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Oxford Space Systems has completed the in-space deployment of the company’s large Very High Frequency (VHF) isoflux helical antenna on the IOD-2 mission for Startical‘s ECHOES project, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of space-based air traffic management (ATM).

The antenna, nearly 4 meters in length and designed to operate within the 117 to 138 MHz range, is a crucial component of the ECHOES initiative, contributing to enhanced global communication and surveillance capabilities for ATM purposes.

The ECHOES project, spearheaded by Startical—a joint venture between ENAIRE (the Spanish air navigation service provider) and Indra (one of the world’s leading companies in defence, air traffic, and space)—aims to prove the viability of space-based communications and surveillance capabilities for ATM services in a real scenario. This concept will revolutionize air navigation through a constellation of satellites that provide global VHF communication.

The antenna developed by Oxford Space Systems as an ECHOES project subcontractor and integrated onto the satellite enables radio connectivity in remote areas where reliable communication is essential to future air traffic management.

The ECHOES project, performed within the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU) framework and compromising of Startical, ENAIRE and Indra, as well as Nav Portugal, DLR, Crida and Mitiga, has received substantial funding from the European Union, supported by the Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Transport).

This financial backing, along with the technical expertise of Oxford Space Systems, Startical, ENAIRE and Indra, ensures that the project will set new standards in air traffic management, particularly in regions where traditional systems are less effective.

Sean Sutcliffe, CEO of Oxford Space Systems, said, “We are delighted that Startical has announced the successful deployment in-space of Oxford Space Systems’ antenna for their ECHOES project. This project demonstrates the ability of Oxford Space Systems to deliver high performance, technically demanding deployable antennas within a tight timescale while conducting a rigorous design, development and verification program. In this case the program took just 12 months from first order to delivery, including designing and testing an innovative antenna to meet Startical’s requirements. This was enabled by our team’s ability to draw on extensive product knowledge and heritage, rapid execution with a strong integrated project team covering the range of skills needed, and the highly collaborative approach with the project partners—Startical, Indra and NanoAvionics.”

Blue Canyon Technologies recently unveiled the firm’s latest spacecraft bus, the Saturn-400. This new, larger satellite offers flexibility and reliability to help customers achieve their mission objectives more effectively.

The Saturn-400 spacecraft offers increased payload capacity, allowing for more instruments and larger sensors for complex missions—up to 600 kg—depending on the launch vehicle. It’s also the company’s first satellite to offer an optional built-in attitude control system, known as a control moment gyroscope, which enhances its agility and stability.

As an alternative to the integrated control moment gyroscope, the Saturn-400 offers three reaction wheel options: Blue Canyon’s RW4, RW8, and the larger RW16. Reaction wheels use motor-driven flywheels for attitude control, while CMGs use a spinning rotor and motorized gimbals. Both options provide precise, low-jitter agility, allowing customers to optimize performance based on their mission needs and budget.

The Saturn-400 has rideshare capability while offering higher power and volume scaling through larger solar arrays and scalable power subsystems up to two kilowatts.

Our advanced control moment gyroscope technology is a key differentiator for Blue Canyon, and is now available in a turnkey spacecraft,” said Chris Winslett, general manager of Blue Canyon Technologies. “The Saturn-400 shares commonality with many BCT products, all of which leverage the same modular software. This approach enhances efficiency and lowers program risk, enabling customers to meet mission needs more quickly and affordably.”

Since the company’s inception, Blue Canyon has launched 83 small satellites and more than 2,700 components in support of successful missions in dynamic environments and in multiple orbital classifications, including interplanetary journeys.

Sidus Space (NASDAQ: SIDU) has successfully deployed the company’s new, autonomous, guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) software, SpacePilot, and has also commissioned the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) on LizzieSat®-3 (LS3).

Designed for next-generation satellite operations, SpacePilot integrates real-time star tracker, sun sensor, magnetometer, gyroscope, and GPS data onboard LS3 to enable high-precision orbital control with minimal ground intervention. Key features include:

• Attitude Determination: Real-time estimation of spacecraft orientation for mission-critical accuracy
• Attitude Control: Stabilization and mission-aligned adjustments to support payload operations
• Optimal Trajectory: Fuel-efficient, time-optimized flight paths for extended mission life
• Autonomous Guidance: Precise rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) with minimal operator input
• Adaptive Autonomy: Dynamic response to changing orbital conditions and fault scenarios
• Lightweight Design: Optimized for resource-constrained small satellite platforms

The successful commissioning of the ADCS marks a critical step toward LS3’s full mission readiness. With the deployment of autonomous SpacePilot, the satellite can achieve accurate sun-pointing for maximum power generation, stabilize payload orientation for improved data collection, and maintain antenna alignment for reliable communications. This milestone also paves the way for more rapid commissioning of the remaining onboard technologies, including Sidus’s proprietary sensor suite.

LS3’s successful commissioning and SpacePilot deployment reinforce Sidus Space’s commitment to advancing autonomous satellite technologies as part of its growing LizzieSat® constellation.

Activating SpacePilot and commissioning the ADCS marks a critical milestone for LS3’s mission,” said Carol Craig, Founder and CEO of Sidus Space. “This software enables a higher level of autonomy, ensuring greater efficiency and mission resilience while reducing reliance on ground resources.”

Ascending Node Technologies (ANT) has unveiled the company’s Spaceline® constellation design tool that enables startups and established operators to collectively plot, create, and simulate systems tailormade to their mission plans and operations.

This first-of-its-kind, collaborative design tool allows project engineers and developers to plug mission specs and requirements into ANT’s Spaceline visualization software platform, which does the math and provides an accurate blueprint for new and expanding constellations.

Spaceline enables operators to clearly see how their constellations will perform in the future and helps to ensure they deploy the right number of spacecraft and deliver the necessary coverage and services, such as Earth and orbital debris observation.

The new constellation design tool joins the affordable web-based Spaceline suite of data analysis and visualization capabilities developed to help today’s dispersed mission teams effectively collaborate in real time during every mission phase, from design through live operations and post-mission review.

Spaceline is a relatively small investment that enables multi-million-dollar missions to dramatically boost operational accuracy, efficiency, and productivity by automating and streamlining many of the manual, cumbersome calculations and processes still in use today.

NASA is relying on Spaceline and the Ascending Node Technologies team as a critical asset of its $20 million Aspera small-sat UV astrophysics mission set to explore nearby galaxies from LEO beginning next year.

NASA and the University of Arizona space team are leveraging Spaceline to help solve the mysteries surrounding how galaxies evolve and obtain fuel for the formation of stars.

Spaceline was born from NASA’s historic and complex OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security – Regolith Explorer) asteroid sample collection mission that traveled to the near-Earth asteroid Bennu to retrieve rock and dust samples as part of a seven-year exploration.

By the time asteroid samples were delivered to Earth in 2023, a trio of OSIRIS-REx engineers and scientists had founded Ascending Node Technologies and revolutionized the space industry’s slow, siloed, costly, and often manual data processing practices.

Multiple NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts have funded next-generation Spaceline visualization apps and enhancements to the Spaceline visualization software platform.

The industry continues to underestimate the complexity of space, so our web-based Spaceline architecture and new design tool allow teams to collaborate, develop ideas, create and operate a simulated constellation long before the first spacecraft is launched,” said John Kidd, Chief Aerospace Engineer for Ascending Node Technologies. “The ability to effectively plug-in specific mission data and automatically create constellations of spacecraft to meet specific objectives allows startups to build a compelling case for venture funding and big operators to grow with accuracy and confidence.”

The Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA) has awarded a contract to SFL Missions Inc. to develop the AISSat-4 maritime ship tracking microsatellite for launch in less than one year. AISSat-4 is needed to expand operational capacity in Norway’s maritime situational awareness network.

AISSat-4 is being developed on SFL’s SPARTAN 6U nanosatellite platform and will carry a single payload—a miniaturized Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver built by Kongsberg Seatex of Trondheim, Norway. The SPARTAN bus is space proven with 18 commercial communications satellites previously deployed using this platform.

SFL Missions is uniquely prepared to develop AISSat-4 on an accelerated schedule. Additionally, the SPARTAN platform relies on heritage hardware and software and is easily tailored to accommodate the AIS receiver and antennas.

Norway launched the first ship-tracking satellite of its operational AISSat series in 2010 and then funded a parallel series of larger NorSat microsatellites. While the smaller AISSat nanosatellites each carry a single payload focused solely on collection of AIS signals, the NorSats each operate a ship-tracking device along with one or more technology demonstration payloads. NorSat-1 and -2 are both eight years old and have operated beyond their five-year design lives.

Norway’s leadership in space-based maritime monitoring includes eight spacecraft spanning more than 15 years, all of which were developed with SFL…

AISSat-1 was launched in 2010 with funding from Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) to prove that AIS signals from ships at sea could be detected by an AIS receiver in orbit. AISSat-1 was quickly transitioned to operational status where it collected data for 12 years.

AISSat-2, a twin to AISSat-1, launched as an operational asset in 2014 until decommissioning nine years later.

NorSat-1 and -2 launched in 2017, each carrying successively improved AIS receivers developed by Kongsberg Seatex. Additionally, NorSat-1 carries two experimental space science instruments, while NorSat-2 tested a two-way communication VHF data exchange device.

NorSat-3 launched in 2021 with an experimental radar navigation detector to augment the ship-tracking capabilities of its AIS receiver.

NorSat-TD launched in 2023 with a suite of technology demonstration payloads including a Dutch-built laser communications device that successfully enabled faster, more secure optical transmission of data between the spacecraft and ground station.

NorSat-4 launched in January 2025 carrying a fifth-generation AIS receiver complemented by a first-of-its-kind low-light imaging camera to detect and identify “dark” ships not operating their AIS transponders.

AISSat-4, now under development, will have the capacity to capture 1.5 million unique AIS signals every day even in crowded shipping lanes.

Additionally, Norwegian AIS data collected from space will continue to serve as the mainstay of the Blue Justice Ocean Surveillance Program initiated by Norway in September of 2023 to fight international fisheries crimes. Participants in this program share coastal data to uncover illegal fishing activities worldwide.

Under the leadership of NOSA and the Norwegian Coastal Administration, Norway operates the world’s most extensive and sophisticated space-based marine monitoring system to protect the safety of vessels and sustainability of resources in its vast territorial waters.

We have extensive experience in implementing AIS missions, and therefore we have the expertise and design heritage needed to implement the AISSat-4 mission on a short schedule,” said Dr. Robert E. Zee, SFL Missions Director and CEO.

More broadly,” he added, “SFL Missions Inc. has the capacity to work on many satellite missions concurrently, and since the team is vertically integrated, it maintains full control over the subsystem and spacecraft level assembly, integration, and testing schedules.

The societal benefits we gain from collecting AIS information from satellites is significant. It is therefore important that we ensure the maintenance of this capability,” said Coastal Administration Director Einar Vik Arset. “AISSat-4 will be a valuable addition at a time when several of our operational satellites are nearing the end of their expected lifespan.”

Airbus Defence and Space states they are implementing a new organization structure to shape the company’s future competitiveness, with more than 2,000 jobs to go.

The new organization came into effect on July 1st. The Division has completed all information and consultation processes on European as well as national levels for its adaptation plan and has reached productive agreements with its social partners.

This process followed an announcement in October 2024 to adapt the Division’s organisation and workforce in light of a continued complex business environment, especially in the Space Systems segment where significant financial charges were recorded in 2023 and 2024,” noted Airbus.

Among others, the company announced it would reduce up to 2,043 positions, predominantly management overhead functions, and provide stronger end-to-end accountability to its three business lines—Air Power, Space Systems and Connected Intelligence—in order to better cope with business requirements in the future. As confirmed at the beginning of the information and consultation process, there will be no compulsory redundancies, stressed Airbus.

Airbus is backing the probable merger of its space division with those of Thales and Leonardo.

I thank our social partners and our Airbus Defence and Space colleagues for their constructive engagement and contributions throughout this process. Navigating organisational change is never straightforward for any party, particularly when it involves adapting our workforce. The current geopolitical landscape requires a stronger, faster and more resilient European defence and security industry. Our new structure delivers on this requirement through an efficient and effective end-to-end responsibility for our three businesses and a significantly optimized cost structure while preserving the ability and capacity to benefit from growing defence spending,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO Airbus Defence and Space.

The 18th edition of Novaspace’s Earth Observation Satellite Systems report finds 5,770 EO satellites set to launch by 2034, fuelling a $182.6 billion (€155bn) market surge, as national defence priorities shape space strategy

“A new generation of defense suppliers is emerging as countries look to promote the development of national EO ecosystems, with momentum expected to increase in the coming years,” said Federico Banfi, project manager at Novaspace. “This shift in priorities is accelerating procurement cycles and offering the market more agile, cost-effective, and modular systems supported by advanced software and AI.”

Going forward, defence satellites are poised to lead new deployments. This trend is increasingly visible with recent projected budget cuts in commercial Earth observation data procurement reinforcing this strategic shift. U.S. agencies are increasingly prioritizing data from internal, defence-operated assets over commercial sources, driving the move toward sovereign, secure space capabilities.

This growth is enabled by the miniaturization of technologies supporting the deployment of smallsat constellations in various types of orbits, carrying an increasing range of sensors that could be hosted on-board. 2025 marks the start of the Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) and VVHR era, set to disrupt competition going forward. The Chinese Chutian constellation deployed its first prototype in 2024 and is preparing for larger deployment this year. In the U.S., commercial players have also started deployment, signaling a new generation of high-resolution, low-latency capabilities.

Performance, longevity, and cost efficiency now outweigh mass as key priorities. Heavier smallsat associated enhanced capabilities meet growing defence and mission demands, while launch costs remain manageable. Sub-50 kg satellites, once 82 per cent of commercial launches, are expected to drop below 50 percent, highlighting this market is shifting toward more complex and diversified missions.

Rocket Lab National Security LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rocket Lab USA (Nasdaq: RKLB), successfully completed the firm’s Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta (T2TL-Beta) program.

The milestone follows Rocket Lab’s successful Preliminary Design Review (PDR) in late 2024, confirms that spacecraft design, manufacturing approach, and systems architecture meet all mission requirements and enables the program to move into full-scale production.

As a prime contractor, Rocket Lab will deliver a constellation of 18 spacecraft for the T2TL-Beta program, part of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, a resilient, low-latency communications network in LEO that support real-time connectivity for U.S. and allied forces worldwide.

Rocket Lab’s spacecraft for the T2TL-Beta program is based on its high-performance Lightning platform, tailored for the power and data-handling demands of national security LEO constellations. As a vertically integrated provider, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures its spacecraft buses and key subsystems in-house, including solar panels, composite structures, star trackers, reaction wheels, radios, avionics, flight and ground software, launch dispensers, and more allowing the Company to maintain tight control over quality, cost, and schedule.

The Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture is reshaping how the U.S. secures space for the joint force, and Rocket Lab is proud to be a contributor,” said Brad Clevenger, President of Rocket Lab National Security. “With proven platforms and in-house production across key systems, we’re building the backbone of resilient on-orbit capability for the warfighter. Our successful completion of CDR further demonstrates our ability to deliver trusted technology at the speed and scale needed to support national security space.”

Xona Space Systems has launched Pulsar-0, the first production-class satellite in the company’s LEO constellation that will bring accuracy and affordable resiliency to industries across defense, construction, agriculture, mining, critical infrastructure, logistics, and automotive environs. The company believes introducing this technology will unlock an entirely new category of innovation by providing a new way to localize hardware in this physical world.

Critical infrastructure, civil aviation, and financial systems rely on positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services from aging government satellites to function. But they are vulnerable and easy to manipulate. The need for resiliency in this infrastructure is urgent, and Pulsar will be a key part in closing this gap. We’ve heard from leaders across private and public sectors alike that there is no time to waste.

Pulsar-0 entered orbit aboard the SpaceX Transporter-14 mission and will begin broadcasting signals to Earth after the smallsat completes spacecraft commissioning. The primary mission is to validate Xona’s technology and unlock live sky testing with the firm’s early customers, charting the path for more frequent launches as the constellation gows and starts commercial operations.

Building hardware is difficult. Building hardware for space is even harder. Along the way, difficult decisions had to be made to preserve momentum in the face of supply chain volatility. One of those decisions was to proceed with launching Pulsar-0 without a propulsion system onboard, a tradeoff that reduces the mission capability and lifetime from our initial plans but has enabled the company to remain on track for launch and to initiate testing quickly. In a world where resilient PNT is needed now more than ever, launching sooner means real-world implementation can start sooner.

Over the coming months, Pulsar-0 will demonstrate:

• Precise location: Making progress towards delivering on our partnership with Trimble, Pulsar-0 will broadcast real-time precision location with accuracy greater than 10cm. By broadcasting GNSS corrections from low Earth orbit, Pulsar can provide improved positioning before our full constellation is operational while users benefit from stronger signals that reach more places.
• Range authentication: Legacy GPS signals are open and unencrypted, opening the door for malicious actors to generate counterfeit signals that are perceived as real. Pulsar will show a new way to verify the authenticity of our signal in action, providing protection against spoofing attacks.
• Jamming resistance: Today, contested environments are frequently jammed, blocking legacy GPS signals which disrupts civilian life and military operations. With a received signal strength 100 times stronger than that of legacy GPS, Pulsar will outperform in denied domains where jammers and other interference might be present.
• Signal penetration: Environments occluded from open sky have long been a challenge for legacy GPS to reach. We expect to show Pulsar excelling in these environments, bringing reliable connection to traditionally denied spaces inside reinforced buildings, urban canyons, and more.

Pulsar-0 is a milestone for Xona Space Systems and the company will now be focusing on building the capacity to launch more satellites faster and to grow the constellation to achieve persistent and redundant coverage everywhere on Earth.

Maxar Intelligence has been awarded Delivery Order 01 under the Luno A program by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).

This award is focused on delivering commercial analytic services, specifically, automated AI/ML-generated object detections over many specified locations at once. Maxar is primarily identifying various classes of aircraft, ships, ground vehicles and railcars, helping NGA determine object counts at specified locations, classification of objects, identify trends and anomalies, and perform spatial and temporal geospatial intelligence analysis. The mission represents a strong example of operationalizing commercial technologies for persistent site monitoring at global scale.

Maxar has partnered on this award with satellite Earth Observation data provider Satellogic, Inc. (NASDAQ: SATL), integrating the capacity and revisit of both constellations to deliver a combination of persistent monitoring and high-resolution imaging for the most demanding multi-sensor applications; Enabled Intelligence to aid with model validation and verification; and Striveworks for the AIOps platform.

Delivery Order 01 requires excellent performance against extremely tight delivery timelines, including the ability to collect multiple images across constellations within specified windows and delivering model outputs within hours of image acquisition. Automation is the key to success for all phases that include collection, computer vision model inference, and delivery of timely results.

This award reflects the power of combining commercial innovation to support national security mission needs,” said Susanne Hake, SVP and General Manager of Maxar’s U.S. Government business. “By working together with other industry leaders, we’re enabling a powerful combination of diverse sensor data and advanced analytics to help make smarter, faster decisions.”