Quantum Physics in Space](https://newspace.consulting/iss-cold-atom-lab-unveiling-the-secrets-of-quantum-physics-in-space/): @NASA’s Cold Atom Lab, the first quantum physics facility aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Cold Atom Lab makes it easier to study the quantum behaviours of atoms. One way is by chilling atoms to small fractions of a degree above the lowest temperature matter can reach, absolute zero. This causes the atoms to move more slowly, which makes them easier to study. In addition, some atoms at this temperature can collectively form a Bose-Einstein Condensate, a state of matter wherein their quantum behaviours, which are typically microscopic, can be observed on a macroscopic scale. On Earth, atoms studied in vacuum […]
- [Powering the Future of Lunar Exploration: The European Charging Station for the Moon](https://newspace.consulting/powering-the-future-of-lunar-exploration-the-european-charging-station-for-the-moon/): @Space Application and @Thales Alenia Space received an extension from the @European Space Agency (ESA) to further develop the European Charging Station for the Moon (ECSM) – a project aimed at providing sustainable energy solutions for future lunar missions. As humanity prepares to return to the Moon, the ECSM represents a critical step towards establishing a sustained presence. The ECSM, a prospective payload for the Argonaut mission, is designed to address two primary mission scenarios each of which are able to provide more than 7 kW to up to three Users during the lunar day: -Astronaut Science Enabler (AstriSci), which can […]
- [ESA Moonlight Advanced Technologies Programme: Paving the Way for Lunar Exploration](https://newspace.consulting/esa-moonlight-navigation-communication/): The European Space Agency (ESA) continues to drive innovation in space exploration through its Moonlight Advanced Technologies programme. The released Work Plan for 2024 outlines ESA’s strategic initiatives aimed at establishing cislunar communication and navigation services. These services act as crucial enablers for other organizations and their business cases. The programme emphasizes future market evolution, user engagement, and international collaboration to shape the future of lunar exploration. The Work Plan’s key themes include: ESA’s commitment to international cooperation is evident through its active engagement in fostering interoperability frameworks and initiatives like LunaNet, which is a collaborative effort between NASA and the […]
- [NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security – Regolith explorer (OSIRIS-Rex) Delivers Asteroid Sample to Earth](https://newspace.consulting/nasas-origins-spectral-interpretation-resource-identification-and-security-regolith-explorer-osiris-rex-delivers-asteroid-sample-to-earth/): @NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security – Regolith explorer (OSIRIS-Rex) spacecraft made history on the  24th September 2023, by successfully delivering a sample from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu to our planet. This achievement marks a significant milestone in planetary science, as it provides researchers with pristine asteroid material to study, offering more insights to the formation of our solar system and the origins of life on Earth. The OSIRIS-REx mission, which launched in September 2016, spent over two years orbiting and mapping Bennu’s surface before attempting a touch-and-go maneuver in October 2020. During this brief encounter, the spacecraft collected […]
- [Unveiling the Origins of Our Solar System: Japan's Hayabusa2 Spacecraft Discovered Primordial Dust Grains](https://newspace.consulting/unveiling-the-origins-of-our-solar-system-japans-hayabusa2-spacecraft-discovered-primordial-dust-grains/): Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft has found dust grains in samples from asteroid Ryugu that predate the formation of our Solar System. These pristine grains, untouched by Earth’s environment, provide an unprecedented glimpse into the early days of our cosmos. The asteroid belongs to the most common class in our solar system, the C-type because they contain a large amount of carbon. Its orbit around the sun exists beyond Mars. Some scientists believe these types of asteroids delivered the raw materials for life to Earth, and that’s why JAXA wanted to investigate Ryugu and borrow some rock from its surface. Hayabusa2’s remarkable journey […]
- [ScienceCraft for Outer Planet Exploration (SCOPE): A Novel Idea for Outer Solar System Exploration](https://newspace.consulting/sciencecraft-for-outer-planet-exploration-scope-a-novel-idea-for-outer-solar-system-exploration/): NASA’s exploration of the outer solar system, particularly the ice giants Neptune and Uranus, has been limited due to the high cost, long travel time, and narrow launch windows associated with these missions. However, a mission concept called SCOPE (ScienceCraft for Outer Planet Exploration) aims to address these challenges and unlock the secrets held by these distant worlds. Developed by NASA aerospace engineer Mahmooda Sultana, SCOPE integrates a science instrument and spacecraft into a single, lightweight structure called a ScienceCraft. The ultra-lightweight quantum dot-based spectrometer is printed directly onto a solar sail. That leaves a lot of room in terms of […]
- [Turning Moon Dust into Vital Resources such as Oxygen and Metal](https://newspace.consulting/turning-moon-dust-into-vital-resources-such-as-oxygen-and-metal/): With national space agencies setting their sights on establishing a permanent human presence on the moon, the challenge becomes how to sustainably support lunar inhabitants. The answer may lie in the fine gray powder coating the moon’s surface – lunar regolith.  Studies have revealed that this unassuming moon dust is laden with untapped potential. Samples returned from the lunar surface confirm that lunar regolith is made up of 40-45% percent oxygen by weight, its single most abundant element, bound up in various minerals. By adapting technologies like the electrolysis process, this oxygen can be extracted for use in life support systems […]
- [First Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Payload to be Transported to the Moon](https://newspace.consulting/first-ultra-wideband-uwb-payload-to-be-transported-to-the-moon/): Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology is gaining recognition for its potential to provide significant benefits in precise positioning and tracking for both terrestrial and space applications. UWB is characterized by its extremely low power spectral densities, immunity to interference from narrow band RF systems, multipath immunity to fading, and the ability to provide precise positioning due to fine time resolution. These unique features make UWB an attractive choice for a wide range of applications. In a recent development, Control Data Systems (CDS) from Romania has signed a payload services agreement with iSpace to transport CDS’s UWB precision localization technology to the Moon. This […]
- [ESA's ATHENA Mission: Unveiling the Hot and Energetic Universe](https://newspace.consulting/esas-athena-mission-unveiling-the-hot-and-energetic-universe/): ESA’s Science Programme Committee (SPC) endorsed a rescoped version of the Athena X-ray observatory. The SPC has recognized that New ATHENA, as a flagship mission of the ESA Science Program, will transform our knowledge in almost every corner of modern astrophysics. This achievement has been the result of a year-long collective design effort by ESA, the Instrument Consortia, and the Science Redefinition Team (SRDT) with the active participation of many members of the ATHENA community. The Advanced Telescope for High ENergy Astrophysics (ATHENA) represents a significant leap forward in X-ray astronomy. Selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) as part of […]
- [Relentless Cosmic Barrage Maintains the Moon's Thin Atmosphere](https://newspace.consulting/relentless-cosmic-barrage-maintains-the-moons-thin-atmosphere/): Until recently, most everyone accepted the conventional wisdom that the moon has virtually no atmosphere. Just as the discovery of water on the moon transformed our textbook knowledge of Earth’s nearest celestial neighbor, recent studies confirm that our moon does indeed have an atmosphere consisting of some unusual gases, including sodium and potassium. It’s an infinitesimal amount of air when compared to Earth’s atmosphere. In fact, the density of the atmosphere at the moon’s surface is comparable to the density of the outermost fringes of Earth’s atmosphere where the International Space Station orbits. One of the critical differences between the atmospheres […]
- [TNO Proposes Qu-STAR: Global Space-Based Quantum Internet](https://newspace.consulting/tno-proposes-qu-star-global-space-based-quantum-internet/): Ground networks can only transmit quantum information over relatively short distances, making them insufficient for global connections. Satellites offer a promising solution for achieving worldwide reach, but the design of a comprehensive global quantum internet is still missing. The Netherlands Organization (TNO) for Applied Scientific Research has initiated a new project called Qu-STAR, aimed at utilizing space to extend the quantum internet globally. This initiative addresses a critical challenge in the development of a global quantum internet: overcoming distance limitations in quantum information exchange. Current ground-based quantum networks face significant constraints, with information exchange limited to a few hundred kilometers. Qu-STAR […]
- [Navigating the Moon: LUPIN Project Charts New Course for Autonomous Lunar Exploration](https://newspace.consulting/navigating-the-moon-lupin-project-charts-new-course-for-autonomous-lunar-exploration/): Co-funded by the European Space Agency – ESA as part of its Navigation Innovation and Support Program (ESA NAVISP), GMV’s LUPIN (Enabling High-Performance PNT in the Lunar Environment) project focuses on developing prototype autonomous navigation technology that uses simulated signals lunar rovers will receive from future Lunar Communication Navigation Systems (LCNS) like Moonlight. The aim is to test new positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) technologies that will be able to support exploration of the lunar surface and other applications. This technology will combine current approaches to planetary PNT with distance measurement signals from the future LCNS. The project recently did field […]
- [Delta Biosciences and the European Space Agency to Launch Landmark Space Medicine Mission to the ISS in 2026](https://newspace.consulting/delta-biosciences-and-the-european-space-agency-to-launch-landmark-space-medicine-mission-to-the-iss-in-2026/): Delta biosciences, a Lithuania-based chemistry company developing space medicine solutions, and the European Space Agency – ESA will launch a long-term mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in early 2026, set to run for almost three years. The objective is to test radiation-resistant pharmaceutical formulations in space. Understanding how medicines degrade during long-duration missions is critical—especially as we prepare for future journeys to the Moon and Mars. Nearly half of today’s medicines might not withstand extended deep-space conditions. By validating resilient formulations in orbit, the trials ensure astronauts remain safe and healthy far from Earth. This mission represents the first […]
- [First Operational Methane-Powered Rocket is Zhuque-2 Launcher](https://newspace.consulting/first-operational-methane-powered-rocket-is-zhuque-2-launcher/): China’s private rocket manufacturer LandSpace successfully launched its modified Zhuque-2E Y2 rocket on Saturday the 17th of May from a dedicated pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China. The mission was the second flight of the methane-liquid oxygen enhanced Zhuque-2 (Vermillion Bird-2), or Zhuque-2E (ZQ-2E), which can carry 4,000 kg to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. The first enhanced 47.3-meter-long Zhuque-2E flight took place in November 2024 and had a diameter of 3.35 meters. This second flight featured an expanded 4.2-meter-diameter composite payload fairing. The company also noted its first use of quasi-real-time wind correction trajectory design technology, claimed to […]
- [MIRORES: Pioneering Far-IR Spectrometer for Resource Prospection on Earth and Beyond](https://newspace.consulting/mirores-pioneering-far-ir-spectrometer-for-resource-prospection-on-earth-and-beyond/): MIRORES (Multiplanetary far-IR ORE Spectrometer), which was initially an European Space Agency – ESA project, could revolutionize resource prospecting on Earth, the Moon, Mars, and other planets. Developed by an interdisciplinary team led by CEO Jakub Ciążela from the Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, MIRORES introduces an innovative far-infrared (far-IR) spectrometer capable of remotely detecting sulfide and oxide ores. The MIRORES instrument operates in the 20–35 μm range, a wavelength not previously used for remote prospection due to high water content in Earth’s atmosphere. This makes it particularly well-suited for planetary prospection on the Moon and Mars, where […]
- [India Successfully Hosts Global Space Exploration Conference GLEX25 in New Delhi](https://newspace.consulting/india-successfully-hosts-global-space-exploration-conference-glex25-in-new-delhi/): The International Astronautical Federation Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX 2025) was held in New Delhi, the capital of India, on May 7-9, gathering over 1,400 participants under the theme “Reaching New Worlds: A Space Exploration Renaissance.” This significant event, co-hosted by the ISRO – Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Astronautical Society Of India (ASI), marked four years since GLEX 2021 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The conference is designed to encouraging the sharing of programmatic, technical and policy information, as well as collaborative solutions, challenges, lessons learnt, and paths forward among all nations with the desire to explore space. India’s […]
- [Helium-3 Orders Marks Major Milestone in Space Resource Economy](https://newspace.consulting/helium-3-orders-marks-major-milestone-in-space-resource-economy/): Space resources startup Interlune announced that its first customers have signed orders to buy Moon-mined Helium-3. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Isotope Program agreed to purchase three liters of the lunar-extracted Helium-3 for delivery no later than 2029. Interlune also unveiled a new commercial customer: Maybell Quantum. Maybell, a quantum computing infrastructure company building ultra-cool refrigerators to keep quantum devices at near-absolute zero temperatures, agreed to purchase thousands of liters of Helium-3 for annual delivery between 2029 and 2035. Helium-3 (He-3), a non-radioactive isotope of helium, is exceptionally scarce on Earth but relatively plentiful on the moon. Over billions of […]
- [Terrestrial Technology Takes Flight: Polimak Space Pioneers Lunar Material Handling](https://newspace.consulting/ai-category-post/): As the space economy accelerates, Earth-based industries are stepping into orbit. One company to note on this basis is Polimak, a veteran of industrial bulk material handling. Through its dedicated division, Polimak Space, the company is now taking its expertise in conveying, processing, and automated storage into the harsh environments of the Moon and beyond. This work represents not only a technological leap, but also a clear example of a Spin-in innovation, where mature terrestrial technology is being successfully applied to solve new challenges in the space domain. Thus, in Polimak’s case, technologies developed over decades for use in industrial bulk […]
- [🚀 ESA’s LightShip: A New Era of Mars Exploration](https://newspace.consulting/esa-lightship-a-new-era-of-mars-exploration/): European Space Agency – ESA is preparing to transform how we reach and study Mars with LightShip, a reusable electric propulsive tug designed to deliver spacecraft to the Red Planet while providing essential communication and navigation services. By inviting European industry and New Space startups into the payload selection process, ESA is democratizing access to interplanetary missions. The MARCONI (MARs COmmunication and Navigation Infrastructure) payload aboard LightShip addresses two critical barriers that typically make Mars missions prohibitively expensive: reliable communication and navigation. From its dedicated service orbit, MARCONI provides data relay infrastructure between Mars surface missions and Earth, while initiating development […]
- [𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐥: 𝐀𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 - 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 2](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%90%8d%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%b0-%f0%9d%90%92%f0%9d%90%a9%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%9c%f0%9d%90%9e-%f0%9d%90%81%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%b3%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a5-%f0%9d%90%80%f0%9d%90%a7/): Following our introduction to New Space Brazil as an alliance of innovative space companies, this second part companies which exemplify the diverse capabilities emerging within Brazil’s space innovation ecosystem. 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐱 𝐀𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞: 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐥’𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 Acrux Aerospace Technologies, founded in 2008, focuses on developing small satellite launch vehicles and propulsion systems. Their flagship Montenegro MK-II micro-launcher aims to deliver payloads up to 40 kg to orbit, currently progressing through Preliminary Design Review with a planned first launch in 2027. Simultaneously, Acrux collaborates with partners including lead @Akaer on the VLN-AKR small launch vehicle, designed to carry nano and microsatellites into equatorial […]
- [𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐥: 𝐀𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%90%8d%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%b0-%f0%9d%90%92%f0%9d%90%a9%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%9c%f0%9d%90%9e-%f0%9d%90%81%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%b3%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a5-%f0%9d%90%80%f0%9d%90%a7-2/): NewSpace Brazil (Aliança das Startups Espaciais Brasileiras – ASB) functions as a national alliance dedicated to uniting, supporting, and representing Brazilian new space startups. The organization promotes development addressing both domestic and international space industry demands. 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: To represent Brazilian space startups in their development of disruptive, agile, competitive, and intelligent solutions for Brazil and the global market. Member Highlights: • Airvantis, founded by Lucas Fonseca, proposed Brazil’s first lunar mission (Garatéa-L) in 2015. Their work focuses on collecting microgravity research data and developing numerical tools that simulate space-based experimental conditions on Earth. This innovation brings new possibilities for R&D while […]
- [South Korean Launch Company Innospace Signals Brazil's Untapped Launch Potential](https://newspace.consulting/south-korean-launch-company-innospace-signals-brazils-untapped-launch-potential/): Nestled just 2 degrees south of the equator, Alcântara Space Centre in Brazil possesses one of the most geostrategically ideal launch sites in the world. Its location allows rockets to leverage Earth’s rotational velocity, reducing fuel requirements and increasing payload capacity—a crucial factor for commercial launch viability. Despite this advantage, the site remained underutilized for decades due to historical, political, economic, and regulatory barriers. However, the tide is turning. INNOSPACE, the first South Korean private New Space company, became the first enterprise to launch from Alcântara in 2022, successfully deploying its HANBIT-TLV (Test Launch Vehicle). By March 2025, the company completed […]
- [Garatéa-L: A Stepping Stone to Brazil's New Space Future](https://newspace.consulting/garatea-l-a-stepping-stone-to-brazils-new-space-future/): The Garatéa-L mission, now in its final qualification phase with the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB/MCTI, represents an important evolution in Brazil’s approach to space ventures and its participation in the global New Space ecosystem. This ambitious initiative, first proposed in 2015 by Lucas Fonseca from Airvantis, aims to expand Brazil’s space capabilities while exploring new collaborative approaches for the country’s space sector. In the Tupi-Guarani language, “garatéa” means “life search” – a fitting name for a mission focused on investigating life’s resilience in extreme environments. The mission, spearheaded by the NewSpace Brazil alliance (Aliança das Startups Espaciais Brasileiras – ASB) and […]
- [Brazil's Space Agriculture Initiative: Planting the Seeds for New Space Economy](https://newspace.consulting/brazils-space-agriculture-initiative-planting-the-seeds-for-new-space-economy/): Brazil, long recognized as an agricultural powerhouse, is planning on taking its expertise beyond Earth. In 2021, Brazil became a signatory to the Artemis Accords, and among various potential contributions, Brazilian Space Agency (AEB/MCTI) in collaboration with Embrapa and the Brazilian government decided that space agriculture would be a strategic priority that leverages the nation’s existing strengths while at the same time aiming for know-how transfer for producing food in rural areas with limited resources, or areas that are affected by droughts. The “Space Farming Brazil” research network represents a remarkable collaboration between government agencies, research institutions, and industry partners. Led […]
- [Inauguration of the African Space Agency: A Milestone for Africa's Space Development](https://newspace.consulting/inauguration-of-the-african-space-agency-a-milestone-for-africas-space-development/): Africa’s space aspirations reached new heights yesterday, April 20, 2025, with the inauguration of the African Space Agency (AfSA) at its headquarters in the new build Space City in Cairo, Egypt. This achievement represents the culmination of efforts that began in January 2016, when the African Union Assembly adopted the African Space Policy and Strategy, establishing the foundation for the continent’s coordinated approach to space activities. Following its inauguration, the African Space Agency serves as the primary entity coordinating Africa’s space cooperation with other international partners. As outlined in the African Space Agency Act, AfSA will enhance space missions across Africa, […]
- [SelenITA: Brazil's Pioneering Lunar Mission Advancing Space Science](https://newspace.consulting/selenita-brazils-pioneering-lunar-mission-advancing-space-science/): Brazil is marking a historic milestone in its space exploration journey with SelenITA, the nation’s first collaborative mission to the Moon. In June 2021 Brazil signed a cooperation agreement with NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration to be part of the Artemis space program, the first Latin American country to do so. The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB/MCTI) contracted Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica – ITA with financial support from Finep to build a CubeSat and some of the science instruments. This international, interdisciplinary and low-cost mission represents a significant advancement in Brazilian space capabilities. Some of the science instruments will be […]
- [Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) and Finep host Strategic Space Projects Workshop](https://newspace.consulting/brazilian-space-agency-aeb-and-finep-host-strategic-space-projects-workshop/): Last week, the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB/MCTI) and Finep hosted the Space Sector Projects Workshop at PIT – Parque de Inovação Tecnológica São José dos Campos. The workshop brought together government, industry, and academic representatives for dialogue on technical, legal, and infrastructure discussions on contracted projects. The discussed projects which are pushing the Brazilian space sector forward: • SatVHR – Small satellite for Earth observation with very high resolution, developed by Visiona Tecnologia Espacial S.A.• VLM-AT – Technological Autonomy Project for the Microsatellite Launch Vehicle, coordinated by the Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço• ML-BR – MicroLauncher BRasil. A small satellite launch […]
- [Naicker Scientific Wins UKSA Aqualunar Challenge with Lunar Microwave to Purify Water](https://newspace.consulting/naicker-scientific-wins-uksa-aqualunar-challenge-with-lunar-microwave-to-purify-water/): Gloucestershire-based NAICKER SCIENTIFIC has won the £150,000 first prize in the UKSA Aqualunar Challenge – the first space challenge prize in British history. This £1.2 million international competition, delivered by Challenge Works (Nesta), sought innovative technologies to purify water from lunar soil for future Moon missions. Technical Director Lolan Naicker and Ciarán Callaghan triumphed over other teams with their “SonoChem” system. Rather than starting with pre-extracted ice, they designed a complete process beginning with lunar regolith extraction. Their innovative solution subjects contaminated water to ultrasound, generating millions of microbubbles. When these bubbles collapse, they create localized high temperature and pressure conditions […]
- [Made in Brazil Micro-Launcher: How Bizu Space Advances National Space Independence](https://newspace.consulting/made-in-brazil-micro-launcher-how-bizu-space-advances-national-space-independence/): The vision of the Complete Brazilian Space Mission (MECB), established in 1978, symbolizes Brazil’s national goal of demonstrating to the world its capability to access space independently. Today, BIZU Space stands as a key contributor to this long-standing ambition through its work on the Micro Lançador BRasileiro (MLBR). At the end of 2023, Brazil made significant progress toward this goal when Finep (Funding Authority for Studies and Projects) and the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB/MCTI) signed two contracts for national launch vehicle development, beginning in 2024. These initiatives aim to fulfil the national space aspiration within a challenging three-year timeframe, including the […]
- [𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐥’𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲: 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%90%81%f0%9d%90%ae%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a5%f0%9d%90%9d%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%a0-%f0%9d%90%81%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%b3%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a5%f0%9d%90%ac/): The Brazilian Space Industry workshop recently convened at Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas (IPT) in São Paulo. This first of its kind event in Brazil, organized by the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB/MCTI) and Lucas Fonseca with technical support from the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) attracted major companies, entrepreneurs, and investors collectively focused on shaping Brazil’s New Space economy. The workshop explored multiple facets of the New Space economy through diverse panel discussions covering agriculture, mining, high-impact sustainability initiatives, global market trends, private space stations, lunar projects, and community-impacting initiatives worldwide. By intentionally limiting attendance, organizers ensured quality, meaningful dialogue […]
- [Power as a Service: Space Power's Mission to Energize the Space Economy](https://newspace.consulting/power-as-a-service-space-powers-mission-to-energize-the-space-economy/): Space Power is advancing the frontier of space energy solutions through innovative optical energy transmission technology, offering spacecraft operators a solution to power constraints. The company has developed the world’s first universally compatible power beam, establishing the foundation for Power as a Service (PaaS) across diverse applications in Earth orbit and beyond. The company’s journey began in February 2019 when the co-founders met for the first time at a Techstars London Space Hackathon and became finalists. This success sparked the beginning of the Space Power story. A major milestone was a terrestrial demonstrator in January 2023, where their technology successfully tracked […]
- [Isar Aerospace First Launch Does Not Go as Planned: Valuable Data Collected Despite Early 'Full Spectrum' Flight Termination](https://newspace.consulting/isar-aerospace-first-launch-does-not-go-as-planned-valuable-data-collected-despite-early-full-spectrum-flight-termination/): The first launch of Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket provided crucial engineering insights despite ending approximately 30 seconds after liftoff on March 30, 2025. The two-stage, 28-meter tall vehicle designed to carry up to 1,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit successfully launched from Andøya Spaceport in Norway at 12:30 CET after several weather-related delays from its original March 24 launch date The live broadcast showed successful ignition of the nine first-stage Aquila engines and a clean liftoff from the pad. However, around 18 seconds into flight, the rocket’s vector control system appeared to begin overcorrecting. The rocket’s propellant lines were successfully cut […]
- [Commercial Space Habitat Starlab Passes Important Milestone Towards 2028 Orbital Operations](https://newspace.consulting/commercial-space-habitat-starlab-passes-important-milestone-towards-2028-orbital-operations/): The commercial space station landscape is witnessing a significant development as Starlab advances into full-scale production following a successful Preliminary Design Review (PDR) with NASA. This joint initiative between U.S.-based Voyager Technologies and European Airbus represents a critical step toward establishing sustained human presence in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) beyond the International Space Station’s retirement. Designed to accommodate four occupants within its habitat module and attached service segment, Starlab is scheduled for a 2028 deployment aboard SpaceX’s Starship launch system in one piece. The venture has expanded its collaborative framework to include the European Space Agency – ESA, Japanese industrial partner Mitsubishi […]
- [ESA's Hera Mission Validates Critical Feature Recognition Navigation Technology at Mars](https://newspace.consulting/esas-hera-mission-validates-critical-feature-recognition-navigation-technology-at-mars/): The recent European Space Agency – ESA’s Hera mission Mars flyby represented an opportunity to test the significant advancement in how spacecraft navigate autonomously using feature recognition from data recorded by spacecraft orbiting Mars. This technical achievement by GMV engineering teams from Spain and Romania demonstrates a capability to identify and track previously mapped surface features in real-time during a high-speed planetary encounter. Unlike previous navigation systems that required detailed prior surface mapping, this technology successfully tracked up to 100 features distributed equally across four quarters of the target surface during the Mars flyby, prioritizing the top six distinctive elements for […]
- [Space Logistics: Varda's Successful Australian Landing Demonstrates Orbital Manufacturing Potential](https://newspace.consulting/space-logistics-vardas-successful-australian-landing-demonstrates-orbital-manufacturing-potential/): Varda Space Industries‘ W-2 capsule successfully touched down at the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia on February 28, 2025. The 120-kilogram capsule completed its six-week orbital mission, demonstrating significant advances in both reentry technology and in-space manufacturing capabilities. Varda Space is a microgravity-enabled life sciences company that processes materials in orbit and returns them to Earth. The W-2 mission serves dual scientific and commercial purposes. Carrying the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Optical Sensing of Plasmas in the Reentry Environment (OSPREE) spectrometer, the capsule captured unprecedented in-situ measurements of plasma formation during hypersonic reentry—data previously impossible to gather through ground-based […]
- [German Isar Aerospace to Make History with First European Vertical Orbital Launch from Norway](https://newspace.consulting/german-isar-aerospace-to-make-history-with-first-european-vertical-orbital-launch-from-norway/): Isar Aerospace marks a pivotal moment in European space history as it counts down toward the maiden flight of its Spectrum rocket from Norway’s Andøya Spaceport, with permission granted by the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The launch, scheduled within a window from today until March 30th pending favourable weather conditions, represents not only the culmination of seven years of dedicated engineering but also positions Isar to achieve what German competitor Rocket Factory Augsburg – RFA had initially aimed for – becoming the first European company to conduct a vertical orbital launch from European soil (excluding Russia). The Munich-based startup, named […]
- [UK New Space Pioneers Join Forces: Space Solar and Magdrive Form Strategic Partnership to Build Space Infrastructure](https://newspace.consulting/uk-new-space-pioneers-join-forces-space-solar-and-magdrive-form-strategic-partnership-to-build-space-infrastructure/): Space Solar, the pioneering Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) startup, has joined forces with neighbouring propulsion innovatorMagdrive to accelerate the development of large-scale in-space infrastructure. This strategic collaboration emerges from the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus space ecosystem. Unveiled at the Farnborough International Space Show, this partnership between two of the UK’s most promising space technology start-ups has been formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding. The collaboration will operate under the newly formed Space Propulsion & Infrastructure Innovation Initiative (SPI³), representing a strategic alignment of complementary technologies essential for next-generation space infrastructure. The initiative addresses a fundamental challenge in realizing space-based solar […]
- [German RFA Secures Historic UK Launch License: Milestone for European Launch Capability Amid Technical Challenges](https://newspace.consulting/german-rfa-secures-historic-uk-launch-license-milestone-for-european-launch-capability-amid-technical-challenges/): Rocket Factory Augsburg – RFA has achieved a significant milestone by obtaining a spaceflight operator license from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, clearing regulatory pathways for the first vertical rocket launch from British soil. This development positions RFA’s upcoming mission at SaxaVord Spaceport in northern Scotland to become the first orbital vertical launch for the UK. For Europe Isar Aerospace is about to become the pioneer. “This is a groundbreaking moment for RFA and for Europe’s space industry,” noted Jörn Spurmann, RFA co-founder and chief commercial officer. “Securing the first-ever launch license outside the European Space Agency’s established site in Kourou […]
- [Firefly Aerospace Successfully Completes 14 Days of Surface Operations on the Moon](https://newspace.consulting/firefly-aerospace-successfully-completes-14-days-of-surface-operations-on-the-moon/): Firefly Aerospace has marked a significant milestone in commercial lunar exploration, achieving 100% of its mission objectives during its NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration sponsored Blue Ghost Mission 1. The mission featured the first fully successful commercial Moon landing on March 2, followed by more than 14 days (346 hours) of daylight operations and an additional 5 hours of function into the lunar night, with final data transmission received on March 16. This achievement represents the longest commercial operations conducted on the lunar surface to date. The ten NASA payloads successfully deployed on the mission accomplished the following: ● […]
- [First UK Launch License for Sustainable In-Space Manufacturing Satellite ForgeStar-1](https://newspace.consulting/first-uk-launch-license-for-sustainable-in-space-manufacturing-satellite-forgestar-1/): Space Forge, the Wales-based NewSpace company, has reached a significant milestone in space-based manufacturing with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) granting the first launch license for its In-Space Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) satellite named ForgeStar-1. The ForgeStar-1 mission represents Space Forge’s inaugural demonstration of in-orbit manufacturing capabilities. The satellite will utilize the distinctive conditions of space—microgravity, vacuum, and extreme temperature differentials—to produce materials with properties unattainable on Earth. Research suggests these space-manufactured materials could contribute to a reduction in CO2 emissions for high-value infrastructure, while enabling advancements across multiple sectors: • Semiconductor development with enhanced performance characteristics• Quantum computing components […]
- [Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume Surface Studies Reveals Critical Lunar Landing Dynamics](https://newspace.consulting/stereo-cameras-for-lunar-plume-surface-studies-reveals-critical-lunar-landing-dynamics/): Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume Surface Studies (SCALPSS) mounted on Firefly Aerospace‘s Blue Ghost Lander represents a significant advancement in understanding how spacecraft interact with the Moon’s surface during critical landing moments. SCALPSS serves primarily as an experiment, designed to document the effects of engine plumes on lunar regolith. The recent deployment of SCALPSS 1.1 during Blue Ghost’s successful touchdown in Mare Crisium on March 2 yielded important data for the NASA Langley Research Center team. These first-of-their-kind images document the complex interaction between spacecraft engines and lunar soil, knowledge that becomes increasingly valuable as the travel to the moon becomes […]
- [Beneath Lunar Dust: NASA Blue Ghost Mission Utilizes Magnetotelluric Sounder to Chart Moon's Interior](https://newspace.consulting/beneath-lunar-dust-nasa-blue-ghost-mission-utilizes-magnetotelluric-sounder-to-chart-moons-interior/): The Lunar Magnetotelluric Sounder (LMS) developed by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is probing the interior of the Moon to depths of up to 1100 km (700 miles), two-thirds of the way to the lunar center. This is one of ten NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) commissioned payloads. The LMS is analysing natural variations in electric and magnetic fields to determine how electricity flows through subsurface materials, revealing their composition and structure. The ingenious design of LMS involves four electrodes deployed via spring mechanisms to distances of about 20 m from the central electronics box […]
- [How SpaceData's Digital Moon Will Be Transforming Lunar Exploration](https://newspace.consulting/how-spacedatas-digital-moon-will-be-transforming-lunar-exploration/): A pioneering comprehensive digital twin of the Moon is now taking shape through a collaboration agreement between ispace, inc. and Spacedata Inc., announced on March 7, 2025. At its core, the digital twin will serve as a high-fidelity topographical model built using actual lunar data acquired during ispace’s exploration missions. This virtual replica extends beyond surface mapping to incorporate the unique physics of the lunar environment, including gravity effects and communication delays. The technology addresses a fundamental barrier in space exploration: the prohibitive costs and inherent risks of lunar testing. By creating an accurate testing ground, the partnership enables verification of […]
- [Lunar Lander Déjà Vu: Intuitive Machines' Second Attempt to Land on the Moon Also Went Sideways Due to a Laser Rangefinder Issue](https://newspace.consulting/lunar-lander-deja-vu-intuitive-machines-second-attempt-to-land-on-the-moon-also-went-sideways-due-to-a-laser-rangefinder-issue/): For the second time in just over a year, Intuitive Machines‘ lunar lander ended up on its side after touchdown due to the same critical sensor that affected its predecessor Odysseus—a laser rangefinder that left the spacecraft without accurate data during its final descent phase. Despite meticulous preparation following the first mishap, where the laser rangefinder was not activated and an alternative NASA Navigation Doppler Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) payload was activated, the Intuitive Machines (IM) engineering team found itself facing a troublingly familiar scenario. As the lander Athena approached within 30 kilometers of the lunar surface, the laser-based altimeters […]
- [𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬: 𝐊𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐮'𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%90%92%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a6%f0%9d%90%ae%f0%9d%90%a5%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%ad%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%a7-%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%9d-%f0%9d%90%83%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a0/): Komatsu, Japan’s established heavy equipment manufacturer, is bringing decades of terrestrial construction expertise to lunar construction. This transition represents a classic “Spin-In” scenario where proven Earth technologies are being modified for space environments. As part of Japan’s Stardust Program, Komatsu leads the Space Construction Innovation Project with responsibility for research and development of lunar construction machines. The project aims to develop autonomous construction technologies for building a base supporting long-term lunar surface habitation by the early 2030s. The lunar environment presents three fundamental challenges that Komatsu addresses through innovative engineering approaches. 𝐋𝐨𝐰-𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 First, the moon’s one-sixth gravity requires rethinking machine stability […]
- [Don't Give Up (Take 2): AstroForge's Odin Mission Loss Demonstrates New Space Iterative Learning](https://newspace.consulting/dont-give-up-take-2-astroforges-odin-mission-loss-demonstrates-new-space-iterative-learning/): The developmental arc of New Space startups rarely follows a linear path, with each technical challenge contributing valuable data points to the collective knowledge base. AstroForge‘s Odin mission, while not achieving the planned objectives, adds important chapters to the New Space development story – where ambitious timelines meet the complex realities of spacecraft operations beyond the Moon. AstroForge’s trajectory reflects the iterative nature inherent to space innovation. Their first mission, Brokkr-1, launched in April 2023, encountered difficulties activating their space-based refining technology demonstration. Rather than halting progress, AstroForge adapted by shifting away from third-party components, which had caused the issues, developing […]
- [From Earth to the Moon: GNSS Technology's Cislunar Reach](https://newspace.consulting/from-earth-to-the-moon-gnss-technologys-cislunar-reach/): The NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration–Agenzia Spaziale Italiana collaboration Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment (LuGRE), is the first Italian payload to reach the lunar surface. The use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), which were designed for navigation on Earth expanded significantly on March 3, 2025, when the LuGRE payload successfully acquired Galileo and GPS navigation signals on the lunar surface. This achievement, demonstrates the practical application of an existing technology in a new frontier, approximately 360,000 km from our home planet. LuGRE, was transported to the Moon aboard Firefly Aerospace‘s Blue Ghost lander under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services […]
- [Drilling for Lunar Heat Flow Measurements: The Key to Understanding Moon's Geology](https://newspace.consulting/drilling-for-lunar-heat-flow-measurements-the-key-to-understanding-moons-geology/): The exploration of our lunar neighbour continues to advance through innovative instrumentation designed to unlock the Moon’s geological secrets. Among these is LISTER (Lunar Instrumentation for Subsurface Thermal Exploration with Rapidity), currently operating aboard Firefly Aerospace‘s Blue Ghost lunar lander. LISTER represents a collaborative achievement between Texas Tech University and Honeybee Robotics, a Blue Origin Company. This specialized thermal probe measures critical heat flow parameters from the Moon’s interior, providing valuable insights into lunar thermal flows. Note that this is the deepest-reaching (up to 3m) planetary subsurface thermal probe ever deployed outside Earth. The instrumentation operates through a sophisticated pneumatic drilling […]
- [𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 1'𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%90%85%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%9f%f0%9d%90%a5%f0%9d%90%b2-%f0%9d%90%80%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%ac%f0%9d%90%a9%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%9c%f0%9d%90%9e/): Firefly Aerospace has just made history as the first commercial company to execute a successful lunar landing mission. The lander touched down within its 100-meter landing target next to a volcanic feature called Mons Latreille. Inertial readings confirmed the lander is upright in a stable configuration. Following touchdown, Firefly is successfully commanding and communicating with the lander from its Mission Operations Center in Cedar Park, Texas. 𝐀 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 Following a successful Descent Orbit Insertion, the spacecraft coasted with all engines off for approximately 30 minutes until it descended to about 20 km above the surface. What followed was a […]
- [𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻+ 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 $𝟮𝟬𝗠 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%97%9e%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%bf%f0%9d%97%ba%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%bb-%f0%9d%97%a6%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%97%b0%f0%9d%98%82%f0%9d%97%bf%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%98%80-%f0%9d%9f%ae%f0%9d%9f%ac%f0%9d%97%a0/): Karman+, the Colorado-based asteroid mining startup, has secured $20 million in seed financing to advance development of its inaugural demonstration mission—High Frontier—scheduled for launch in February 2027. The company’s name draws inspiration from the Kármán Line, the boundary where Earth’s atmosphere gives way to space, mirroring co-founders Teun van den Dries and Daynan Crull‘s approach to reimagining space resource utilization. While recent asteroid missions carried substantial price tags—JAXA’s Hayabusa-2 cost approximately $250 million and NASA’s OSIRIS-REx approached $1.16 billion—Karman+ aims to achieve comparable objectives at a fraction of the cost.“We looked at the list of materials for Hayabusa-2 and threw out […]
- [Magdrive Secures $10.5M to Pioneer New Spacecraft Propulsion and Expand to US Market](https://newspace.consulting/magdrive-secures-10-5m-to-pioneer-new-spacecraft-propulsion-and-expand-to-us-market/): Magdrive, the UK-based New Space propulsion startup, has secured $10.5 million in new funding to accelerate its manufacturing capabilities, continue R&D efforts, and establish a US presence with a new office in Los Angeles. This latest investment builds upon their previous $1.8 million seed round led by Founders Fund in 2020 and approximately $10 million in non-dilutive grants, positioning the company to transition from development to commercial production. Founded in 2019 by CEO Mark Stokes and CTO Thomas Clayson, Magdrive has developed an innovative Electric Propulsion (EP) system that addresses a fundamental challenge in spacecraft design. Traditional propulsion options have forced […]
- [Navigation Beyond Artificial Systems: Harnessing the Universe's Natural Signals](https://newspace.consulting/navigation-beyond-artificial-systems-harnessing-the-universes-natural-signals/): In the vast expanse of deep space and on distant planetary surfaces, human made navigation systems do not exist. However, the universe itself provides remarkable natural beacons that can guide our exploration efforts, offering opportunities for autonomous navigation when properly utilized. Among the various natural cosmic phenomena that scientists have explored for navigation purposes, pulsars stand out as particularly promising celestial beacons with remarkable timing precision. A pulsar, emits periodic—or repeating—bursts of radio waves, X-rays and gamma rays. The first pulsar was discovered in 1967. Use of radio pulsars as navigation beacons was first considered shortly after their discovery. The idea […]
- [ICARUS: European Innovation in Rocket Stage Recovery](https://newspace.consulting/icarus-european-innovation-in-rocket-stage-recovery/): The European Commission has awarded €10 million in funding through the Horizon Europe programme to develop an innovative inflatable heat shield system called ICARUS (Inflatable Concept Aeroshell for the Recovery of a re-Usable launcher Stage). This project, led by Deimos, demonstrates the feasibility of using inflatable heat shields for recovering rocket stages and protecting cargo during re-entry from space. Building upon the success of previous EFESTO (European Flexible hEat Shields advanced TPS design and tests for future in-Orbit demonstration) projects, ICARUS will result in an advancement of European re-entry technology. The project spans four years, started in June 2024, with a […]
- [ATMOS Secures €13.1 Million Funding from European Union Accelerator Program to Advance PHOENIX 2 Development](https://newspace.consulting/atmos-secures-e13-1-million-funding-from-european-union-accelerator-program-to-advance-phoenix-2-development/): ATMOS Space Cargo, a leading European space logistics startup, has been awarded €13.1 million in total funding by the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator, a key program of the European Union’s (EU) Horizon Europe framework. This strategic investment, comprising a €2.5 million grant and €5.3 million equity from the EIC fund, complemented by €5.3 million in private equity, marks a significant milestone for European New Space start-up advancement. The funding announcement comes at a pivotal moment as ATMOS prepares for the inaugural flight of its PHOENIX 1 capsule this April. The EIC investment will accelerate development of PHOENIX 2, introducing key technological […]
- [Water from Moon Dust: The LUWEX Project Demonstrates Lunar Water Extraction Technology](https://newspace.consulting/water-from-moon-dust-the-luwex-project-demonstrates-lunar-water-extraction-technology/): The LUWEX (Validation of Lunar Water Extraction and Purification Technologies for In-Situ Propellant and Consumables Production) project has reached completion, demonstrating significant progress in lunar water extraction capabilities. This Horizon Europe-funded initiative brought together expertise from Germany (DLR, Technische Universität Braunschweig), Austria (Liquifer Systems Group), Poland (Scanway, Wrocław University of Science and Technology), and Italy (Thales Alenia Space) to tackle one of fundamental challenges of sustainable human lunar presence. Led by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the project successfully validated technologies for extracting and purifying water from lunar regolith simulant under laboratory conditions that closely mirror the lunar environment. Key technical […]
- [Data Centers in Space: Racing with AI Progress and Launch Economics](https://newspace.consulting/data-centers-in-space-racing-with-ai-progress-and-launch-economics/): The concept of orbital data centers continues to captivate investors, with Star Cloud (formerly Lumen Orbit (YC S24)) emerging as the first company to raise funding in this field. Their architecture envisions multi-gigawatt compute clusters in space, powered by solar arrays and connected to Earth through high-bandwidth optical lasers – a direct response to the computational demands of the current AI solutions. In Europe Thales Alenia Space and Leonardo Space coordinated the ASCEND (Advanced Space Cloud for European Net zero Emission and Data sovereignty) feasibility study about data centers in space, which was co-funded by the EU. Star Cloud has gained […]
- [Lunar Exploration Leaps Forward: NASA's IM-2 Mission to Bring Payloads to the Moon's South Pole](https://newspace.consulting/esa-business-in-space-growth-network-announces-first-space-resources-accelerator-cohort-building-tomorrows-lunar-economy/): The next chapter in lunar exploration unfolds as NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program prepares for the Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission. Planned for launch on February 27, 2025, from Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, this mission represents another significant step in private-public partnerships for lunar exploration. The mission’s key payloads on the Intuitive Machines’ Athena lander (references to each in the comments): • NASA’s PRIME-1 (Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment 1), a sophisticated drilling system that penetrates up to one meter into the lunar surface. This technology opens new possibilities for understanding the distribution and accessibility […]
- [ESA's OpSTAR Initiative: Advancing Optical Navigation for Future Space Systems](https://newspace.consulting/opstar-initiative-advancing-optical-navigation-for-future-space-systems/): Optical technology is emerging as an alternative solution for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), with applications ranging from GNSS-denied or lacking environments like Mars to potential integration into future GNSS systems themselves. The European Space Agency (ESA) has recently taken a significant step forward by initiating a definition study for OpSTAR (Optical Synchronized Time And Ranging), contracting with a consortium of 33 European companies led by OHB System. Optical links, which transmit data using laser beams instead of radio signals, have established their reliability in satellite communications. However, their adaptation for navigation requires addressing unique challenges in precision time synchronization and […]
- [From VIPER to FLIP: Commercial Innovation Shapes Griffin-1 Lunar Mission](https://newspace.consulting/from-viper-to-flip-commercial-innovation-shapes-griffin-1-lunar-mission/): Astrolab‘s FLIP (FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform) rover will serve as the primary payload on Astrobotic‘s Griffin-1 lunar landing mission, following NASA’s July 2023 decision to discontinue the VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) project due to funding constraints. While NASA maintains its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) task order with Astrobotic, the mission has transformed from a VIPER delivery into a lander demonstration flight, opening opportunities for commercial payloads to be delivered to the Moon. The mission, scheduled for late 2025, will target the Nobile Region near the Moon’s south pole. FLIP represents a scaled-down version of Astrolab’s larger FLEX rover, […]
- [ATMOS Space Cargo To Become First European Private Company to Attempt Space Re-Entry](https://newspace.consulting/atmos-space-cargo-to-become-first-european-private-company-to-attempt-space-re-entry/): After receiving crucial payload review approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), German New Space company ATMOS Space Cargo is set to make European private spaceflight history. The company’s Phoenix capsule, equipped with an innovative inflatable heat shield system, will demonstrate re-entry capabilities during its maiden flight aboard SpaceX‘s Bandwagon-3 rideshare mission this April. This milestone positions ATMOS within a growing commercial space ecosystem focused on payload return capabilities. The Phoenix-1 prototype capsule’s 100-kilogram capacity, coupled with its scalable architecture supporting potential multi-ton returns, addresses emerging needs across biotech, space manufacturing, and rapid cargo delivery sectors. The mission architecture integrates multiple […]
- [Advancing Lunar Resource Detection: China's Flying Mini Probe to Explore Moon's Dark Craters](https://newspace.consulting/advancing-lunar-resource-detection-chinas-flying-mini-probe-to-explore-moons-dark-craters/): China’s lunar exploration program advances with the planned Chang’e-7 mission, scheduled for 2026. The mission features an innovative mini flying probe designed to explore previously inaccessible regions of the Moon’s south pole in search of ice. The payload details including for the lander and rover are described in 2 journal publications [1,2]. The mission addresses a persistent challenge in lunar exploration: accessing permanently shadowed regions at the bottom of deep impact craters. These areas, perpetually dark due to the low angle of sunlight and the shadowing effect of crater walls, may harbor valuable water ice deposits crucial for future lunar missions. […]
- [AstroForge Selects Asteroid Target for First Private Deep Space Prospecting Mission](https://newspace.consulting/astroforge-selects-asteroid-target-for-first-private-deep-space-prospecting-mission/): AstroForge has identified asteroid 2022 OB5, a near-Earth asteroid measuring up to 100 meters in diameter with potentially metallic composition, as the target for its upcoming Odin mission. The journey to this celestial body will take approximately 300 days, with a particularly advantageous characteristic – the asteroid will pass within approximately 600,000 km of Earth in January 2026. AstroForge’s journey hasn’t been without obstacles. Their first mission, Brokkr-1, launched in April 2023, encountered difficulties due to third-party components.Demonstrating technical agility, AstroForge accelerated the development of an internally designed spacecraft originally planned for their third mission. This new 100-kg Odin vehicle, manufactured […]
- [Building Blocks of Life Found in NASA's Asteroid Bennu Sample](https://newspace.consulting/building-blocks-of-life-found-in-nasas-asteroid-bennu-sample/): Analysis of asteroid Bennu samples has revealed the presence of fundamental chemical building blocks essential for life as we know it, with the findings published in Nature (1) and Nature Astronomy (2). These samples, collected through NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration‘s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-Rex) mission and returned to Earth in 2023, contain approximately 120g of pristine asteroid material. This samples have proven to be an extraordinary treasure trove of organic compounds, including 14 of the 20 amino acids that life on Earth uses to build proteins – and all four nucleobases essential for […]
- [ESA's €862 Million Lunar Lander Contract Marks New Era in European Space Capabilities](https://newspace.consulting/esas-e862-million-lunar-lander-contract-marks-new-era-in-european-space-capabilities/): The European Space Agency – ESA has taken a decisive step in advancing lunar exploration capabilities by awarding a €862 million contract to Thales Alenia Space for the design, development, and delivery of the Argonaut Lunar Descent Element (LDE). Designed for versatility and longevity, Argonaut represents Europe’s entry into autonomous lunar landing capabilities. Starting in the early 2030s, this lunar lander will serve as Europe’s primary cargo delivery system to the Moon, supporting international lunar exploration by transporting essential resources, scientific equipment, and infrastructure components. The system’s engineering enables it to withstand the extreme temperature variations between lunar day and night […]
- [Little House on the Moon: Is Space the Artworld's Final Frontier?](https://newspace.consulting/little-house-on-the-moon-is-space-the-artworlds-final-frontier/): The space race has primarily centered on technological milestones and scientific breakthroughs. Yet, as Swedish artist Mikael Genberg shows with The Moonhouse project, cultural expression holds its own essential place in space exploration. This intriguing initiative, which will place a miniature traditional red-and-white Swedish house on the lunar surface via ispace, inc.‘s Mission 2 rover, adds a compelling artistic dimension to the lunar mission. The Moonhouse’s journey spans 25 years, evolving from an artist’s vision to a payload aboard the TENACIOUS rover on the RESILIENCE lander. While some question the allocation of precious payload capacity to artistic endeavors, the Moonhouse serves […]
- [The Evolution of Lunar Retroreflectors: From Measuring Distance to Location Determination](https://newspace.consulting/the-evolution-of-lunar-retroreflectors-from-measuring-distance-to-location-determination/): Lunar retroreflectors have transformed from simple distance-measuring tools to navigation instruments over five decades of space exploration. The upcoming deployment of new Laser Retroreflective Arrays (LRAs) aboard Firefly Aerospace‘s Blue Ghost Lander Mission 1 marks another milestone in this evolution, joining nine other payloads in NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration‘s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. The journey began with Apollo 11’s lunar laser retroreflector in 1969, which have been instrumental in precisely measuring the Earth-moon distance for over half a century with the discovery that the Moon is moving slightly away from Earth. Modern LRAs represent a significant […]
- [Europe's Pathway to Mars: A Strategic Vision for Sustainable Space Exploration](https://newspace.consulting/europes-pathway-to-mars-a-strategic-vision-for-sustainable-space-exploration/): The European Space Agency – ESA‘s Explore2040 presents a Mars exploration strategy, building upon decades of scientific achievements while recognizing the complexities of interplanetary missions. This strategic initiative, which emerged from the Seville 2023 Space Summit, reflects Europe’s desire to establish continuous, sustainable, and responsible human and robotic exploration of the Solar System by providing unique contributions to benefit society. The Mars strategy introduces an integrated exploration model that connects robotic missions with future human expeditions. The Rosalind Franklin rover mission serves as Europe’s key scientific Mars endeavor, focusing on the search for potential biological signatures on and below the Martian […]
- [𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝: 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐍𝐒𝐒 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧](https://newspace.consulting/lunar-gnss-lugre-quascom/): The evolution of space navigation takes a significant step forward as the Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment (LuGRE) makes its way to the Moon aboard Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Lander Mission 1. This NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration – Agenzia Spaziale Italiana collaboration, will be the first Italian payload to reach the lunar surface with 9 other payloads in NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 The technical heart of LuGRE centers on a specialized Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver developed by Italian space technology company QASCOM. This system processes the attenuated signals from GPS […]
- [Advancing Mars Exploration: Location and Attitude Determination for Fast Wind-Driven Rovers](https://newspace.consulting/advancing-mars-exploration-location-and-attitude-determination-for-fast-wind-driven-rovers/): Team Tumbleweed has developed an innovative approach to Mars exploration that could revolutionize how we gather data on the Red Planet. Our work, recently accepted for presentation at the 2025 Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX25) in New Delhi, India introduces a novel Location and Attitude Determination (LAD) system designed for high-speed Martian Tumbleweed rovers. Traditional Mars rovers, with remarkable achievements, move at cautious speeds that limit their exploration range. Our Tumbleweed rover swarm takes a different approach, achieving speeds of 5 m/s through a wind-driven, rotating design. This represents a significant advancement compared to ESA’s next-generation lunar rovers targeting 1 m/s. […]
- [ispace Launches Second Moon Mission: RESILIENCE Lander Carries European-Built Micro Rover and Scientific Payloads](https://newspace.consulting/ispace-launches-second-moon-mission-resilience-lander-carries-european-built-micro-rover-and-scientific-payloads/): Yesterday marked a significant milestone in commercial lunar exploration as Japanese space company ispace, inc. successfully launched its RESILIENCE lunar lander aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. RESILIENCE is based on ispace’s Hakuto-R solar-powered lander platform. The RESILIENCE lander carries five diverse payloads: • TENACIOUS: A 5-kg micro rover developed by ispace, inc.‘s European subsidiary in Luxembourg. This compact rover features a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic frame, a forward-mounted HD camera, and specialized tools for collecting lunar regolith samples. • Water Electrolyzer Experiment: Developed by Takasago Thermal Engineering, this technology aims to demonstrate the extraction of oxygen and hydrogen from lunar water […]
- [Mapping New Worlds: Fleet Space's Journey from Earth to Planetary Exploration](https://newspace.consulting/mapping-new-worlds-fleet-spaces-journey-from-earth-to-planetary-exploration/): Fleet Space Technologies is preparing to deploy its SPIDER (Seismic Payload for Interplanetary Discovery, Exploration and Research) technology on the Moon’s far side in 2026. As part of Australia’s Moon to Mars initiative, the Australian Space Agency awarded Fleet a grant worth 4 million Australian dollars ($2.6 million) to support development of this geophysical device that will deliver insights about the subsurface of the lunar South Pole and search for water ice deposits. The deployment of SPIDER aboard Firefly Aerospace‘s Blue Ghost lunar mission represents the first Australian seismic technology to venture beyond Earth’s boundaries. SPIDER builds upon Fleet’s successful ExoSphere […]
- [ISRO and ESA: A Strategic Partnership Advances India's Human Spaceflight Program](https://newspace.consulting/isro-and-esa-a-strategic-partnership-advances-indias-human-spaceflight-program/): The collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the European Space Agency – ESA marked a milestone on December 4, 2024, with the signing of a ground station support agreement for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. This partnership builds upon a foundation of successful space cooperation, exemplified by the recent launch of ESA’s Proba-3 mission from Indian soil using an ISRO Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-XL (PSLV-XL). The Gaganyaan program, scheduled for its first uncrewed test mission this year in 2025, aims to demonstrate India’s human spaceflight capabilities by sending three astronauts to a 400-kilometer orbit for a three-day mission. […]
- [In-Space Operations and Services: EU's Bold Space Vision for 2025 and Beyond](https://newspace.consulting/in-space-operations-and-services-eus-bold-space-vision-for-2025-and-beyond/): The EU Space capabilities are entering a new phase, particularly in In-Space Operations and Services (ISOS). The landscape of 2024 brings forth a strategic initiative that builds upon established foundations, including the pioneering EU-RISE project – a 24-month research initiative focused on In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM). The upcoming ISOS pilot mission, scheduled for 2025 under the Horizon Europe framework, represents a natural progression from EU-RISE’s groundwork. While EU-RISE is concentrating on developing an ISAM market analysis and a demonstration scenario with a consortium of 8 partners across 7 countries, the ISOS pilot mission expands this foundation into a broader […]
- [The Democratization of Low Earth Orbit: A New Era of Microgravity Research](https://newspace.consulting/the-democratization-of-low-earth-orbit-a-new-era-of-microgravity-research/): For over two decades, the International Space Station (ISS) has been humanity’s premier microgravity laboratory, advancing our understanding of science and technology. As we enter a new phase of space exploration, NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration‘s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) microgravity strategy is evolving to embrace a more inclusive and commercially driven future. The unique LEO microgravity environment has proven very valuable for scientific discovery, technological innovation, and international collaboration. What began as a government-led initiative is now transforming into a dynamic ecosystem where private New Space companies are becoming increasingly important stakeholders. This shift represents not just a […]
- [Electrodynamic Dust Shield: NASA's Innovation for Lunar Dust Management Takes Flight](https://newspace.consulting/electrodynamic-dust-shield-nasas-innovation-for-lunar-dust-management-takes-flight/): The challenge of lunar dust, a seemingly modest concern on Earth, represents a critical engineering hurdle for renewed lunar ambitions. The Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) technology is on its journey to the Moon aboard Firefly Aerospace‘s Blue Ghost Lander Mission 1, joining nine other payloads in NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration‘s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. Lunar regolith poses unique challenges that set it apart from terrestrial dust. The Moon’s lack of atmospheric weathering has preserved the dust particles’ sharp, glass-like edges, while constant solar radiation charges these particles electrostatically. This combination creates a particularly insidious threat to […]
- [ESA's AI Lab Develops AI Applications for Space Exploration: Balancing Potential with Technology Limitations](https://newspace.consulting/esas-ai-lab-develops-ai-applications-for-space-exploration-balancing-potential-with-technology-limitations/): The European Space Agency – ESA Artificial Intelligence Laboratory for Human and Robotic Space Missions is working to integrate AI across space operations, from astronaut training to autonomous systems deployment. Based at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, the facility focuses on developing practical applications while carefully considering the limitations of current AI paradigm. Despite advances in AI development, fundamental challenges persist: ensuring robust performance in complex, changing environments, managing edge cases, and meeting the rigorous safety standards required for space missions. These limitations must be carefully considered when using AI for space applications. The Lab’s work addresses specific operational challenges […]
- [Kenya's Celebration of Space through Art](https://newspace.consulting/kenyas-celebration-of-space-through-art/): I had the honor of delivering the opening speech at the Space Extravaganza event at the Nairobi Gallery, where a new temporary exhibition unveils the powerful intersection of space and art. Space ignites artistic imagination, while art in turn makes the cosmos more accessible to all. Through this creative lens, the new space exhibit aims to inspire the next generation of Kenyan space enthusiasts and innovators. The display demonstrates that space isn’t just about technology and science – it’s also about human creativity. This unique fusion of art and astronomy is advancing space education and outreach in Kenya, encouraging students, professionals, […]
- [Bridging Silicon Valley and Africa: Silicon Xchange Empowers African Tech Innovation](https://newspace.consulting/bridging-silicon-valley-and-africa-silicon-xchange-empowers-african-tech-innovation/): The Silicon Xchange gathering yesterday was organised by Ashley Njoroge, Augustine Wiah and Tom Bruno in collaboration with Qhala and Tech Connect Africa was an important event bridging the technological ecosystems of Silicon Valley and Africa. Bringing together visionary founders, venture capitalists, and angel investors, the event showcased the emerging wave of African innovation that could reshape global technology landscapes. At the heart of the Early Stage Founders Panel, four entrepreneurs demonstrated how African startups are leveraging cutting-edge technology to address crucial market needs. Gatwĩri Njogu-Mokaya, CEO of VunaPay, presented their innovative approach partnering with agricultural cooperative societies and other farmer […]
- [The Great AI Delusion: Are We Being Seduced By Hallucinating Stochastic Parrots?](https://newspace.consulting/ai-post-two/): As large language models like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude dazzle with their fluent text generation, some so called ‘AI experts’ claim these systems are beginning to approach Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). These bold proclamations are the next great AI delusion, hyping hollow capabilities to raise even more investor funding for an industry already generating billions from the AI hype. The core argument is that since these models “perform a wide variety of tasks without being explicitly trained on each one,” they must leverage some general intelligence. However, this viewpoint dangerously misconstrues what’s actually occurring. In reality, all these “varied” tasks share […]
- [Sony's Bold Leap: From CD Player Laser Technology to Laser Satellite Communications](https://newspace.consulting/sonys-bold-leap-from-cd-player-laser-technology-to-laser-satellite-communications/): As a great example of applying Earth technology to Space,Sony is taking its expertise in CD player laser technology to new frontiers. Through its newly established Sony Space Communications (SSC), the tech giant is addressing one of the most pressing challenges in satellite communications: the growing scarcity of radio spectrum on our planet. This innovative pivot demonstrates how groundbreaking consumer technology can find unexpected applications in solving complex space challenges. Sony’s adaptation of optical disc laser technology for satellite communications showcases the company’s ability to leverage its core competencies in novel ways. The timing couldn’t be better. As the number of […]
- [𝗜𝗦𝗦 𝗜𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗜𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱'𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆](https://newspace.consulting/iss-ignis-mission/): The European Space Agency – ESA, the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, and POLSA Polska Agencja Kosmiczna | Polish Space Agency have announced ‘Ignis’ as the official designation for Poland’s technological and scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission’s name, derived from the Latin word for ‘fire,’ symbolizes the catalytic spark igniting Poland’s ambitious trajectory in space exploration. This strategic mission exemplifies the evolving collaboration between ESA and Poland, reinforcing their partnership in commercial human spaceflight within the Axiom Space mission framework. Ax-4 will be the second commercial human spaceflight mission with an ESA project astronaut. ESA […]
- [Advanced Containment Technology for Mars Sample Return: The Double Walled Isolator](https://newspace.consulting/advanced-containment-technology-for-mars-sample-return-the-double-walled-isolator/): The NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return mission represents one of the 21st century’s most ambitious scientific undertakings, with the fundamental challenge of preserving pristine Martian samples during their journey to Earth. The Perseverance Rover has already collected these precious samples on Mars, which are now stored in sealed titanium tubes awaiting their historic journey back to Earth. The European Space Agency – ESA funded and University of Leicester built Double Walled Isolator (DWI) is a critical component for this mission, designed to protect both the samples from terrestrial contamination and Earth’s environment from potential hazards. Contamination of samples is possible, as demonstrated […]
- [University of Leicester partners with NASA for New Nuclear Power Source for First European Mars Rover](https://newspace.consulting/university-of-leicester-partners-with-nasa-for-new-nuclear-power-source-for-first-european-mars-rover/): The European Space Agency – ESA upcoming Mars mission will feature a new nuclear-powered space power source that uses the radioactive decay of americium. This is a significant step towards ESA’s goal of reducing its dependence on other space agencies for power systems in future missions to other planets. Europe’s first Mars rover, Rosalind Franklin, has faced numerous delays due to issues like the COVID-19 pandemic, and the cancellation of ESA’s partnership with the Russian space agency Roscosmos following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. To proceed without Roscosmos, ESA has developed new capabilities and partnered with NASA to fill the remaining gaps […]
- [From Earth to Space: DNA and Biomarker-based Personalized NutritionHow SpaceABC is Reshaping Human Health Beyond Earth's Boundaries](https://newspace.consulting/from-earth-to-space-dna-and-biomarker-based-personalized-nutritionhow-spaceabc-is-reshaping-human-health-beyond-earths-boundaries/): The future of human space exploration doesn’t just depend on rockets and spacecraft – it hinges on our ability to keep astronauts healthy in extreme environments. SpaceABC is providing an innovative DNA-based nutrition solution that is unique how we approach space travel wellness, while also providing personalized nutrition on Earth. The ultimate goal is to enhance astronaut health during long-duration missions. SpaceABC secured experimental slots on MayaSat-1, a biological incubator cubesat designed by Genesis Space Flight Laboratories specifically for space-based biological research in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This mission will study how spaceflight conditions affect human DNA, with a particular focus […]
- [Large AI & Robotics Space Simulator Set to Redefine Mission Simulation Capabilities](https://newspace.consulting/large-ai-robotics-space-simulator-set-to-redefine-mission-simulation-capabilities/): European Space Agency – ESA has awarded a General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) grant to CFMS to develop the Large AI & Robotics Space Simulator (LARS Sim), a next-generation simulation platform designed to accelerate space mission development. As space exploration advances, future missions require complex concept of operations (ConOps) scenarios that incorporate advanced robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and intelligent systems. LARS Sim addresses a critical challenge in the space sector by creating highly realistic, data centre-enabled simulation engine capable of managing thousands of high-fidelity scenes for advanced concept development, verification, and validation. The platform’s key innovation lies in its unique approach […]
- [𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗚𝗡𝗦𝗦](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%97%a8%f0%9d%98%80%f0%9d%97%b2-%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%b3-%f0%9d%97%a1%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%98%82%f0%9d%97%bf%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%ba%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%bf%f0%9d%97%bd%f0%9d%97%b5%f0%9d%97%b6/): Inspired by the way the human retina works, NILEQ neuromorphic cameras don’t capture a series of images, but instead track changes in brightness across the sensor’s individual pixels. This generates far less data and operates at much higher speeds than a conventional camera. These cameras are ideal for environments without reliable Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and where processing power is limited. 𝗔 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗠𝗨𝘀 Combining Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) with Neuromorphic camera data using sensor fusion, creates a robust navigation system capable of operating in environments where GNSS is unavailable. The technology tracks precise “terrain fingerprints” […]
- [𝗣𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗹𝘂𝗶𝗱 𝗗𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗦𝗦](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%97%a3%f0%9d%97%b6%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%97%bf%f0%9d%97%b6%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%b4-%f0%9d%97%99%f0%9d%97%b9%f0%9d%98%82%f0%9d%97%b6%f0%9d%97%b1-%f0%9d%97%97/): The DropCoal (Droplet Coalescence) experiment, a collaborative effort led by Romanian InSpace Engineering (RISE) and supported by the European Space Agency – ESA, was just installed in the ICE Cubes Service Facility on the Columbus module of the International Space Station (ISS). The objective of the mission is to understand how droplets form and interact in microgravity. The applications of the findings could provide progress from the fields of meteorology to space medicine and propulsion technology. The project’s core mission is to observe and document droplet formation and coalescence under microgravity conditions, using sophisticated mechanisms that allow precise control and ultra-fast […]
- [Bridging Space and Healthcare: From UKSA Partnership Programme in Africa to the 8th African Space Generation Workshop](https://newspace.consulting/bridging-space-and-healthcare-from-uksa-partnership-programme-in-africa-to-the-8th-african-space-generation-workshop/): I’m honored to announce my participation as a subject matter expert in the Space for Health Working Group at the 8th African Space Generation Workshop (AF-SGW), hosted by National Space Research & Development Agency (NASRDA) and NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE LIMITED (NIGCOMSAT) at the Obasanjo Space Center in Abuja, Nigeria. The objective of the AF-SGW is to raise awareness of the benefits of space, exchange know-how, and share best practices amongst stakeholders. The programme will facilitate public participation and provide an opportunity for students and young professionals to network with each other and experts with the aim of leading to future research […]
- [Space Robotics Pioneer GITAI Secures $15.5M to Advance In-Orbit Servicing Capabilities](https://newspace.consulting/space-robotics-pioneer-gitai-secures-15-5m-to-advance-in-orbit-servicing-capabilities/): GITAI, a space robotics company, has raised an additional $15.5 million in venture capital for in-orbit servicing expansion, bringing their total Series B funding to $60.5M Following their strategic headquarters relocation from Japan to the United States in late 2023, GITAI has made significant strides in both technological development and market positioning. The company’s recent achievements include advancing the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of two key robotic systems. Their 2-meter Inchworm robot arm reached TRL 6 after successfully completing thermal vacuum chamber tests on Earth, simulating lunar South Pole conditions, while their 1.5-meter S2 robotic arm system achieved TRL 7 during […]
- [Firefly Aerospace Secures $175M Series D Funding: A New Chapter in Responsive Space Services](https://newspace.consulting/firefly-aerospace-secures-175m-series-d-funding-a-new-chapter-in-responsive-space-services/): Firefly Aerospace has announced the successful closure of its Series D funding round, raising $175 million at a valuation exceeding $2 billion. This oversubscribed round marks a pivotal moment for the company and validates its position as a pioneer in responsive space services. What sets Firefly apart is its achievement in responsive space capabilities. The company demonstrated this during the VICTUS NOX mission, where they successfully launched a payload within 24 hours of notice for the U.S. Space Force. Looking ahead, Firefly plans to allocate the new capital to expand market reach with its Elytra spacecraft and move to full rate […]
- [𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀: 𝗘𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%97%96%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%ba%f0%9d%97%ba%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%97%bf%f0%9d%97%b0%f0%9d%97%b6%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%b9-%f0%9d%97%a0%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%bf%f0%9d%98%80-%f0%9d%97%a5%f0%9d%97%b2/): In May this year NASA selected commercial service studies to enable science missions to Mars. One of the 4 commercial categories is 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁-𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀. Three companies were chosen to write a report on how they could adapt their existing spacecraft to provide relay services from Mars: · SpaceX, adapt Earth-orbit communication satellites for Mars· Lockheed Martin Space, provide communication relay services via a modified Mars orbiter· Blue Origin, provide communication relay services via an adapted Earth- and lunar-vicinity spacecraft Direct communication between Mars-based assets and Earth requires significant power due to the enormous distances involved. Relay satellites would allow rovers […]
- [AI Safety Beyond Earth: How RideScan's ‘Teacher Brain’ Could Safeguard Space Missions](https://newspace.consulting/ai-safety-beyond-earth-how-ridescans-teacher-brain-could-safeguard-space-missions/): Edinburgh-based deep-tech startup RideScan is pioneering an innovative ‘teacher brain’ approach that could revolutionize safety in autonomous space missions 🚀🤖 The start-up inspired by the PhD work of founder and CEO Shivoh Chirayil Nandakumar from The National Robotarium – the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Research Centre at Heriot-Watt University – designed this innovative solution initially for terrestrial autonomous systems. Its implications could extend far beyond Earth’s boundaries. RideScan’s core innovation is what they call a “teacher brain” – an external intelligent monitor that observes and evaluates autonomous systems without interfering with their proprietary technology. This approach is particularly intriguing because it […]
- [Star Catcher Raises $12.25M to Build Space-Based Power Grid](https://newspace.consulting/star-catcher-raises-12-25m-to-build-space-based-power-grid/): Star Catcher, a space-based power technology startup, has secured $12.25 million in seed funding to develop the world’s first space-based energy grid. The network plans to deliver energy on demand and at higher concentrations of energy than the Sun to the existing solar arrays of client spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), enabling them to generate up to five to ten times the amount of power they would generate otherwise without requiring any modifications to existing solar arrays. With projections indicating LEO will host over 40,000 satellites by 2030, power demands are expected to surge to 840 megawatts. As satellite launch […]
- [Sending Human Cells to the ISS to Learn about Ageing](https://newspace.consulting/sending-human-cells-to-the-iss-to-learn-about-ageing/): University of Oxford, NDORMS Space Innovations Lab (SIL) has achieved a significant milestone by sending its first human tissue samples to the International Space Station (ISS) to study the effects of microgravity on human aging. The samples, contained within a Science Cube, will be housed in the ISS’s International Commercial Experiments service (ICE Cubes), which provides power, data support, and real-time connectivity for Earth-based monitoring. ICE Cubes offers 24-hour direct access to its experiments via a dedicated mission control centre at Space Applications Services NV/SA’ premises. Clients can connect at any time to their experiment from their own location over internet […]
- [Neuromorphic Computing to Enable more Energy-Efficient, Adaptable, Faster and more Intelligent Space Operations and Exploration](https://newspace.consulting/neuromorphic-computing-to-enable-more-energy-efficient-adaptable-faster-and-more-intelligent-space-operations-and-exploration/): BrainChip, a leading provider of ultra-low power, event-based neuromorphic AI solutions, had its Akida™ neuromorphic chip launched into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) aboard the Optimus-1 spacecraft built by Space Machines Company. BrainChip’s Akida chip is integrated into the ANT61 Brain™ computer, which serves as the primary intelligent control for repair and maintenance robots on the Optimus-1. Optimus-1 is Australia’s largest-ever private satellite and the first Australian commercial satellite which was planned to provide existing space infrastructure and satellites with life-extension services, inspections and assistance on-orbit. Sadly communication to the satellite was lost in May this year, 2 months after the launch. […]
- [Max Space: Expanding Off-World Habitats - Building Humanity's Future in Space](https://newspace.consulting/max-space-expanding-off-world-habitats-building-humanitys-future-in-space/): Max Space is a New Space start-up revolutionizing off-world exploration through innovative expandable structures. The company’s unique approach combines proven aerospace engineering with an elegant mathematical principle first discovered in the 17th century. Led by space industry veterans Aaron Kemmer and Maxim de Jong, Max Space brings together decades of expertise in space manufacturing and expandable structures. Kemmer, who previously co-founded Redwire Space, Inc. (Formerly Made In Space, Inc.), witnessed firsthand the critical need for more efficient space utilization during his company’s deployment of 3D printers to the International Space Station. What sets Max Space apart is their isotensoid design, developed […]
- [Exploring the Moon's Hidden Shelters to Determine Suitability for Human Habitation](https://newspace.consulting/exploring-the-moons-hidden-shelters-to-determine-suitability-for-human-habitation/): As we set our sights on establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon, one of the most intriguing prospects lies beneath its surface: lunar caves. These natural formations could provide ready-made shelters for future lunar inhabitants, protecting them from harsh radiation, meteorite impacts, and extreme temperature fluctuations. The European Space Agency – ESA took a significant step forward in 2019 for lunar cave exploration with their SysNova Lunar Caves Challenge. This innovative initiative culminated in two winning proposals that have since been merged into a comprehensive exploration system: DAEDALUS (Descent And Exploration in Deep Autonomy of Lava Underground Structures) and […]
- [Opteran's Insect-Inspired AI Powers Next-Gen Autonomous Space Navigation](https://newspace.consulting/opterans-insect-inspired-ai-powers-next-gen-autonomous-space-navigation/): British startup Opteran is joining forces with Airbus Defence and Space to revolutionize autonomous navigation in space robotics. This partnership marks a significant step toward implementing nature-inspired intelligence in space exploration. Opteran’s innovative approach draws inspiration from insect brains, particularly honeybees, to develop more efficient autonomous systems. Their technology, the Opteran Mind, is a neuromorphic software solution that enables machines to process visual information and navigate complex environments in milliseconds – a crucial capability for space exploration. Unlike the current Mars rovers, which rely on complex and slow mapping processes using multiple cameras, Opteran’s system enables space rovers to interpret their […]
- [Space It Up: Italy's Ambitious Space Research Initiative](https://newspace.consulting/space-it-up-italys-ambitious-space-research-initiative/): As the dust settles on the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC2024) in Milan, which saw over 11,000 space enthusiasts and professionals converge, Italy continues to make waves in the space sector with its groundbreaking Space It Up initiative (also the name of a session at IAC2024). The project’s objectives are:● Promote innovation and expand core knowledge in space technologies● Foster a sustainable future through space-based climate monitoring● Ensure long-term human presence in extraterrestrial environments● Strengthen Italy’s space ecosystem Space It Up’s research spans nine crucial areas:1. Enabling technologies for novel near-Earth and exploration missions2. Advanced design and analysis of space missions […]
- [Impulse Space Secures $150M for Innovative Space Tug](https://newspace.consulting/impulse-space-secures-150m-for-innovative-space-tug/): In a significant boost to the New Space industry, Impulse Space, a transportation start-up, has successfully raised $150 million in its latest funding round. This substantial investment, underscores the growing confidence in innovative space logistics solutions and positions Impulse Space as a key player in the orbital transfer and beyond vehicle market. Founded by Thomas Mueller, a former SpaceX engineer renowned for his expertise in propulsion systems, Impulse Space is pioneering the development of “space tugs” –transfer vehicles designed to precisely deliver satellites and payloads to their intended location. This technology promises to revolutionize the final leg of space transportation, offering […]
- [D-Orbit: Space Logistics for New Space gets €150 million Series C Funding](https://newspace.consulting/d-orbit-space-logistics-for-new-space-gets-e150-million-series-c-funding/): In the rapidly evolving landscape of space logistics, D-Orbit has emerged as a pivotal player. Founded in 2011, this Italian company has quickly established itself as a market leader in the space transportation services industry, offering innovative solutions that are reshaping how we approach satellite deployment and orbital operations. In a significant development, D-Orbit has announced the successful completion of its Series C funding round, raising an impressive €150 million ($166 million). This substantial investment indicates growing confidence in D-Orbit’s innovative approach to orbital operations. At the heart of D-Orbit’s offerings is the ION Satellite Carrier, a versatile space vehicle designed […]
- [Simplifying AI for Maximum Impact: Insights from Insect Neural Circuits](https://newspace.consulting/simplifying-ai-for-maximum-impact-insights-from-insect-neural-circuits/): The human brain, with its over 80 billion neurons and intricate network of connections, is one of the most complex structures in the known universe. While this complexity gives rise to our advanced cognitive abilities, it also poses significant challenges when it comes to understanding and replicating its functionality. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was initially defined to replicate human intelligence, but when it was realized that this objective was too difficult, the definition of AI was simplified. This simplification has resulted in the current, very inefficient big-data based deep neural networks AI paradigm, which requires vast amounts of computing power and energy. […]
- [Machine Learning's Role in Mars Exploration: Perseverance Leads the Way](https://newspace.consulting/machine-learnings-role-in-mars-exploration-perseverance-leads-the-way/): The dream of exploring Mars with spacecraft capable of autonomous data collection and analysis is becoming a reality. NASA’s Perseverance rover is at the forefront of showcasing how Machine Learning (ML) is leading to an evolution in our approach to planetary exploration. So called experts have decided that all of ML is Artificial Intelligence (AI) by changing the definition, although most of these algorithms are not even close to resemble human level intelligence. For nearly three years, Perseverance has been pioneering the use of ML on Mars, making autonomous decisions based on real-time analysis of rock composition – a first in […]
- [Improving Space Material Qualification Through In-Orbit Testing](https://newspace.consulting/improving-space-material-qualification-through-in-orbit-testing/): In the rapidly evolving world of space technology, one of the critical challenges is the qualification of materials for space applications. This process has traditionally been a labyrinth of bureaucracy, astronomical costs, and painfully slow innovation. @Space DOTS, is one of the New Space startup poised to redefine how we qualify materials for space. Co-founded by @Bianca Cefalo and @James Sheppard Alden, Space DOTS emerged from their shared frustration with the status quo in aerospace material testing. Their solution? A smartphone-sized testing lab designed for in-orbit material qualification. The space industry, despite its futuristic reputation, often lags behind in adopting cutting-edge […]
- [Space Propulsion-as-a-Service: From Launch to Deorbit](https://newspace.consulting/space-propulsion-as-a-service-from-launch-to-deorbit/): Is the future of satellite operations a subscription away? In the rapidly evolving space industry, a new service is gaining traction: space Propulsion-as-a-Service (PaaS). The Omega Project The Omega service, a collaborative project backed by the European Space Agency (ESA) through its Boost! programme, aims to provide a subscription-based smart propulsion service for satellites weighing between 30 to 500 kg. Comprehensive Solution This turnkey service model offers a comprehensive solution, covering the entire lifecycle of a satellite: By providing ready-to-use propulsion systems with standardized interfaces, Omega allows satellite integrators to focus on their core business while leaving propulsion concerns to the […]
- [Revolutionizing Lunar Mission Training: PUPPETEER and the LUNA Facility](https://newspace.consulting/revolutionizing-lunar-mission-training-puppeteer-and-the-luna-facility/): In an exciting development for space exploration, Space Applications Services, in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), has unveiled PUPPETEER – a groundbreaking Mobile Gravity Off-loading System set to transform preparation for lunar missions. This innovative system is designed not only for astronaut training but also for testing rovers, landers, and other essential equipment under simulated lunar gravity conditions. PUPPETEER: Simulating Lunar Gravity on Earth PUPPETEER addresses a crucial challenge in space mission preparation: simulating the Moon’s 1/6th gravity here on Earth. This innovative system features ceiling-mounted crawler vehicles equipped with Constant Force Modules, allowing astronauts, rovers, and various payloads […]
- [Democratizing In-Orbit Health Science: Frontier Space Technologies](https://newspace.consulting/companies-two/): Frontier Space Technologies, a UK-based startup, is making waves in the space industry with its innovative approach to industrialising in-orbit manufacturing and testing through their miniaturised health science space laboratory, SpaceLab.  Addressing a Critical Need in Space Experiments SpaceLab addresses a significant challenge in space-based experimentation: the high cost of space lab experiments.  With crew time on the International Space Station costing $130,000 per hour and companies limited to 25 hours per year, SpaceLab’s autonomous capabilities offer a cost-effective alternative for conducting multiple experiments simultaneously in microgravity. SpaceLab is a small, 3U CubeSat that’s two-parts experiment payload and one-part interfacing bus. […]
- [Improving Lunar Search and Rescue for Astronaut Safety](https://newspace.consulting/improving-lunar-search-and-rescue-for-astronaut-safety/): The South Australian Space Collaboration and Innovation Fund has awarded a grant to @Safety from Space (SFC), for a Lunar Search and Rescue (LunaSAR) project. Their system aims to locate and rescue astronauts stranded in remote lunar areas, addressing a critical need in future space missions. Safety from Space is developing LunaSAR as an internationally-compatible distress notification and tracking system architecture for use with lunar explorers in the Lunar South Pole region and cislunar space. The primary goal of LunaSAR is to provide persistent, reliable, and accurate distress notification with both Independent Location (non-PNT) and Encoded Location (PNT-enabled) capabilities. This comprehensive […]
- [𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%90%93%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%ac%f0%9d%90%ad%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%a0-%f0%9d%90%9a-%f0%9d%90%87%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%a9%f0%9d%90%a9%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%a0-%f0%9d%90%91/): A hopping robot called SpaceHopper is built to jump, by leveraging an asteroid or moon’s low-gravity, then orient and stabilize itself mid-air before safely landing on the ground. From there, it repeats this process to efficiently span large distances. While SpaceHopper, the three-legged robot developed by former students at ETH Zürich, is ultimately designed to explore asteroids and moons, testing its capabilities on these distant celestial bodies is not a feasible option for initial trials. However, thanks to a collaboration with the European Space Agency – ESA and Novespace, a company specializing in zero-gravity plane rides, the SpaceHopper team has found […]
- [From Chernobyl to the International Space Station (ISS): Fungi as Cosmic Radiation Shield](https://newspace.consulting/from-chernobyl-to-the-international-space-station-iss-fungi-as-cosmic-radiation-shield/): In the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, scientists discovered an extraordinary organism: Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungus that thrives on radiation. This remarkable microbe employs a process called radiosynthesis, converting ionizing radiation into energy. The fungus’s ability to flourish in highly radioactive environments has sparked numerous studies exploring how these radiation-eating fungi function and how they might be used to advance human knowledge and technology. Building on this groundbreaking discovery, experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have explored the potential of similar radiation-resistant fungi as shields for astronauts in space. The study, titled “A Self-Replicating Radiation-Shield for Human Deep-Space Exploration,” focused […]
- [UKSA Funding for Advancements in Lightweight Solar Panels for Space: Reducing Costs and Expanding Possibilities](https://newspace.consulting/uksa-funding-for-advancements-in-lightweight-solar-panels-for-space-reducing-costs-and-expanding-possibilities/): A research collaboration between @Loughborough University and the @University of Cambridge ,supported by £484,000 in funding from the UK Space Agency, aims to develop ultra-lightweight solar cells for space applications. This initiative highlights Loughborough’s diverse research capabilities, showcasing that its expertise extends far beyond its well-known strengths in sports. The research focuses on creating a novel, adhesive-free method to seal high-efficiency Gallium Arsenide solar cells directly to ultra-thin glass. This approach promises to deliver an unparalleled power-to-weight ratio, significantly reducing payload costs. Additionally, the team is working on a durable anti-reflection coating for the thin glass surface, which will increase light […]
- [European Rover Challenge 2026: Precision Rovers, Spacecraft Operations and Poland's Rising Space Investment](https://newspace.consulting/european-rover-challenge-2026-precision-rovers-spacecraft-operations-and-polands-rising-space-investment/): Swiss team EPFL Xplore won the European Rover Challenge again. Watching their rover on the Marsyard, the precision of its movements was obvious even from the sidelines and I predicted they may win again. The highlight for me was a fireside chat with Paolo Ferri, retired Head of Space Operations at ESA, exploring the world of spacecraft operations. Most space sector presentations cover upstream (building things) or downstream (using the space data). Very few talk about the midstream:  operating the spacecraft. Yet the operational phase of a mission is usually longer than the design and implementation phase I typically manage, which […]
- [EnduroSat: $205M to Scale Standardized Satellite Production in Europe and the US](https://newspace.consulting/endurosat-205m-to-scale-standardized-satellite-production-in-europe-and-the-us/): EnduroSat, the space company with headquarters in Bulgaria, building standardized, software flexible satellites and a streamlined constellations as a service model, has raised $205 million on the 16 September 2026. The round was led jointly by Riot Ventures and Atreides Management, with backing from the European Innovation Council and others. EnduroSat, founded by Raycho Raychev, designs, builds and operates CubeSats and nanosatellites for commercial and scientific missions, and is developing intersatellite links and data applications. Building on extensive flight heritage EnduroSat has launched 103 satellites to orbit and delivered more than 200 for missions across the globe, putting it on track […]
- [Open Cosmos €300M Series C: European Investors Do Back Scale Up When the Track Record Is Proven](https://newspace.consulting/open-cosmos-e300m-series-c-european-investors-do-back-scale-up-when-the-track-record-is-proven/): Open Cosmos, the UK based space company delivering satellite infrastructure, connectivity and real time intelligence, has closed a €300M ($348.6M) Series C round. The round was led by investors on the continent, with participation from Lightrock, ETF Partners, Institut Català de Finances (ICF) and Entrepreneurs First. That detail matters. European investors have historically been willing to back early-stage startups, but support for companies looking to scale up has lagged behind. In 2025, not a single growth stage funding round was led by a European private investor, according to a report from the European Space Policy Institute released in May. A track […]
- [Space for Inspiration 2026: Scaling before the business case is proven?](https://newspace.consulting/space-for-inspiration-2026-scaling-before-the-business-case-is-proven/): I spent 1-2 September in Copenhagen at ESA’s annual conference on Commercial Space Exploration. This year’s cross-cutting theme was Scaling Research and Production in Space. Here is what stayed with me. 1. Scaling means different things on each side of the Atlantic. In the U.S., scaling loss-making companies is the norm. You capture the market first and turn a profit later. High risk, high reward. In Europe, you scale once you make a profit. Seen through that lens, the conference theme was a misnomer. The business case for in-space research and production is not proven yet. Scaling now is a high-risk […]
- [The Exploration Company secures $450 million in the largest-ever Series C by a European Space Company](https://newspace.consulting/the-exploration-company-secures-450-million-in-the-largest-ever-series-c-by-a-european-space-company/): The Exploration Company (TEC) announced a $450 million Series C financing on the 8th of September 2026, the largest Series C ever announced by a European space company. It also marks the largest funding round ever secured by an EU-headquartered company led by a female founder and CEO. It will help fund the development of the company’s Nyx cargo reentry vehicle, as well as its Storm reusable rocket engine. The financing expands TEC’s investor base across both sides of the Atlantic while maintaining a strong European foundation, bringing long-term capital behind a shared objective: to scale reusable space transportation platforms capable of […]
- [Launch Bottleneck Triggers $1 Billion Series E Investment into Stoke Space for Fully Reusable 15 Ton Payload Launcher](https://newspace.consulting/launch-bottleneck-triggers-1-billion-series-e-investment-into-stoke-space-for-fully-reusable-15-ton-payload-launcher/): Stoke Space just raised an impressive $1 billion in a Series E round, pushing its total funding to $2.3 billion, as it closes in on its first orbital launch attempt next year. That total has grown fast. Less than a year earlier, Stoke closed a $510 million Series D led by the US Innovative Technology Fund, plus a $100 million debt facility from Silicon Valley Bank, bringing its funding at the time to $990 million, aimed at accelerating development, manufacturing and scaling of its Nova launch vehicle. Nova was designed from the start for full, rapid reusability across both stages, filling […]
- [Isar Aerospace achieves First Launch to Orbit from Western Europe](https://newspace.consulting/isar-aerospace-achieves-first-launch-to-orbit-from-western-europe/): Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket, lifted off successfully from Andoya Spaceport, Norway on the evening of 5 September, marking the first successful privately developed and funded orbital launch from continental Europe. The two stage vehicle, standing 28 metres tall and 2 metres in diameter, is built to carry payloads of up to 1000 kg to low Earth orbit using its ten engines. The flight follows the company’s first test launch on 30 March 2025, which cleared the pad but ended about 30 seconds later when the vehicle received a termination command, triggered by an unintended opening of a vent valve combined with […]
- [Landspace just landed the first stainless-steel rocket booster on its own legs](https://newspace.consulting/landspace-just-landed-the-first-stainless-steel-rocket-booster-on-its-own-legs/): On August 18, the two-stage Zhuque-3 lifted off from the Gobi Desert, launching from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. The stages separated 137 seconds into flight. The first stage then flew a powered descent, deployed its landing legs in the final moments of the burn, and touched down softly about 390 kilometers downrange. Landspace is now the third entity in the world, after SpaceX and Blue Origin, to land an orbital booster on legs. Zhuque-3 is the first stainless steel rocket to do it. And this is China’s second successful booster recovery in just over a month, following the state-owned Long […]
- [European Rover Challenge 2026: 124 Teams, 29 Countries, One Marsyard](https://newspace.consulting/european-rover-challenge-2026-124-teams-29-countries-one-marsyard/): From September 4 to 6, Krakow, Poland will once again host the European Rover Challenge (ERC), the largest international Martian rover competition, held at AGH University of Krakow and remotely. Founded by Lukasz Wilczynski, the event is organised by the European Space Foundation with AGH University as co-organiser. It is free to the public and brings together the scientific, educational and business space rover communities. It also features an interdisciplinary conference with experts from global space industry organisations, where I will deliver a keynote on Commercial New Space as well as host a fireside chat with a special guest from ESA. […]
- [Lithuanian Space Snacks coming to Earth](https://newspace.consulting/lithuanian-space-snacks-coming-to-earth/): Lithuania just added a new chapter to Europe’s space commercialisation story. Super Garden, a food innovation company, has launched Space Snacks. Two products: Space Snacks with spirulina and Space Snacks with an innovative protein. Both inspired by ESA research. The backstory: These snacks began as an ESA funded research project. Super Garden worked alongside CNES, the French Space Agency. Medes, the Institute for Space Medicine and Physiology. And Biordico. The goal: develop next generation snack concepts for potential use in space. The result: nine grams of compact freeze-dried cubes enriched with spirulina and chlorella, developed for the weight and volume limits […]
- [Astrolight and ATMOS To Demonstrate Laser Communications Between Return Spacecraft and Satellite](https://newspace.consulting/astrolight-and-atmos-to-demonstrate-laser-communications-between-return-spacecraft-and-satellite/): Astrolight and ATMOS Space Cargo have signed a memorandum of understanding to demonstrate an in-flight optical communications link between a reentry spacecraft and an orbiting satellite. The companies say this would be the first of its kind. The demonstration is planned for 2027. Astrolight’s ATLAS X laser communication terminals are set to fly on both ATMOS’ PHOENIX reentry vehicle and the satellite used for the test. Together they will demonstrate a spacecraft to satellite optical link, enabling real-time transfer of system and mission data throughout in orbit operations and into reentry, a phase where conventional radio frequency telemetry typically degrades. The […]
- [Space for Inspiration 2026: Scaling Research and Production in Space](https://newspace.consulting/space-for-inspiration-2026-scaling-research-and-production-in-space/): I will be in Copenhagen on 1–2 September 2026 for ESA’s annual conference on Commercial Space Exploration. This year’s cross-cutting theme is Scaling Research and Production in Space. The programme highlights four markets where microgravity, in-orbit and lunar resource capabilities are already creating opportunities for research, development, and production in space. Health and Life Sciences. Therapeutic discovery, bioprocessing, diagnostics, medical devices, and digital health that use microgravity to advance biological research. The theme also covers astronaut health and innovations with dual benefits for space and terrestrial healthcare. In-Space Manufacturing. Novel materials, higher-purity production, advanced characterisation, new manufacturing methods, automation concepts, and […]
- [Commercial Space Masterclass: Free Nine-Week Programme with Startup Competition for Space Entrepreneurs](https://newspace.consulting/commercial-space-masterclass-free-nine-week-programme-with-startup-competition-for-space-entrepreneurs/): Thirty aspiring space entrepreneurs will get free training on commercial space and to take a business idea from concept to pitch. The Space Generation Advisory Council’s Commercial Space Project Group (CSPG) built this programme after hearing directly from its members, who wanted free practical guidance, not just theory. The result is the first Commercial Space Masterclass: a free, highly selective nine-week programme running in Q4 2026, open to individuals aged 18–35 from anywhere in the world. Every session is taught by space professionals working at the front line of the industry today. Teams form at the start of the course, each […]
- [Skyroot Aerospace Launches Six Payloads with Vikram-1's Maiden Orbital Mission 'Aagaman'](https://newspace.consulting/skyroot-aerospace-launches-six-payloads-with-vikram-1s-maiden-orbital-mission-aagaman/): India is now only the third country, after the US and China, with a private company capable of orbital launch. Skyroot Aerospace, India’s first space unicorn, succeeded in the maiden orbital flight of Vikram-1 under Mission Aagaman, a Sanskrit word meaning “Arrival”. Six payloads flew aboard the mission — five Indian and one international payload from Germany. Succeeding on the first launch is a huge achievement, demonstrating Indian engineering excellence at a fraction of the budgets of U.S. and European companies. It also puts into perspective how hard orbital launch is: despite substantial government funding, Europe’s launch start-ups are still working […]
- [One ISS Bioprinter. Three tissue types. Twenty-eight nerve implants](https://newspace.consulting/one-iss-bioprinter-three-tissue-types-twenty-eight-nerve-implants/): Auxilium Biotechnologies has bioprinted kidney and liver tissue in orbit for the first time — both manufactured aboard the International Space Station on the company’s AMP-1, the Auxilium Microfabrication Platform. The tissues, along with 28 nerve repair implants, returned to Earth on Mission AXLM-3, which flew on NASA’s SpaceX CRS-34 and splashed down off the California coast on June 17, 2026. The result, in numbers: AMP-1 produced three distinct tissue types — kidney, liver, and cartilage — plus 28 nerve repair implants across 20 printing sessions within a single mission, averaging one to two sessions per day. This marks the first […]
- [ESA Report on the Space Economy 2026](https://newspace.consulting/esa-report-on-the-space-economy-2026/): The European Space Agency’s (ESA) newly released Space Economy Report gives a comprehensive overview of the latest developments shaping Europe’s space sector. The focus of this extract is on Private Investment in Space. The full report covers key trends and figures of the space sector in 2025, including public and private investment in space, space activity in terms of launches, mass launched, satellites launched, and the space industry’s revenues both upstream and downstream. Private Investment in Space Global Trends Private investment in space ventures worldwide reached an all-time high of €11.7 billion in 2025, surpassing the 2021 peak which had been […]
- [Poland's ESA Contributions Surge to €731 Million: Warsaw to Host New Civil Security and Resilience Centre](https://newspace.consulting/polands-esa-contributions-surge-to-e731-million-warsaw-to-host-new-civil-security-and-resilience-centre/): Poland has increased its ESA contributions from €194 million to a record €731 million, a €537 million rise over three years. The funding surge has quickly positioned Poland as one of the driving forces in Europe’s space sector. On July 13, 2026, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher confirmed that Warsaw will host a new ESA Civil Security and Resilience Centre. It is ESA’s first facility located outside the 11 founding member states of 1975. The centre will contribute to ESA’s expanding security and resilience activities. Based in Warsaw, it will operate alongside existing ESA establishments […]
- [UNOOSA Launches Free Online Course on the Space Economy](https://newspace.consulting/unoosa-launches-free-online-course-on-the-space-economy/): In partnership with the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs has launched a free, fully online course on the Space Economy. What the course covers The course is structured as three 45-minute modules: Module 1 — Introduction to the Space Economy. What the space economy is, who the key players are, and the distinction between upstream, midstream and downstream space technologies. Module 2 — Benefits of a Sustainable Space Economy. How space activities generate value across sectors well beyond the space industry itself — agriculture, disaster management, connectivity, climate […]
- [Firefly Aerospace acquires Space-ng: the AI navigation system that landed it on the Moon](https://newspace.consulting/firefly-aerospace-acquires-space-ng-the-ai-navigation-system-that-landed-it-on-the-moon/): Firefly Aerospace has acquired Space-ng Inc., a Littleton, Colorado-based provider of AI vision navigation and autonomous guidance systems — and the timing is no accident. This is the software that already proved itself in the most unforgiving test environment possible: an autonomous lunar descent with no room for error. The deal carries tangible operational history. Space-ng’s vision navigation software flew on Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1, where it determined position and attitude, detected hazardous lunar terrain, and autonomously executed two hazard-avoidance manoeuvres in real time before the lander’s March 2025 touchdown in Mare Crisium. The software also brings GPS/GNSS-free optical navigation, […]
- [Global Orbital Infrastructure Summit (GOIS) 2026: Where Orbital Partnerships Begin](https://newspace.consulting/global-orbital-infrastructure-summit-gois-2026-where-orbital-partnerships-begin/): The GOIS 2026 objective was clear: bring together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, researchers, agencies, and institutions to build the partnerships that will enable the orbital infrastructure economy, with Switzerland as the platform. Over two inspiring days in Lucerne, ideas became conversations, conversations became partnerships, and partnerships became the foundations for future innovation. That progression is precisely what events like this should deliver. A central pillar of the summit was the work of the Space Systems Innovation Platform (SSIP), based at Technopark Luzern. Founded and led by Paulo Pinhero, SSIP has built a structured ecosystem connector bridging academia, industry, research institutions, and global […]
- [Forged in Space: Lessons From a (Co-) Founder                                                   Thermal is the biggest environmental killer of satellites, not radiation](https://newspace.consulting/forged-in-space-lessons-from-a-co-founder-thermal-is-the-biggest-environmental-killer-of-satellites-not-radiation/): CTO and Co-Founder Andrew Bacon shares the hard but fundamental lessons learned from six years of building spacecraft. Andrew has seen friends lose satellites within their first orbit due to poor thermal design — in one case, a last-second decision not to apply Multi Layer Insulation (MLI) to a panel because it wasn’t adhering properly proved fatal to the mission. The internet has recently been awash with debate about whether orbital data centres will overheat without massive radiators, given there is no air in space to carry heat away. This is true — but it is not a new problem, and […]
- [Beyond Launch: Impulse Space and the $4.26 Billion Case for Orbital Mobility](https://newspace.consulting/beyond-launch-impulse-space-and-the-4-26-billion-case-for-orbital-mobility/): As launch costs fall and access to orbit becomes routine, the space industry faces its next defining challenge: movement once spacecraft reach orbit. Impulse Space is addressing this gap as an orbital infrastructure company: providing cheap, fast, customizable, and reliable transportation across orbits—and investment capital is following the opportunity at scale. The numbers tell the story. A $300 million Series C one year ago achieved unicorn status. Now, a $500 million Series D led by 137 Ventures and BANNER VC brings total funding to over $1 billion, with the company valued at $4.26 billion. Impulse founder and CEO Tom Mueller, who […]
- [Forged in Space: Lessons From a Co-Founder](https://newspace.consulting/forged-in-space-lessons-from-a-co-founder/): Thank you to CTO and Co-Founder of Space Forge, Andrew Bacon, who shares the hard but fundamental lessons learned from over six years of building spacecraft. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/forged-space-lessons-from-founder-space-forge-ltd-qdcme Let’s start with a common misconception about the space industry: launch is not the biggest cost for commercial space missions. It’s not even the second biggest. The cost of launch cost has fallen from around $20,000/kg to $7,000/kg — thanks largely to SpaceX — but the design, build and test of a satellite typically runs far higher: Of these costs, roughly half is labour, a quarter is materials, and a quarter is external services […]
- [Space Systems Innovation Platform: Switzerland's Applied Innovation Hub for Microgravity](https://newspace.consulting/space-systems-innovation-platform-switzerlands-applied-innovation-hub-for-microgravity/): Switzerland has long been synonymous with precision engineering, neutrality, and scientific rigor. Now, those same qualities are being channelled into the New Space economy through the Space Systems Innovation Platform (SSIP), founded by Paulo Pinhero in 2025. Based at Technopark Luzern in the heart of Central Switzerland, SSIP is an independent platform dedicated to accelerating applied innovation across space. Born from the NASA Space Apps Challenge Lucerne, it has since evolved into a structured ecosystem connector — bridging Swiss and European research institutions, SMEs, corporates, startups, and international partners. A particular area of focus is microgravity. SSIP treats the microgravity environment […]
- [Skyroot Aerospace Becomes India's First Space Unicorn — With a Launcher Already on the Pad](https://newspace.consulting/skyroot-aerospace-becomes-indias-first-space-unicorn-with-a-launcher-already-on-the-pad/): Skyroot Aerospace has just become India’s first space unicorn, valued at $1.1 billion following a $60 million funding round announced on 7 May 2026. The timing is no coincidence — Vikram-I, the companies privately built orbital rocket, is already at the launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre and weeks away from attempting to place satellites into orbit for the first time. If it succeeds, it could mark the moment India’s private sector entered the commercial small satellite launch market, with a cost structure that few competitors can match. Skyroot was founded in 2018 by Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga […]
- [Global Orbital Infrastructure Summit 2026](https://newspace.consulting/global-orbital-infrastructure-summit-2026/): From satellite giants to AI-driven space ecosystems, one of the minds shaping the future of the space economy is joining GOIS 2026. We are proud to announce Dr. Tolga Ors as a confirmed speaker at the Global Orbital Infrastructure Summit (GOIS) in Lucerne. With over 25 years of experience across the global space sector, Dr. Tolga Ors has contributed to organisations such as Intelsat, Inmarsat, AST SpaceMobile, OneWeb, and the Alan Turing Institute. Today, as Managing Director of New Space Consulting Ltd, he operates at the intersection of:→ Space infrastructure→ AI & robotics→ Technology transfer→ Public-private partnerships His work focuses on […]
- [From Demonstration to Operations: ATMOS Space Cargo's €25.7 Million Series A](https://newspace.consulting/from-demonstration-to-operations-atmos-space-cargos-e25-7-million-series-a/): European orbital return is moving from milestone to routine. ATMOS Space Cargo, a German company developing orbital re-entry vehicles, has closed a €25.7 million Series A round, co-led by Balnord and Expansion, with participation from Keen Defence and Security and the European Innovation Council through its Accelerator blended financing programme. The funding did not arrive on the back of promises alone. ATMOS flew its PHOENIX 1 demonstrator in April 2025, collecting data on its Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD) technology — a non-ablative system that functions simultaneously as heat shield and aerodynamic brake during re-entry. Investors backed a team that had already […]
- [Apophis: The Near-Earth Asteroid That Could Redefine Planetary Defence and Space Resource Exploration](https://newspace.consulting/apophis-the-near-earth-asteroid-that-could-redefine-planetary-defence-and-space-resource-exploration/): On April 13, 2029, asteroid 99942 Apophis — named after the Egyptian god of chaos and destruction — will pass within 32,000 km of Earth, closer than geostationary satellites and visible to the naked eye from parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. At approximately 340 metres wide, roughly the height of the Empire State Building, such a close flyby of a large asteroid occurs only once every 7,500 years. An S-Type Asteroid Apophis is an S-type stony asteroid — the second most common asteroid type — composed primarily of silicate rock with a notable nickel-iron content. Thought to originate from the […]
- [From Lunar Ice to Clean Water: Canadian Strategic Missions Corporation Wins the Aqualunar Challenge](https://newspace.consulting/from-lunar-ice-to-clean-water-canadian-strategic-missions-corporation-wins-the-aqualunar-challenge/): After nearly two years of competition, the Canadian Space Agency’s Aqualunar Challenge has its winner: Canadian Strategic Missions Corporation (CSMC), whose LunaPure design has secured $400,000 to continue development of a sustainable lunar water purification system. Why Water Purification on the Moon Matters Humanity’s ambition to establish a long-term presence on the Moon depends on more than rockets and habitats. Water, potentially accessible on the lunar surface, is a foundational resource: essential for sustaining life, producing oxygen, growing food, and manufacturing rocket propellant. Data suggests that large quantities of water may exist in permanently shadowed regions near the lunar south pole […]
- [Sustainable Propulsion, Commercial Orbit: How Japan's Interstellar Technologies is Rethinking Small Satellite Launch](https://newspace.consulting/sustainable-propulsion-commercial-orbit-how-japans-interstellar-technologies-is-rethinking-small-satellite-launch/): Demand for low-cost small satellite launch continues to grow — particularly from Asia. Japan-based launch vehicle startup Interstellar Technologies is addressing this with renewable propulsion and a vertically integrated commercial model. Founded by Takafumi Horie and led by CEO Takahiro Inagawa, the company pursued a disciplined, iterative development path. That approach paid off in May 2019, when their MOMO sounding rocket became the first privately developed Japanese vehicle to reach space — crossing the Kármán line, as its name (a play on the Japanese character for “one hundred”) was always intended to mark. Building on that validated flight heritage, the team […]
- [How Microgravity Could Reshape Cancer Drug Manufacturing](https://newspace.consulting/how-microgravity-could-reshape-cancer-drug-manufacturing/): Many of the world’s most critical cancer therapies require exhausting four-to-six-hour intravenous infusions in a hospital — a burden felt by patients and healthcare systems alike. One overlooked reason is the formulation itself: proteins that cannot be concentrated enough for a quick injection must instead be delivered slowly through a drip. London-based biotechnology startup BioOrbit wants to change this, using the microgravity environment which enables the production of purer, more uniform crystals — and potentially, more concentrated, shorter therapies. Co-Founder and CEO Dr. Katie King, a nanomedicine researcher from Cambridge, leads the company in developing automated crystallisation hardware for the microgravity […]
- [The Moon Revisited: The Ambition, Economics, and Human Story Behind Artemis](https://newspace.consulting/the-moon-revisited-the-ambition-economics-and-human-story-behind-artemis/): NASA’s Artemis II mission is making history with the first crewed flight to the Moon in more than half a century. Four astronauts embarked on a 10-day mission around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft, launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA. Building on Artemis I — the uncrewed test flight of Orion and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket in November 2022 — Artemis II marks the programme’s first mission with crew aboard. Orion, paired with SLS, is designed to carry astronauts not only to the lunar surface but toward deeper destinations, including Mars. The spacecraft comprises two key elements: […]
- [OrbitAID Aerospace: Building the Infrastructure for an On-Orbit Refuelling Economy](https://newspace.consulting/orbitaid-aerospace-building-the-infrastructure-for-an-on-orbit-refuelling-economy/): Satellites don’t fail — they run out of fuel. An estimated 85% of GEO satellites are retired not from hardware failure but because they exhaust their propellant. OrbitAID Aerospace, a Bangalore-based startup, is building the infrastructure to change that. At the core of their approach is the SIDRP — Standard Interface for Docking and Refuelling Port. Weighing under 250g, SIDRP integrates a fill/drain valve with a dual docking mechanism, supporting hydrazine, green propellants, electric propellants, and pressurant gases. The dual redundancy is deliberate: docking failures in orbit are not recoverable. What makes OrbitAID’s architecture interesting is how it thinks about scale. […]
- [The Moon's South Pole Has Water Ice — But How Much? ESA's MAGPIE Aims to Find Out](https://newspace.consulting/the-moons-south-pole-has-water-ice-but-how-much-esas-magpie-aims-to-find-out/): We know water ice exists at the Moon’s south pole. What we don’t yet know is how much is there, how deep it lies, and whether it can realistically be extracted. Those are not small questions — the answers could determine whether the Moon becomes a genuine staging post for deep space exploration, providing drinking water, oxygen, and rocket fuel, or remains a destination that depends on resupply from Earth. ESA’s MAGPIE, the Mission for Advanced Geophysics and Polar Ice Exploration, is designed to help find out. MAGPIE is being developed under ESA’s Small Missions for Exploration initiative, with €2.7M ($3.2M) […]
- [Fleet Space's Quantum Innovation Pipeline: Advancing Resource Exploration on Earth and Beyond](https://newspace.consulting/fleet-spaces-quantum-innovation-pipeline-advancing-resource-exploration-on-earth-and-beyond/): Fleet Space, an Australian space technology company, is redefining mineral exploration through its Quantum Innovation Pipeline, driven by three new partnerships that bring cutting-edge physics into the field. Building on its ExoSphere satellite-enabled seismic sensing system, Fleet is integrating advanced quantum detectors that deliver faster, more precise subsurface imaging with minimal environmental impact. The partnerships with mDetect, Nomad Atomics, and DeteQt represent a new wave of Australian-led innovation: mDetect applies muon tomography, using naturally occurring cosmic particles to generate 3D density maps of the subsurface. This passive technique provides deep, high-resolution insights for mineral targeting without invasive drilling. Nomad Atomics develops […]
- [Deep Space Energy Secures €930K for 5x More Efficient Nuclear Batteries for Lunar Exploration](https://newspace.consulting/deep-space-energy-secures-e930k-for-5x-more-efficient-nuclear-batteries-for-lunar-exploration/): Solar panels power most space missions — but they are unable to generate power during the lunar night. At 354 hours long and minus 150 degrees Celsius, it is not a brief interruption; it is a mission-ending blackout. Continuous lunar exploration demands a power source that is compact, efficient, and independent of sunlight. Latvian startup Deep Space Energy is building exactly that. Founded in 2022 by physicist Mihails Scepanskis, the Riga, Latvia based company is developing next-generation radioisotope power generators designed specifically for the harsh demands of deep space and lunar missions. To accelerate its technology toward commercialisation, the company recently […]
- [PLD Space Raises €180M Series C as it Prepares for Historic First Launch from French Guiana Space Centre](https://newspace.consulting/pld-space-raises-e180m-series-c-as-it-prepares-for-historic-first-launch-from-french-guiana-space-centre/): PLD Space has closed a €180 million Series C equity round led by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, while simultaneously becoming the first private company authorised to launch rockets from the historic ELM-Diamant area at the Guiana Space Centre (CSG) in Kourou, French Guiana. The ELM-Diamant authorisation follows years of collaboration with Centre National d’Études Spatiales, formalised through a MIURA 5 Launch Complex development contract signed in June 2025, and the company has already received Flight Safety Submission approval for MIURA 5, confirming the vehicle meets the spaceport’s safety requirements. Miura 5 is a two-stage European orbital recoverable launch vehicle capable of inserting 1000 kg of […]
- [Dead Reckoning Error Reset: How NASA JPL Solved Positional Drift for Autonomous Navigation Without GNSS](https://newspace.consulting/dead-reckoning-error-reset-how-nasa-jpl-solved-positional-drift-for-autonomous-navigation-without-gnss/): For five years, NASA’s Perseverance rover has been driving across the Martian surface with a fundamental constraint: it couldn’t reliably know its own precise location. With no Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) orbiting the Red Planet, mission operators on Earth had to manually match rover panoramas to orbital imagery from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) after each long drive, a process taking over 24 hours just to confirm a position accurate to within 35 meters. That bottleneck is now history. Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory have developed what they call Mars Global Localization (MGL), an onboard algorithm that compares Perseverance’s […]
- [How Synthetic Biology Could Change Human Space Exploration](https://newspace.consulting/how-synthetic-biology-could-change-human-space-exploration/): As humanity prepares to return to the Moon and eventually reach Mars, one critical issue is how to keep people alive, healthy, and self-sufficient far from Earth. Synthetic biology, the engineering of biological systems for specific purposes, is quietly emerging as one of the more practical solutions to this challenge. The European Space Agency’s 2023 SciSpace White Paper identified four areas where engineered organisms could meaningfully contribute to deep space missions. The first is In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU): rather than launching every kilogram of material from Earth, microorganisms could extract metals from regolith, produce building materials through microbially-induced calcite precipitation, or […]
- [Germany Establishes Lunar Control Center as Europe Accelerates Moon Ambitions](https://newspace.consulting/germany-establishes-lunar-control-center-as-europe-accelerates-moon-ambitions/): Germany is positioning itself as a central player in Europe’s return to the Moon. On February 4, Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder announced €58 million in funding for Lunar Control Center at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich. This facility will form part of the German Space Operations Center (GSOC), which has operated European space missions for decades. Combined with DLR’s €20 million institutional investment, the €78 million project represents Germany’s commitment to expanding European space operations capabilities. The new control center will support both robotic and human lunar missions, including operations for the lunar Gateway—the first international space […]
- [Beaming Sunlight from Orbit: Overview Energy's Approach to Continuous Clean Energy](https://newspace.consulting/beaming-sunlight-from-orbit-overview-energys-approach-to-continuous-clean-energy/): Overview Energy emerged from stealth with a plan to use the world’s solar panels as nighttime collectors of power beamed down from space. While utility-scale solar projects typically operate at 25-30% capacity due to the intermittent nature of sunlight, the Virginia-based startup is developing a system designed to increase effective capacity factors to 70-80% by transmitting captured sunlight from Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) directly to existing solar infrastructure on the ground. Extending Solar Generation Beyond Daylight Hours Founded in 2022, Overview Energy has raised $20M to date to develop a fleet of satellites positioned in GEO, where they can capture sunlight […]
- [Indian Startup Aule Space Enters Satellite Servicing Market](https://newspace.consulting/indian-startup-aule-space-enters-satellite-servicing-market/): Aule Space, an Indian startup, has raised $2 million in pre-seed funding to develop low-cost autonomous spacecraft for satellite life extension. The funding round, led by pi Ventures, will help the company deliver satellite servicing at significantly lower costs than established Western competitors by operating from India’s lower-cost engineering base. The Technology Aule Space is developing autonomous spacecraft—called “jetpacks”—designed to dock with satellites to extend their operational lives. Using AI-driven navigation and Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking (RPOD) technology, these units can service non-cooperative satellites that were not originally designed for such operations. Once docked, the jetpacks maintain the host satellite’s […]
- [IAC 2026 at the Crossroads: Türkiye's Space Ambition Meets Global Collaboration](https://newspace.consulting/iac-2026-at-the-crossroads-turkiyes-space-ambition-meets-global-collaboration/): The 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 5-9 October 2026. Hosted by the Turkish Space Agency (TUA), an IAF member since 2021, this edition promises collaboration, networking, and inspiration against the backdrop of the Turkish Riviera. The theme, “The World Needs More Space” underscores the boundless potential of space to advance technology, expand scientific knowledge, and drive human progress. It brings countries together to work on peaceful missions. This echoes the vision of M.K. Atatürk, founder of modern Türkiye: “Peace at Home, Peace in the World“—a principle that naturally extends to Peace in Space as […]
- [E4D: Compact Exercise Innovation for Improved Long-Duration Human Performance in Space](https://newspace.consulting/e4d-compact-exercise-innovation-for-improved-long-duration-human-performance-in-space/): As humanity prepares for exploration beyond Earth orbit, maintaining physical health in microgravity remains a primary concern. Without rigorous daily exercise, astronauts face significant physiological challenges, including muscle atrophy, bone loss, and reduced coordination—health issues that can occur even on the International Space Station, as the recent evacuation has demonstrated. Current exercise systems used on the ISS are too heavy and bulky for the strict space constraints of future missions, such as the Lunar Gateway. The European Space Agency commissioned the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device (E4D) as a lightweight, more compact exercise module, developed by the Danish Aerospace Company with […]
- [Satellite-Based Ultraviolet Quantum Key Distribution: A New Approach to Secure Communications](https://newspace.consulting/satellite-based-ultraviolet-quantum-key-distribution-a-new-approach-to-secure-communications/): Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) has emerged as one of the most promising approaches to securing communications in an era where traditional encryption faces growing threats. While ground-based QKD systems using fiber optic networks have demonstrated the technology’s potential, they face inherent limitations as fiber infrastructure can easily be sabotaged. Satellite-based quantum key distribution offers an alternative path, using space-based platforms to distribute encryption keys across vast distances without the constraints of terrestrial fiber networks. A UK-led collaboration is now advancing this approach through the development of compact ultraviolet-based quantum key distribution systems designed to work over intersatellite links. The intersatellite Deep […]
- [Space Forge Creates Plasma at 1,000°C Aboard Commercial Satellite](https://newspace.consulting/space-forge-creates-plasma-at-1000c-aboard-commercial-satellite/): Space Forge, a UK space tech start-up that raised the largest Series A for a UK space company in 2025, has created plasma aboard a commercial satellite for the first time. This development marks a step forward in how advanced materials can be produced, utilizing the microgravity environment. The achievement centers on a microwave-sized satellite operated remotely from mission control in Cardiff. Engineers successfully activated a compact factory within the satellite, demonstrating that its onboard furnace can reach temperatures of around 1,000°C. This furnace is essential for manufacturing processes, and its successful operation in space represents a fundamental milestone for the […]
- [The Role of Orbital Data Centers in a Multi-Layer Compute Infrastructure](https://newspace.consulting/the-role-of-orbital-data-centers-in-a-multi-layer-compute-infrastructure/): The concept of deploying data centers in orbit periodically re-emerges in discussions about the future of digital infrastructure. The arguments are familiar: continuous solar exposure, reduced dependence on terrestrial land and water resources, and the perception of simplified thermal management. These claims often gain traction as pressures on Earth based infrastructure intensify. Those pressures are real. AI workloads continue to scale rapidly, electrical grids face capacity and interconnection challenges, cooling and water usage are increasingly scrutinized, and the expansion of hyperscale facilities is constrained by regulatory and environmental factors. Exploring non terrestrial infrastructure is therefore a rational line of inquiry. However, […]
- [Beyond GNSS: How Quantum Sensors Enable Drift-Free Navigation Without External Signals](https://newspace.consulting/beyond-gnss-how-quantum-sensors-enable-drift-free-navigation-without-external-signals/): Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology like GPS has become fundamental to modern navigation, yet its vulnerability to interference and jamming reveals a critical gap in our navigation infrastructure. This challenge is driving research into quantum inertial sensors based on cold atoms, a technology that could transform how we navigate both on Earth and in space. Unlike classical Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), quantum sensors based on cold-atom interferometry provide absolute measurements that do not drift over time. This enables truly autonomous navigation independent of external signals, naturally resilient to jamming or spoofing. NASA’s Cold Atom Lab aboard the International Space Station […]
- [𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐎𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭: 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞'𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 2025 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%90%88%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%ac%f0%9d%90%a9%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%9c%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%ac-%f0%9d%90%92%f0%9d%90%a9%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%9c%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%b0/): Today, South Korea’s INNOSPACE launched the Hanbit-Nano rocket from Alcântara, Brazil—marking both Brazil’s first orbital launch attempt and first commercial space mission. After about 30 seconds of flight, an anomaly was observed in the launch vehicle, already out of the initial launch phase, resulting in mission loss. The mission name ‘SPACEWARD’ conveys the spirit of “Let’s Space Forward,” symbolizing Innospace’s first step toward space. But historic firsts are rarely perfect. 𝐀 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞Founded in 2017, Innospace has become one of South Korea’s most promising space startups. The company made history on October 19, 2025, as the […]
- [Breaking Barriers: Building Inclusive Spaceflight Today](https://newspace.consulting/breaking-barriers-building-inclusive-spaceflight-today/): Traditional space has long been perceived as a domain reserved for the most physically fit. Yet by accepting this assumption, we constrain our vision and fail to design for humanity as a whole, limiting who gets to shape what the space age should look like. Michaela Benthaus is changing that narrative. After suffering a spinal cord injury in a mountain biking accident, she has advocated for greater accessibility in space since 2018. Now, she has become the first wheelchair user to cross the Karman line. While studying space science at the Technical University of Munich, Benthaus participated in a parabolic zero-g […]
- [Kefir in Space: Ancient Fermentation for Future Astronaut Nourishment](https://newspace.consulting/kefir-in-space-ancient-fermentation-for-future-astronaut-nourishment/): Keeping astronauts healthy and nourished on long-duration space missions remains a challenge. Fresh food is difficult to produce beyond Earth, but scientists are turning to an ancient drink—kefir—to help solve the problem. Kefir is a fermented milk beverage made using symbiotic grains of yeast and bacteria. For centuries, it has been valued across cultures for its probiotic properties, providing beneficial microbes that support gut health, immunity, and overall well-being. Historians believe kefir originated centuries ago in the Caucasus Mountains in Eastern Europe near present-day Türkiye. Kefir may ultimately be linked to an Old Turkic root “köpür” meaning ‘to foam or froth’, […]
- [Two Rovers, One Historic First: Türkiye's METU to Pioneer Dual Lunar Rover Operations in 2029](https://newspace.consulting/two-rovers-one-historic-first-turkiyes-metu-to-pioneer-dual-lunar-rover-operations-in-2029/): Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi / Middle East Technical University (METU) is preparing to make space history: In 2029, Türkiye could become the first nation to land and autonomously operate two rovers simultaneously on the lunar surface. The CHERI (CHallenging environments Exploration Rovers for Intelligence – also a namesake for Çeri, which means soldier in Turkish) mission will deploy two autonomous micro-rovers to the Moon’s South Pole aboard China’s Chang’e-8 mission in 2029. This would position Türkiye as the sixth nation to operate rovers on the lunar surface, joining the United States, Russia, China, Japan, and India, while pioneering a new capability […]
- [𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚'𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: A Catalyst for Regional EO Leadership](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%90%8a%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%b2%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%ac-%f0%9d%90%91%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%a0%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%a5-%f0%9d%90%82%f0%9d%90%9enter-f/): Kenya is positioning itself as a continental leader in Earth Observation (EO) through the development of the Regional Centre for Earth Observation (CREO). Led by the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) in partnership with the Italian Space Agency (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana), CREO is strategically designed to strengthen the nation’s ability to acquire, process, and apply satellite data for decision-making across essential sectors. This initiative also revitalises the historic Malindi Space Centre, aligning with broader Italy–Kenya cooperation in EO and scientific capacity-building. 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭The CREO system, with fully installed and operational nodes in Malindi and Nairobi, provides a high-performance image acquisition […]
- [French Rocket Builder HyPrSpace Secures €21 Million in New Funding](https://newspace.consulting/hyprspace1/): French HyPrSpace has secured an oversubscribed €21 million Series A round to accelerate the development of its hybrid rocket propulsion technology and advance toward its first suborbital launch using Baguette One. Founded in 2019, HyPrSpace is developing hybrid engines that combine solid High Density PolyEthylene (HDPE) fuel with cryogenic liquid oxygen. This architecture offers a simpler alternative to conventional liquid propulsion by eliminating turbopumps and reducing component count drastically compared to traditional rocket engines. The company plans to debut its propulsion system on Baguette One, a suborbital vehicle scheduled to fly in 2026 from a French test site. This mission serves […]
- [Six Lessons From Launching A Space Company (From A Laundry Room)](https://newspace.consulting/six-lessons/): Ashi Dissanayake, CEO and Co-Founder of Spaceium, shares insights from building an in-space refueling company without business backgrounds or massive infrastructure. As engineers, Dissanayake and her co-founder faced a persistent challenge in propulsion systems: getting enough power and efficiency to carry meaningful payloads. Conversations with other space companies revealed a universal constraint—missions were limited by fuel, and orbital refueling infrastructure simply did not exist. The team began building for that need, even when refueling was not yet an industry priority. Lesson 1: Move Fast and Fail Faster In a frontier like in-space refueling, there is no roadmap. The speed of learning […]
- [From Tallinn to Nairobi: Connecting with Kenya's Emerging Startup Ecosystem at Latitude59 x Kenya](https://newspace.consulting/latitude59/): Latitude59 x Kenya is a platform for African and international founders to find valuable connections, discuss innovation, and overcome obstacles with the support and know-how of the global community. It focuses on building bridges and importing the expertise of global industry leaders to increase sustainability and competitiveness of the local market, workforce, and business environment. The event brings together over 2,000 participants—1,000 entrepreneurs, 350 investors, ecosystem leaders, and policymakers from across Africa and beyond. Latitude59 Kenya 2025 aims to be an ecosystem engine, designed to spark long-term partnerships, scale meaningful ventures, and turn ambitious ideas into reality. The name comes from […]
- [𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 €22.1 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐒𝐀 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞: 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%90%87%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%ac%f0%9d%90%ad%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%9c-e22-1-%f0%9d%90%81%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a5%f0%9d%90%a5%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%a7-%f0%9d%90%84/): The European Space Agency – ESA‘s Ministerial Council 2025 concluded in Bremen, Germany with Member States committing €22.1 billion over three years, marking a substantial increase from the previous €16.9 billion. With a historic 3.5% annual increase beyond inflation, this funding provides the foundation for European competitiveness in the growing space economy. The question now is whether ESA can evolve to match the ambition of its mandate. 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐝The Human and Robotic Exploration programme received €2.9 billion, falling short of ESA’s projected €3.7 billion budget. This modest increase from €2.7 billion signals Member State hesitancy about expansion in a programme […]
- [Volta Space: Beaming Power to the Moon](https://newspace.consulting/volta-space-beaming-power-to-the-moon/): The Moon has a problem. “Survive and operate through the lunar night” is #1 on NASA’s 2024 Civil Space Shortfall Ranking. High power generation on the Moon is #2. Both represent the same core issue: power on the lunar surface, where nights last 14 days. At the poles, some craters never see sunlight. Recent commercial landers couldn’t survive their first night. For a lunar economy to thrive, we need power that’s persistent, scalable, and available when needed. Current Tech’s Problem Every kilogram to the Moon costs ~$1M, making it prohibitively expensive to scale onboard lithium-ion batteries to store enough power for […]
- [Orbit Fab Leads Europe's First Orbital Refuelling Demonstration](https://newspace.consulting/orbitfab1/): Orbit Fab, the Colorado-based company that established a UK subsidiary in 2022, announced it secured the first stage of a contract from ESA and the UK Space Agency worth £1.3M to demonstrate in-space refuelling capabilities by 2028 alongside a consortium of European partners from the UK, Austria, and Lithuania. This initial award marks a major step within the broader Advancing Satcom Technology with Refuelling and Logistics (ASTRAL)mission, a multi-purpose activity co‑funded through ESA’s ARTES programme. ASTRAL aims to validate the technologies and operations needed to make in-orbit refuelling a routine part of Europe’s future space infrastructure. As the mission lead, Orbit […]
- [In-Orbit Servicing Startup Infinite Orbits Raises €40 Million in New Funding](https://newspace.consulting/in-orbit-servicing-startup-infinite-orbits-raises-e40-million-in-new-funding/): French in-orbit servicing startup Infinite Orbits has secured €40 million in new funding to expand its European footprint and accelerate development of its satellite life-extension and inspection fleet. The capital will support new offices in Luxembourg, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland, and fast-track deployment of the company’s servicing spacecraft. Prior to this round, Infinite Orbits had secured €12 million as of May 2024. Satellite operators increasingly seek solutions that extend operational life of spacecraft in geostationary (GEO) orbit. Satellites in GEO are usually a high capital expenditure, noting that there is a trend towards smaller (<1000kg) GEO satellites.  The […]
- [A Perspective on Space: Preparing for 2075](https://newspace.consulting/manufacturing-two/): Recognizing that space is now an integral component of present-day society, the Royal Society has recently completed a report that explores the potential implications of space activities by 2075, aiming to stimulate discussion without predicting specific outcomes. Martin Sweeting from SSTL has summarized the report and this is a shortened version of his summary with focus on space exploration. Humanity’s historical expansion from land to sea and air now extends into outer space. The coming decades will see increased exploration beyond near-Earth orbit, with potential long-term bases on the Moon and Mars. Advances in large reusable rockets, single-stage-to-orbit spaceplanes, and green […]
- [Revolv Space: Maximizing Solar Energy Capture from CubeSats to Medium-Sized Satellites](https://newspace.consulting/revolv-space-maximizing-solar-energy-capture-from-cubesats-to-medium-sized-satellites/): When a CubeSat’s solar panels do not face the sun for extended duration, mission capabilities can plummet. Revolv Space recognized this fundamental constraint and built SARA—a Solar Array Rotary Actuator that transforms how small satellites harvest the sun’s energy. Unlike fixed arrays, SARA actively tracks the sun, maximizing orbital average power for payload operations. The autonomous system incorporates fail-safe redundancy, maintaining functionality even under unexpected mechanical stress—eliminating a critical failure mode that has ended missions prematurely In May 2024, Revolv Space secured €2.6 million in seed funding to support production scaling, establish their Turin office, and prepare SARA for its orbital […]
- [Isar Aerospace's Second Spectrum Rocket Arrives at Andøya Spaceport Advancing European Small-Lift Launch Capability](https://newspace.consulting/isar2/): Isar Aerospace has delivered the two stages for Spectrum’s second flight to @Andøya Space port in Norway, marking a significant step forward in the company’s development programme. The arrival follows a comprehensive post-flight review of the inaugural launch in March 2025, during which engineers identified root causes and implemented targeted corrective measures designed to address the vehicle’s premature flight termination. The inaugural Spectrum launch on 30 March 2025 lifted off cleanly from Andøya Spaceport, with all nine Aquila engines performing as expected. However, approximately 30 seconds into flight, the vehicle received a termination command and descended unpowered into the sea, exploding […]
- [Building Africa's Space Economy: Attending Kenya Space Innovation & Investment Forum and the African Space Generation Workshop](https://newspace.consulting/building-africas-space-economy-attending-kenya-space-innovation-investment-forum-and-the-african-space-generation-workshop/): The Kenya Space Innovation and Investment Forum (KSIIF) 2025, themed “Unlocking the Value of Space Technologies for Economic Transformation” will bring together Kenya’s space community and take place from 9 to 10 December 2025 alongside the SGAC 9th African Space Generation Workshop (AF-SGW), where I am invited as a panellist. The Forum will also host the annual Africa Earth Observation Challenge (AEOC) 2025 final pitching event, in recognition of the central role that young innovators and young professionals in the African space ecosystem play in mainstreaming and leveraging space technologies for Africa’s scientific, technological, and socioeconomic advancement. The event will be […]
- [𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐬: 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐆𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐧-𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐏𝐀𝐃𝐄](https://newspace.consulting/launch-two/): Blue OriginNew Glenn’s second mission, NG-2, launched Thursday, November 13, from Cape Canaveral to send NASA’s EscaPADE twin spacecraft to Mars. Also onboard was a technology demonstration from Viasat. 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: 𝐄𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐏𝐀𝐃𝐄 The Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (EscaPADE) mission critical spacecraft were provided by Rocket Lab. Space Sciences Laboratoryat the University of California, Berkeleyserved as the main developer of the scientific equipment and will be leading science mission. EscaPADE represented a milestone in affordable Mars exploration, aiming to investigate the interaction between the solar wind and the Martian atmosphere at a fraction of the cost of traditional missions. […]
- [𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞: 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚'𝐬 𝐄𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐢 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%90%84%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%ad%f0%9d%90%a1-%f0%9d%90%92%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%9d%f0%9d%90%ac-%f0%9d%90%9f%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%ab-%f0%9d%90%92%f0%9d%90%a9%f0%9d%90%9a/): In a historic achievement for African space research, the Egusi melon seed (Citrullus lanatus) became the first Nigerian and West African seed to enter orbit on the International Space Station (ISS) launched with SpaceX Falcon 9. The mission “𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞” explores how indigenous crops can contribute to long-duration space missions as well as Earth-based food resilience. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐄𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Egusi’s selection wasn’t arbitrary. With approximately 45.7% lipids and 23.4% protein, this West African staple delivers essential polyunsaturated fatty acids and amino acids critical for cardiovascular and muscular health—particularly valuable for […]
- [LambdaVision Closes $7M Seed Round to Make Retinas in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)](https://newspace.consulting/lambdavision1/): LambdaVision, Inc., led by CEO Nicole Wagner, Ph.D., is advancing the frontier of space-enabled biotechnology. Founded with the mission to restore vision for patients affected by retinal degenerative diseases, the company is developing a protein-based artificial retina in space, designed to help patients regain meaningful sight. These diseases are major causes of blindness worldwide, impacting millions with few effective treatments currently available. LambdaVision recently closed a $7 million seed funding round co-led by Seven Seven Six and Aurelia Foundry Fund, with additional support from Seraphim Space. This round extends the company’s runway into 2027 and accelerates preclinical development and the scale-up […]
- [My First International Astronautical Congress (IAC2024) in Milan, atteneded by over 11,000 space enthusiasts, was an amazing experience. The positive experience was partly because I did proper preparation:](https://newspace.consulting/my-first-international-astronautical-congress-iac2024-in-milan-atteneded-by-over-11000-space-enthusiasts-was-an-amazing-experience-the-positive-experience-was-partly-because-i-did-proper-prepara/): 1. I arrived two days before the conference started to catch up with my Team Tumbleweed and International Space University (ISU) SSP23 family.2. I contacted authors of papers and presentations I was interested in before IAC started.3. Over the weekend before the event started, I selected the sessions I was most interested in and had my calendar populated with rooms and times I would attend for every day of the conference.4. I left time for networking. Every day I reserved at least 2 hours for networking during the lunch break.5. I followed advice and carried energy bars with me every day. […]
- [Oman Opens Fast Track to Orbit: How 45-Day Licensing Could Reshape Regional Space Access](https://newspace.consulting/oman-opens-fast-track-to-orbit-how-45-day-licensing-could-reshape-regional-space-access/): Oman has taken a major step toward becoming a regional hub for commercial space activities with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approving a new directive to license space launches in as little as 45 days. This streamlined regulatory structure positions the Sultanate as the first Gulf nation to introduce a comprehensive system for regulating and supporting launch operations. The initiative supports the operations of the Etlaq Spaceport, managed by Oman’s National Space Services Company NASCOM. Etlaq hosted its inaugural suborbital launch—NASCOM’s Duqm-1 mission—in December, marking the beginning of Oman’s entry into global launch capabilities. The spaceport is designed to handle suborbital […]
- [Aetherflux: Pioneering Space-Based Solar Power with Laser Technology](https://newspace.consulting/aetherflux-pioneering-space-based-solar-power-with-laser-technology/): Aetherflux, a Silicon Valley startup aiming to revolutionize renewable energy distribution through Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP). As an alternative to traditional designs that rely on microwave transmission (https://lnkd.in/d_JymZr4), Aetherflux’s innovative approach utilizes infrared laser technology to beam power from Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) to many small ground receivers. The company’s first crucial step will be launching a demonstration satellite approximately 500km (342 miles) above Earth within the next 12-15 months. This prototype mission, backed by roughly $10 million of founder Baiju B.’s personal investment, will test the transmission of an average of 1 kilowatt with a peak power of 4 kilowatt to […]
- [𝐎𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬: 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%90%8e%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%9b%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%ad%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%a5-%f0%9d%90%91%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%9b%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%ad%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%9c%f0%9d%90%ac-%f0%9d%90%86/): There is a growing demand for cost-effective in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM). While most space companies design robots for single, specialized use cases —which limits revenue— Orbital Robotics is charting a different course. Its approach centers on generalized robotic hardware combined with AI-powered software that can be rapidly adapted for diverse missions. This model dramatically reduces development time, allowing small teams to program new robotic missions in days instead of months, and leverages the falling cost of launches to expand market viability. Founded by Aaron Borger (CEO) and Doug Kohl (COO), the company brings together top engineering talent from across […]
- [Japan Successfully Launches New Cargo Spacecraft which delivered Supplies to the International Space Station](https://newspace.consulting/japan-successfully-launches-new-cargo-spacecraft-which-delivered-supplies-to-the-international-space-station/): Japan has marked a major milestone with the successful launch of its H3 rocket, carrying the newly developed unmanned HTV-X1 cargo spacecraft on its first mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch took place at Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center, with JAXA: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency confirming that the spacecraft entered its targeted orbit just 14 minutes after liftoff. The HTV-X1, an advanced successor to JAXA’s H-II Transfer Vehicle known as Kounotori (“White stork” in Japanese), represents Japan’s continued contribution to international space logistics. Designed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to transport up to 6,000 kilograms of supplies, the new […]
- [How Microgravity is Revolutionizing Healthcare Research and Development](https://newspace.consulting/how-microgravity-is-revolutionizing-healthcare-research-and-development/): Microgravity is opening a new era for medical research, offering scientists insights they cannot obtain on Earth. In weightlessness, biology behaves differently. Proteins crystallize with greater clarity, allowing more precise drug design. Stem cells expand in new ways, revealing possibilities for regenerative medicine. Even fragile cell models survive longer in orbit, giving researchers extended time to study diseases like cancer. Angiex Inc. offers a clear example. Its therapy targets the blood vessels that feed tumors. On Earth, endothelial cells rarely live long enough for meaningful testing. In orbit, they thrived, giving researchers a stable platform to explore how cancers can be […]
- [Statistical AI vs. Cognitive AI: Why Cognitive AI, and not LLMs, will get us to Human-Level Intelligence](https://newspace.consulting/ai-post-one/): This is a summary of the blog post from @Peter Voss  with slight edits. Statistical AI, including Deep Learning, Generative AI, and Large Language Models, relies fundamentally on backpropagation and gradient descent. This approach requires all training data to be available upfront, which is then processed through numerous calculation cycles to produce a model of statistical relationships. The result is frozen, read-only AI—the core model cannot be updated incrementally in real time. These systems are not adaptive to changes in the world and must be periodically discarded and retrained to remain current. A number of techniques are used to mitigate this […]
- [𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐥 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%90%81%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%b3%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a5-%f0%9d%90%87%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%ac%f0%9d%90%ad%f0%9d%90%ac-%f0%9d%90%85%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%ac%f0%9d%90%ad/): Brazil, one of the world’s leading agricultural nations, is extending its expertise beyond Earth. The 1st International Symposium on Space Agriculture, held October 14–16, 2025, at the PIT – Parque de Inovação Tecnológica São José dos Campos, brought together researchers, space agencies, and industry leaders to explore how Brazilian agritech can support sustainable food production for future space missions and strengthen food systems on Earth. Organized by Embrapa, in partnership with the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB/MCTI), the symposium is part of Brazil’s growing participation in the Artemis Accords. 𝐃𝐚𝐲 1 – 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧The symposium opened with a focus on […]
- [World Space Week 2025: From Earth to Living in Space](https://newspace.consulting/world-space-week-2025-from-earth-to-living-in-space/): World Space Week (WSW) is the largest annual space event and will be celebrated from October 4 to 10, 2025, in more than 90 countries worldwide. It is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. On December 6, 1999, the UN General Assembly declared World Space Week as an annual event, choosing dates that honor two milestones in space history: the launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957 — humanity’s first step into orbit — and the signing of the Outer Space Treaty on October 10, 1967, which established space […]
- [Tumbleweed Rover Tests Demonstrate Transformative Technology for Low-Cost Mars Exploration](https://newspace.consulting/tumbleweed-rover-tests-demonstrate-transformative-technology-for-low-cost-mars-exploration/): NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers have delivered groundbreaking science, but their expense makes surface exploration affordable only for space agencies. Team Tumbleweed aims to change this with a bold, approach: swarms of lightweight, low-cost, wind-driven rovers that roll across the Martian terrain like desert tumbleweeds. The spheroidal rovers use Mars’ strong winds for mobility, eliminating the need for motors or wheels. Deployed in swarms, each carrying scientific instruments, they can survey vast regions of Mars at a fraction of the cost of conventional missions. Currently, the Tumbleweed concept is at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4, with prototype testing underway to validate […]
- [Building Water Security for Africa: An Earth Observation Satellite and Machine Learning Powered Approach](https://newspace.consulting/building-water-security-for-africa-an-earth-observation-satellite-and-machine-learning-powered-approach/): Africa’s lakes are lifelines. They provide food, drinking water, transport, and jobs for millions of people. But these precious waters face serious challenges — pollution, rising demand, and the unpredictable effects of climate change. Now, a new research project called Satellite-based Water Assessment for Holistic Integrated Lake Information (SWAHILI) is turning to space to help protect them. Led by the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Ghana together with the University of Cambridge in the UK, the project will use Earth Observation (EO) satellites to track the health of lakes across Africa. By combining images from multiple EO satellites with […]
- [Opening Up Space: How the Diversity in Space Careers Conference Champions Inclusion in the Sector](https://newspace.consulting/opening-up-space-how-the-diversity-in-space-careers-conference-champions-inclusion-in-the-sector/): The diversity reality within the global space workforce presents a challenge. Only a small fraction of the global space workforce comes from underrepresented communities. Diversity in Space Careers (DiSC) plans to address this issue through a one-day conference scheduled for October 23rd in London, with remote participation options available. This conference promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion in the space sector through curated talks, panels, and workshops designed to support underrepresented groups and students while inspiring the next generation of space professionals. The statistics reveal the extent of the challenge. In the UK space sector, only 2% of the space workforce originates […]
- [From Fiction to Reality: Little Prince's Rose Will Bloom on the Moon](https://newspace.consulting/from-fiction-to-reality-little-princes-rose-will-bloom-on-the-moon/): The most compelling messages humanity sends to space may not emerge from our technological developments, but from our ability to nurture life in the most unlikely places. While space missions typically focus on gathering scientific data or collecting resources, Interstellar Lab‘s upcoming lunar mission introduces a different paradigm: demonstrating that biological systems can serve as both practical experiments and cultural symbols. Our most meaningful contributions to space may come not from what we build, but from how we can inspire generations to preserve life on our planet and beyond. In 1946, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry gave the world The Little Prince—a story […]
- [Astron Systems' Pursuit of Complete Launch Vehicle Reusability](https://newspace.consulting/astron-systems-pursuit-of-complete-launch-vehicle-reusability/): In the competitive landscape of small satellite launchers, Astron Systems has taken a fundamentally different path aiming for 100% reusability. Founded in 2021 and based at the UK’s Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, this New Space start-up is developing Aurora, a two-stage launch vehicle designed to deliver 360 kg payloads to low-Earth orbit with complete reusability—a bold ambition that addresses both economic and environmental challenges facing the industry. The vehicle’s design centers on the principle that rocket reusability should encompass the entire system, not just select components. This approach targets the fundamental cost drivers (of which the engines account for half […]
- [𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞: 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐲 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 2025](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%90%81%f0%9d%90%ae%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a5%f0%9d%90%9d%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%a0-%f0%9d%90%82%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%ac-%f0%9d%90%a2/): I was invited as a keynote speaker at the European Rover Challenge (ERC) in Krakow, Poland. The event was organized by the European Space Foundation with the co-organizer AGH University of Krakow. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞? This was one of the questions from the audience. New Space emerged in the early 1990s as a paradigm shift from traditional space through three defining characteristics: agile product development, private investment-driven business models, and taking higher risks with less testing and COTS products. Where traditional space operates on government cost-plus contracts with 5-10 year development cycles, New Space companies […]
- [𝐖𝐡𝐲 90% 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭-𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥: 𝐀 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%90%96%f0%9d%90%a1%f0%9d%90%b2-90-%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%9f-%f0%9d%90%92%f0%9d%90%a9%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%9c%f0%9d%90%9e-%f0%9d%90%92%f0%9d%90%ad%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%ad-%f0%9d%90%ae/): Following the opening ceremony of the International Space Robotics Competition & Conference 2025 Justyna Redelkiewicz, MBA from GoCosmic delivered a keynote on “The Challenges of Space Commercialization” that revealed a sobering reality: 90% of space start-ups fail within their first decade. This statistic, while daunting, presents an opportunity to learn from common pitfalls and chart a course toward sustainable success. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭-𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞: 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 The number one reason for New Space start-up failure remains fundamentally human: founders developing solutions for problems that don’t exist or markets that aren’t ready. This challenge extends beyond start-ups—even established […]
- [From Martian Rovers to New Space Ventures: Presenting Opportunities at the International Space Robotics Competition & Conference 2025](https://newspace.consulting/from-martian-rovers-to-new-space-ventures-presenting-opportunities-at-the-international-space-robotics-competition-conference-2025/): From August 29th to 31st, Krakow will once again host the European Rover Challenge (ERC), the largest international competition of Martian robots held on-site at AGH University of Krakow, Poland as well as remotely. The event (founded by Lukasz Wilczynski) is organized by the European Space Foundation with the co-organizer AGH University of Krakow. It is free to the public and will once again bring together the international scientific, educational and business space rover communities. It will feature an interdisciplinary conference with experts from global space industry organizations, where I will be giving a keynote presentation about the opportunities the New […]
- [UK Space Industry Workforce: Insights from the Latest 𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐊 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 2024 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭](https://newspace.consulting/uk-space-industry-workforce-insights-from-the-latest-%f0%9d%90%92%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%b3%f0%9d%90%9e-%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%9d-%f0%9d%90%87%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%a5%f0%9d%90%ad/): A recently published report by London Economics Ltd, “Size and Health of the UK Space Industry 2024,” which analyzed the 2022/23 financial year and was funded by the UK Space Agency, provides valuable insights into the space sector’s workforce composition. 𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞 Space industry employment exhibited strong growth of 3,521 (+7%) relative to 2021/22, with an estimated 55,550 Full Time Equivalents (FTEs). 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 UK nationals comprise 83% of the space-related workforce among survey respondents. This concentration reflects the sector’s traditional dual-use nature and security requirements, where UK citizenship and sometimes basic security clearance are prerequisites for employment in space and defence […]
- [From Unplanned Discovery to Important Resource: How Fungi Could Power Humanity's Multi-Planetary Future](https://newspace.consulting/from-unplanned-discovery-to-important-resource-how-fungi-could-power-humanitys-multi-planetary-future/): During the 1980s and 1990s, astronauts on the Russian Mir Space Station discovered that familiar Earth fungi, such as Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus versicolor, were capable of thriving in space [1,2]. This served as the first proof that terrestrial fungi can adjust to the conditions of space and microgravity. Since that discovery on the Mir Space Station, scientists have increasingly focused their research on fungi, particularly mycelia, which are the root-like structure of fungi. Researchers have identified multiple applications where mycelia could prove beneficial for space missions. Several concepts have progressed from theoretical frameworks to experimental validation, including the use of […]
- [ESA EnVision Mission to Explore our Planetary Neighbor Venus](https://newspace.consulting/esa-envision-mission-to-explore-our-planetary-neighbor-venus/): Interest in Venus has surged in recent years, as scientists increasingly recognize the need for a modern, comprehensive study of our planetary neighbor Venus—the first of its kind since NASA’s Magellan mission in the 1990s. Magellan, launched aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis in May 1989, arrived at Venus after a 15- month journey. The mission was named after explorer Ferdinand Magellan, and it was the first spacecraft to image the entire Venusian surface and made several key discoveries about the planet’s geology and atmosphere. Despite having a similar size and mass to Earth, Venus presents a completely different story. With a scorching […]
- [𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞: 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%90%93%f0%9d%90%a1%f0%9d%90%9e-%f0%9d%90%92%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a5%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%ad-%f0%9d%90%93%f0%9d%90%a1%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%ad-%f0%9d%90%80/): In our pursuit of space exploration and technological advancement, humanity has inadvertently created a growing challenge that orbits silently above us: space debris. This unseen menace travels at hyper-velocities around Earth, threatening everything from critical communication satellites to future human missions. 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 Space debris encompasses any non-functional, human-made object in Earth’s orbit. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), around 36,500 objects larger than 10 cm are currently tracked, as well as an estimated 1.2 million objects between 1 cm and 10 cm and a startling 140 million pieces smaller than 1 cm [1].2024 saw several major fragmentation events […]
- [Surrey Space Institute: Bridging Disciplines to Tackle Global Challenges](https://newspace.consulting/surrey-space-institute-bridging-disciplines-to-tackle-global-challenges/): The traditional academic model of isolated departments faces a fundamental challenge as solutions to global problems become more complex. Deep tech like Space requires collaboration across multiple disciplines—a reality that has shaped the formation of the new Surrey Space. Having attended the Institute’s opening at the UK Space Conference, I realised how it represents a strategic evolution beyond conventional departmental boundaries, creating an umbrella organization that connects diverse centres and departments (including engineering, telecommunications, cybersecurity, law, bioscience and AI) to enable truly interdisciplinary education and research. This approach gains practical depth through the University of Surrey‘s relationship with Surrey Satellite Technology […]
- [ESA's Space Rider Reusable Spacecraft Nears Operational Reality](https://newspace.consulting/esas-space-rider-reusable-spacecraft-nears-operational-reality/): The European Space Agency – ESA Space Rider program represents a significant step forward in Europe’s capabilities in space transportation and reusable spacecraft technology. Designed to offer a platform for experiments and technology testing in space, Space Rider will provide European industries and researchers with access to space environments while also reducing the cost of missions through its reusable design. ESA has now achieved a crucial milestone as Space Rider successfully completed critical drop tests in Sardinia. These tests mark a pivotal step toward operational deployment of Europe’s first reusable orbital vehicle, bringing the promise of democratized access to space-based research […]
- [Highlight of the first day of the 𝐈𝐧-𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐌): Space Companies Driving Microgravity Innovation](https://newspace.consulting/highlight-of-the-first-day-of-the-%f0%9d%90%88%f0%9d%90%a7-%f0%9d%90%ac%f0%9d%90%a9%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%9c%f0%9d%90%9e-%f0%9d%90%92%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%af%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%9c/): The most interesting session on the first day of the ISAM conference for me was the session called 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 and the panel following the session The panel was moderated by Alan Webb – Commercial Space Technologies Ltd. (CST) with the speakers:· Guillaume Dieppedalle from ATMOS Space Cargo· Adrian Radocea from Varda Space Industries· Éanna Cristin Doyle from Space Cargo Unlimited· Hugo Verjus from AndroMachand Joshua Western from Space Forge who had some interesting things to say about the state of the private space sector in the UK: Space Forge’s recent £22.6 million Series […]
- [Africa's Space Future: What the New African Space Agency Needs to Thrive](https://newspace.consulting/africas-space-future-what-the-new-african-space-agency-needs-to-thrive/): The African Space Agency (AfSA) has officially opened its doors on the 20th of April at Egypt’s Space City, marking a historic moment nearly a decade in the making. With its mandate to coordinate continental space activities across Earth observation, satellite connectivity, astronomy, and navigation, AfSA represents Africa’s bold step toward space sovereignty. The agency begins operating alongside the African Space Council (ASC), a 10-member oversight body that will guide AfSA’s strategic direction and ensure alignment with continental priorities. As Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, ASC president, emphasizes: “Africa’s survival and prosperity depend on its ability to harness space technologies” – from agriculture […]
- [Italy's SELENE Project Charts Path for Sustainable Lunar Nuclear Power](https://newspace.consulting/italys-selene-project-charts-path-for-sustainable-lunar-nuclear-power/): In an important step toward establishing permanent lunar presence, Italy’s space agency Agenzia Spaziale Italiana) has launched an initiative, the SELENE project, developing nuclear fission technology to power future Moon settlements. The lunar environment, characterized by its 14-day light-dark cycles, means there are limitations in conventional solar-based power solutions. SELENE (Sistema Energetico Lunare con l’Energia Nucleare) addresses this challenge through its innovative Moon Energy Hub (MEnH), an integrated power infrastructure centered on advanced Surface Nuclear Reactors (SNRs). “The demanding energy requirements for future lunar activities necessitate solutions that transcend traditional solar technology,” notes Angelo Olivieri, ASI’s head of Scientific Missions. This […]
- [UK Space Conference 2025: Looking Forward to See You in Manchester for Potential Collaboration](https://newspace.consulting/uk-space-conference-2025-looking-forward-to-see-you-in-manchester-for-potential-collaboration/): The UK space sector continues to demonstrate remarkable momentum, with 1,765 organisations generating £18.9 billion in income and supporting 52,000 full-time equivalent positions in 2023 [1]. Yet this impressive foundation reveals a challenge: achieving the sector’s ambitious growth targets requires addressing the persistent gap between current funding levels and the investment needed to realize the UK’s space potential. This context sets the stage for an important gathering next week as the biennial UK Space Conference returns to Manchester on July 16-17 with the UK Space Agency as the lead sponsor. This year’s theme centres on growth across multiple dimensions: awareness, investment, […]
- [Italian Space Agency Selects OHB Italia Consortium to Implement Lunar Oxygen Extraction Technology](https://newspace.consulting/italian-space-agency-selects-ohb-italia-consortium-to-implement-lunar-oxygen-extraction-technology/): The Italian Space Agency (ASI) has taken another step toward lunar resource extraction by awarding OHB Italia S.p.A. a contract to develop ORACLE (Oxygen Retrieval Asset by Carbothermal-reduction in Lunar Environment), a compact system designed to extract breathable oxygen directly from lunar regolith. This contract represents Italy’s strategic commitment to mastering in-situ resource utilization—a capability that will prove essential for sustainable human presence beyond Earth The ORACLE mission builds upon foundational work that began in July 2023, when ASI partnered with Politecnico di Milano to develop the core carbothermic reduction technology. The process itself involves heating lunar regolith with carbon at […]
- [Space Farming: Oyster Mushrooms Grown in Polar Orbit](https://newspace.consulting/space-farming-oyster-mushrooms-grown-in-polar-orbit/): In a notable step forward for space agriculture, Australian firm FOODiQ Global cultivated and grew oyster mushrooms in microgravity aboard Fram2, the first human spaceflight mission to traverse Earth’s polar regions. On the final day of the three-and-a-half-day mission, which was launched on the 31st of March 2025, the experiment addressed fundamental questions about food production capabilities that could sustain future deep space exploration. In her paper presented at the IAC 2024 [1], FOODiQ Global CEO Dr. Flávia Fayet-Moore examines how growing mushrooms as a space crop can contribute to exploration missions, with nutritional and culinary benefits in closed-loop systems. These […]
- [𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞'𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬](https://newspace.consulting/%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%ac%f0%9d%90%a9%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%9c%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%ac-%f0%9d%90%92%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%9c%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%9d-%f0%9d%90%8b%f0%9d%90%ae%f0%9d%90%a7/): On June 6, Japan Standard Time, ispace, inc.‘s Resilience spacecraft approached the Mare Frigoris region of the moon’s near side, carrying hopes of achieving Japan’s first private soft lunar touchdown. The mission represented iSpace’s second attempt under their Hakuto-R program, building on lessons learned from their previous endeavor. However, when telemetry ceased just one minute and 45 seconds before the scheduled landing, the space community witnessed another reminder of the challenges inherent in lunar landings. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 Preliminary analysis of Resilience’s final telemetry data reveals a concerning pattern that extends beyond this single mission. The spacecraft’s laser rangefinder experienced issues […]
- [GRAIL Mission Reveals Most Accurate Time-Varying Lunar Gravity Field Model: Five Years of Data Processing Unlocks Navigation Framework for Future Missions](https://newspace.consulting/grail-mission-reveals-most-accurate-time-varying-lunar-gravity-field-model-five-years-of-data-processing-unlocks-navigation-framework-for-future-missions/): The Moon’s gravitational field serves as a fundamental navigation map for spacecraft operating in cislunar space and future lunar landers. A recent study based on the PhD thesis ofAlexander Berne published in Nature [1] demonstrates how NASA’s GRAIL mission has transformed our understanding of lunar gravity through an unprecedented five-year data analysis effort. The Moons gravitational field changes with the periodic tidal forcing due to its eccentric and oblique orbit around the Earth. This changing lunar gravity field and is also sensitive to our natural satellite’s internal structure. The Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission was designed to investigate the […]
- [Blood Flow in Microgravity: ESA Young Professionals to Advance Human Performance in Space](https://newspace.consulting/blood-flow-in-microgravity-esa-young-professionals-to-advance-human-performance-in-space/): The next generation of space professionals is tackling one of humanity’s most pressing challenges in long-duration spaceflight: understanding how microgravity affects human physiology. Through the Young Professionals Satellite (YPSat-2) Programme, a distributed team of over 50 European Space Agency – ESA young professionals has developed a set of innovative experiments that will launch on board ESA’s Space Rider in 2027 to contribute to improved human performance in space. At the core of YPSat-2 lies the Angiology in Microgravity (AIM) experiment, a biomedical investigation designed to study blood flow dynamics in weightless conditions. The focus centers on the internal jugular vein, where […]
- [Meeting at In Orbit Servicing, Assembly & Manufacturing (ISAM) Conference 2025 in Belfast](https://newspace.consulting/meeting-at-in-orbit-servicing-assembly-manufacturing-isam-conference-2025-in-belfast/): I’ll be attending the In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly & Manufacturing (ISAM) Conference 2025 in Belfast on the 4th and 5th of June. The UK Space Agency and Satellite Applications Catapult are organizing this second conference at the ICC Belfast, building on the foundation established by last year’s inaugural event. The conference has expanded significantly from its first year, now accommodating three times the number of participants. This growth reflects increasing engagement from both established space organizations and companies from traditional industries recognizing opportunities in orbital operations. The program includes presentations from organizations already working on commercial space operations, networking time, an expanded […]

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