INNOSPACE (KS:462350) has begun functional checks and satellite–launch vehicle interface tests for customer satellites and experimental payloads as part of the operational procedures for its first commercial launch mission SPACEWARD of the ‘HANBIT-Nano’.

This procedure verifies the electrical and mechanical connections between the payload adapter (PLA) and other integration hardware with the satellites and payloads. It is an essential pre-launch step to ensure stable mounting and integrated operation.

With its first commercial launcher HANBIT-Nano, INNOSPACE plans to deploy five customer satellites into LEO at 300 km altitude and 40° inclination, while simultaneously performing missions for three non-separating experimental payloads and one branding payload.

The target launch time is November 22 at 3:00 PM (BRT), from the Alcantara Launch Center in Brazil. The launch window runs from October 28 to November 28.

On the same day, three Brazilian customers—Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), and Castro Leite Consultoria LTDA (CLC)—visited the launch site to conduct functional checks and interface testing. UFMA completed pre-launch procedures for two small satellites for technology development and education; AEB completed checks for two small satellites for climate and environmental data collection and one inertial navigation system (INS); and CLC completed procedures for one GNSS unit and one INS payload.

One small satellite from the Indian customer Grahaa SPACE is scheduled to follow the sequential integration process. In addition, one highball-can branding model from Korean company BREWGURU will be placed separately onboard as a symbolic participatory payload.

Following the completion of these functional checks and interface tests, INNOSPACE will proceed with final integration to mount the satellites onto the launch vehicle. Once completed, the process will move on to payload fairing installation, pre-launch rehearsal (dry run), comprehensive weather and environmental assessments, and finally the joint flight-safety and integrated-operations procedures with the Brazilian Air Force leading up to the final launch countdown.

INNOSPACE’s satellite–launch vehicle interface test marks a significant step, as it is the first time a Korean private company has independently carried out the integration procedures required for commercial launch services in line with customer requirements. This is symbolic of Korea’s private launch service industry entering true commercialization, supported by practical preparations to serve satellite customers,” said Soojong Kim, Founder and CEO of INNOSPACE.

Voyager Technologies [NYSE: VOYG] recently acquired ExoTerra Resource, a developer of electric propulsion systems.

ExoTerra’s proprietary technology delivers precise maneuvering, extended lifetimes and high efficiency delta-V – essential for spacecraft across national defense architecture layers that must be able to reposition, avoid threats and sustain mission advantage.

ExoTerra’s Halo thruster technology is proven aboard DARPA Blackjack ACES spacecraft. The company also has contracts with commercial companies and organizations such as NASA. Combining ExoTerra’s capabilities with its deep portfolio of mission-critical technologies, Voyager is well positioned for strategic initiatives such as Golden Dome.

We bridge innovation with industrial scale, turning technologies into capabilities that fill gaps and actually move missions forward,” said Dylan Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Voyager. “We’re amplifying our collective mission capability with ExoTerra, accelerating delivery across defense and commercial markets. As freedom of maneuver becomes central to space control and deterrence, it’s imperative that reliable propulsion systems are built, tested and qualified right here in the United States.”

We’ve spent years developing efficient, compact and reliable electric propulsion systems, and joining forces with Voyager allows us to enhance and deliver these systems at scale,” said Mike VanWoerkom, CEO of ExoTerra. “Together, we’ll manufacture flight-proven propulsion technologies that fortify the nation’s ability to manufacture and field spacecraft with speed, resilience and cost efficiency.”

GomSpace North America, a subsidiary of GomSpace Group AB, has received a component purchase order valued at $1.5 million from a leading global service provider.

The order includes advanced spacecraft subsystem components to support an upcoming satellite mission. Delivery is scheduled for the first half of 2026.

GomSpace will supply components from its established line of high-performance nanosatellite power and command systems, known for their flight heritage and suitability for complex commercial and government applications.

This order contributes to GomSpace’s ongoing footprint expansion in the Americas and strengthens its role enabling resilient multi-satellite mission architectures around the world.

This order reflects the continued confidence global space industry partners place in GomSpace’s flight-proven hardware portfolio,” said Slava Frayter, Chief Executive Officer, GomSpace North America. “We are committed to supporting our customers’ mission success with reliable technology and responsive technical collaboration.”

Reflex Aerospace has successfully closed a €50 million Series A funding round—this funding round is the largest Series A in the European New Space sector to date.

The funding, led by Human Element together with Alpine Space Ventures, Bayern Kapital, HTGF, Renovatio Financial Investments, as well as additional German and European investors, will accelerate the development, production, and deployment of sovereign satellite constellations providing Optical, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Space Domain Awareness (SDA), and Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) capabilities.

Part of the financing round will be used to expand existing manufacturing capacity in Bavaria to manufacture satellite constellations for intelligence and communications purposes. Reflex Aerospace aims to have all capabilities ready for deployment and demonstrated in orbit by 2027.

Europe cannot afford to remain reliant on external actors for space-based intelligence,” said Walter Ballheimer, CEO of Reflex Aerospace. “We will invest our own capital, we will work with the best partners in their respective domains, and we will act now because in the current environment, there is no time to waste.”

About Reflex Aerospace
Reflex Aerospace is a manufacturer of high-performance, payload-specific platforms for commercial and defense applications. Based in Berlin and Munich, the company specializes in applying modern manufacturing techniques to reduce lead times and improve performance for critically important space infrastructure. Reflex Aerospace is committed to enhancing Europe’s strategic autonomy through innovation, speed, and sovereign capability development.

The research with Institute of Science, Tokyo, reveals DMU41 is well suited to LEO missions

After announcing a research partnership in April of 2024, Silicon Sensing and the Institute of Science, Tokyo, have now completed a test program evaluating the performance and durability of the DMU41 tactical-grade inertial measurement unit (IMU) in radiation environments similar to those found in space.

The results show that the DMU41 continues to perform well even when exposed to cumulative radiation doses as high as 10 kRad, which exceeds the usual radiation levels encountered during small satellite missions in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Testing of a large sample of DMU41 IMUs took place at the Institute of Science Tokyo’s Wakasa Wan Energy Research Centre in Fukui City. The program evaluated Single Event Effect (SEE) and Total Ionizing Dose (TID) on DMU41 units. SEE verified resilience to ionizing particles, while TID assessed long-term reliability under radiation.

All testing used dose and exposure levels at or above key industry standard thresholds—much harsher than normal operational conditions at LEO.

The DMU41 is a robust, 9 degrees of freedom, high performance IMU. It operates in temperatures ranging from -40oC to +85oC, delivering outstanding low noise performance, bias instability and angle random walk.

Offering performance comparable to typical fiber-optic gyro IMUs, it comes in a far more compact package—measuring just 50.5×50.5x51mm, weighing under 180g and consuming less than 1.8W. The DMU41 is designed to streamline system integration and help satellite developers shorten their certification process.

David Somerville, General Manager, Silicon Sensing, said, “This is an important partnership for us, and these are strong results for our IMU. In this fast-evolving sector performance, size, endurance, power consumption – and cost – are all crucial and these results validate the choice of DMU41 by a growing number of satellite manufacturers. We are confident our technology will significantly improve LEO operations.”

Link to the Silicon Sensing and Science Tokyo case study…

Sidus Space (NASDAQ: SIDU) has executed a Commercial Pathfinder Mission Agreement with Lonestar Data Holdings, Inc. (“Lonestar”) for the design and integration of Lonestar’s high-capacity Digital Data Storage Payload, featuring edge processing capabilities, onto LizzieSat®-5, a LEO satellite within Sidus’ LizzieSat® micro-constellation.

Under the terms of the agreement, Sidus will design, develop, and integrate one Lonestar payload onto LizzieSat®-5, along with arranging deployment and payload commissioning in coordination with Lonestar. The mission serves as the roll out of Lonestar’s commercial offering for in-space data storage and edge processing technologies, designed to establish sovereign, secure, and scalable orbital data infrastructure where data from Earth can be uplinked, stored long-term, processed, and downlinked as needed from onboard a spacecraft.

In accordance with the agreement, the mission aims to validate long-term, sovereign data retention and near real-time analytics capabilities from space. Sidus will maintain operational control of the satellite through Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) and commissioning at an orbital altitude of approximately 500-550 km.

The LizzieSat®-5 mission builds upon the growing collaboration between Sidus and Lonestar, following the companies’ earlier preliminary $120 million agreement for future lunar data storage spacecraft, underscoring Sidus’ expanding role as a trusted mission enabler across both LEO and cislunar domains.

This mission exemplifies how modular satellite design and integrated partnerships can rapidly advance commercial space innovation,” said Carol Craig, Founder and CEO of Sidus Space. “By hosting Lonestar’s Data Storage Payload on LizzieSat®-5, we’re not only enabling new applications for edge computing in orbit but also strengthening the foundation for secure, scalable data networks across LEO.”

After our successful test flights earlier this year, this mission with Sidus represents the perfect next step for our commercial service.” said Chris Stott, CEO of Lonestar Data Holdings.

Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) has signed a direct contract for two dedicated Electron launches with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) – signifying the criticality of Electron to international space agencies requiring responsive launch and dedicated access to space.

Launching from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, the two Electron missions will deploy satellites for JAXA’s Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program. The first launch, scheduled from December of 2025, will deploy the agency’s RApid Innovative payload demonstration SatellitE-4 (RAISE-4) spacecraft, a single satellite that will demonstrate eight technologies developed by private companies, universities, and research institutions throughout Japan.

The second launch, scheduled for 2026, is a JAXA-manifested rideshare of eight separate spacecraft that includes educational smallsats, an ocean monitoring satellite, a demonstration satellite for ultra-small multispectral cameras, and a deployable antenna that can be packed tightly using origami folding techniques and unfurled to 25 times its size.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, said: “It’s an incredible honor to be entrusted by JAXA to further their goals of innovation and development for Japan. These missions are a demonstration of Electron’s global importance – supporting the growth of Japan’s space industry with launch on a U.S. rocket from a New Zealand launch site – and we’re proud to be entrusted to deliver them. Japanese satellite operators have long turned to Electron for its reliability and responsiveness since its earliest launches – whether its constellation-building for Japan’s new wave of commercial satellite operators, or bespoke missions requiring responsive mission planning and highly-accurate payload deployment.”

Rocket Lab is a launch leader for the Japanese space industry, with more than two dozen dedicated missions booked to fly on Electron through to the end of the decade. These include constellation deployment missions for satellite operators iQPS and Synspective, in addition to the multiple launches already completed this year with 100% mission success. Other successful missions for Japanese satellite operators include the “On Closer Inspection” mission on February 2024 for Astroscale-Japan for the first phase of its orbital debris removal program; and the “Running Out Of Fingers” mission launched in 2019 for Tokyo-based company ALE.

Mission information about Rocket Lab’s first launch for JAXA next month will be announced shortly.

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTS) has signed a definitive commercial agreement with Verizon (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) to provide Direct-to-Cellular (D2C) AST SpaceMobile service when needed for Verizon customers starting in 2026—this service will further enhance Verizon’s already expansive and award-winning network, building upon the exceptional service and ubiquitous connectivity customers currently enjoy.

The combination of Verizon’s highly reliable terrestrial mobile network, the use of premium multi-operator 850 MHz cellular spectrum, and AST SpaceMobile’s next-generation, space-based cellular network in LEO is planned to enable cellular customers to stay connected wherever they are, from hiking trails to city centers and everywhere in between.

Featuring the largest-ever commercial communications arrays deployed in LEO, AST SpaceMobile’s network can connect directly to everyday smartphones, eliminating the need for specialized equipment. AST SpaceMobile’s network is designed to operate across premium low-band spectrum, the company’s own licensed L-band and S-band spectrum, and up to 1,150 MHz of mobile network operator partners’ low- and mid-band spectrum, globally. These capabilities advance AST SpaceMobile’s efforts toward commercial service.

This agreement follows testing milestones that have proven the capabilities of the AST SpaceMobile network. In a recent demonstration, the companies successfully completed direct voice and video calls, as well as two-way RCS messaging, between standard, unmodified smartphones and a BlueBird satellite in space. A crystal-clear Voice over LTE (VoLTE) call was made from a smartphone on Verizon’s network in Texas, connecting via an AST SpaceMobile satellite to another Verizon smartphone in New Jersey. These successful tests represent a significant leap in satellite-to-cellular technology and pave the way for a future of ubiquitous connectivity.

Through our definitive commercial agreement with Verizon, we are working to deliver space-based cellular broadband coverage from space across the continental United States,” said Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile. “The agreement will extend the scope of Verizon’s 850 MHz premium low-band spectrum into areas of the U.S. that would benefit from the ubiquitous reach of space-based broadband technology.”

This partnership with AST SpaceMobile is a good step forward in our mission to build a seamlessly connected world. We are not just filling in the map; we are creating a new paradigm of connectivity that will unlock the full potential of the digital age,” said Srini Kalapala, Senior Vice President of Technology and Product Development at Verizon. “By integrating our expansive, reliable, robust terrestrial network with this innovative space-based technology, we are paving the way for a future where everything and everyone can be connected, regardless of geography.”

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), in partnership with CSIRO, University of Stirling, Pixalytics, RAL Space, Assimila, and Deloitte, is advancing the AquaWatch program through the UK Space Agency’s International Bilateral Fund (IBF) Call 2.

Building on the successes of earlier IBF Call 2 AquaWatch-AUK project, this initiative strengthens the UK-Australia Space Bridge, enabling satellite development to address global water quality challenges through innovative Earth Observation (EO) technologies.

Water quality is a critical global issue, threatened by pollution and climate change. AquaWatch addresses this challenge by integrating satellite-based EO data with in-situ measurements, creating a scalable, integrated water monitoring system. The project proposes the development of an Australian AquaWatch satellite to complement ESA’s NAIAD mission, creating a dual-satellite system that enhances the frequency and precision of monitoring.

The Australian satellite will feature CSIRO’s Cyanosense hyperspectral imager. This innovative instrument supports detailed biochemical water analysis and aligns with NAIAD’s TrueColor imager, delivering complementary EO data streams. The satellites will integrate with platforms such as the UK EO DataHub and Australia’s Earth Analytics Science and Innovation (EASI) platform, bridging the gap between satellite observations and ground-based measurements.

The IBF project lays the foundation for a follow-on initiative, enabling the design and manufacture of an Australian water monitoring satellite. By leveraging the NAIAD satellite design and integrating advanced Australian technology, the project ensures cost efficiency while driving technological advancements.

This collaboration showcases the strength of the UK-Australia Space Bridge while delivering significant benefits for both nations:

For Australia:
Accelerates domestic satellite development through SSTL-led knowledge transfer.
Strengthens industrial capabilities and boosts Australia’s role in global EO constellations.
Addresses regional water challenges while creating new economic growth opportunities.

For the UK:
Aligns with IBF objectives to foster investment, collaboration, and public benefit.
Enhances the UK’s reputation as a leader in small satellite systems and EO technology.
Expands export opportunities and strengthens ties with international partners.
A Platform for Future Investment

Clive Oates, Head of SSTL Australia, said, “AquaWatch exemplifies how international collaboration can address shared global challenges, fostering innovation and economic growth. This initiative strengthens the UK and Australia’s leadership in EO technology and paves the way for scalable, sustainable solutions to water quality monitoring worldwide.”

Silicon Sensing Systems Ltd. has published a free guide that examines the selection of inertial sensors and systems for the demanding conditions that are encountered in space.

Inertial systems are integral to space missions, delivering essential data on motion, orientation, and position. Their reliability and precision are critical for applications such as satellite attitude control, launch vehicle navigation in GPS-denied contexts, and deep space exploration.

The extreme nature of the space environment requires these systems to perform flawlessly despite extreme conditions including intense vibration, severe shock, wide temperature fluctuations, electromagnetic interference, radiation and vacuum conditions. Selecting the appropriate inertial sensors for these conditions requires adherence to stringent international survivability and reliability standards alongside careful consideration of performance, robustness and cost.

Silicon Sensing is an expert in this field, particularly in micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technologies where ongoing advances are extending available solutions.

In this guide, the company leverages its expertise to discuss space operations and evaluate the various inertial technologies available—including FOG (Fiber Optic Gyroscope), RLG (Ring Laser Gyroscope), and MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems)— offering an overview of the optimal applications for each technology.

The DMU41 evaluation kit (EVK) enables the output data from the DMU41 inertial measurement unit (IMU), to be viewed and logged for evaluation and development testing purposes. To learn more and inquire about this kit, please access this direct link…

To read the informative article, access this direct infolink…