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…

Satellite launch service company Isar Aerospace and R-Space have signed a launch service agreement as part of the European Space Agency (ESA) Marketplace program.

Under the agreement, Isar Aerospace will launch two R-Space satellites aboard of its ‘Spectrum’ launch vehicle in 2026 from Andøya Spaceport. Further flights are planned for 2026 and 2027, underscoring both companies’ commitment to long-term collaboration.

The R-Space satellites will perform on-orbit demonstrations for customers during these missions, facilitating the validation of next-generation satellite technologies and services in space.

This cooperation is part of the ESA Marketplace initiative under the ScaleUp program, which accelerates the deployment of new technologies and stimulates the growth of the European space ecosystem.

Stella Guillen, Chief Commercial Officer of Isar Aerospace, said, “As the need for launch capacity continues to surge, Isar Aerospace is committed to enabling nations and industries with scalable space capabilities.”

Carsten Scharlemann, CEO and founder of R-Space, said, “Isar Aerospace is the ideal partner to help R-Space provide fast and flexible in-orbit demonstration services to our customers. Together, we look forward to an exciting partnership and many successful launches in the years ahead.”

Gianluigi Baldesi, Head of the ESA Ventures and Financing Team, said, “The ESA Marketplace fuels commercial growth by connecting industry leaders through strategic partnerships. Helping two European companies in the face of Isar Aerospace and R-Space scale their business in a joint effort is a testament to the impact we aim to create.”

About Isar Aerospace
Isar Aerospace offers launch services for transporting small and medium-sized satellites and satellite constellations into Earth orbit. The launch vehicles used to transport these satellites are developed, manufactured, and tested almost entirely in-house. Headquartered near Munich, Germany, Isar Aerospace was founded in 2018 and has grown to over 400 employees from more than 50 nations, working across 5 international locations. Private funding from international investors provides strong backing for the company’s pioneering approach to scale and industrialize launch vehicle production through vertical integration.

About R-Space
R-Space is an emerging start-up dedicated to transforming how space technologies are demonstrated and validated in orbit. Through its IOD/IOV (In-Orbit Demonstration/Validation) services, R-Space significantly accelerates time-to-orbit, enabling a faster path to market readiness. This reduction in development and deployment cycles provides customers with a decisive advantage in achieving market success.

Simera Sense and Infinite Orbits have signed a contract to incorporate Simera Sense’s optical payload onto an Infinite Orbits mission—this collaboration is part of the French governmental program named France 2030 and led by the French Space Agency (CNES).

Under the agreement, Simera Sense will supply its commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) optical payload as a complimentary subsystem to Infinite Orbits’ payloads. This mission is at the forefront of European SmallSat technology, featuring in-situ surveillance sensors.

This collaboration marks a significant step forward in enhancing space surveillance capabilities. The optical payload, part of Simera Sense’s proven portfolio, brings complementary capacities within the set of payloads. This payload will deliver Non-Earth Imaging (NEI) in the visible spectrum, a crucial capability for understanding and monitoring objects in orbit.

Simera Sense’s product portfolio includes the xScape50 (1U volume at 30m resolution), the xScape100 (1.5U volume at 4.75m resolution) and xScape200 (12U volume at 1.5m resolution), all designed for satellite-based, observation applications.

These projects are funded by the French government in the frame of the France 2030 boost plan.

We are extremely proud to be selected by Infinite Orbits for this exciting, game-changing mission. This contract is just the beginning. At Simera Sense, our mission is to continuously innovate. We are a leader in providing reliable and accessible payloads in the new Space market with over forty payloads on orbit. The SSA market is experiencing exponential growth with demands for reliable and sovereign solutions. We will leverage our expertise and heritage in our upcoming SSA-dedicated payload, to be developed in Toulouse, France, to fulfill these market needs,” said Kammy Brun, Managing Director of Simera Sense France.

Our partnership with Simera Sense represents an important collaboration, accomplished by integrating and relaying different sensor subsystems for optical payloads. This joint effort ensures a robust solution designed to meet the growing needs of the market,” said Adel Haddoud, CEO of Infinite Orbits.

Amazon’s broadband-by-satellite service Project Kuiper says it will have broadband coverage in five countries by March 2026.

Ricky Freeman, president of Project Kuiper’s Kuiper Government Solutions division at Amazon, speaking at the Novaspace World Space Business Week event in Paris, told delegates that his firm would have more than 200 satellites in orbit by the end of this year. Kuiper is due to launch 27 craft on September 25th which will be added to the 102 already in orbit.

Freeman said that his greatest problem today was securing rocket launches, and said that if he could buy a slingshot that was powerful enough “I’d probably buy it!”

Kuiper is on a strict ITU-mandated deadline where it has to have half of its initial 3,232 satellites in orbit by July 2026. A second constellation of an additional 3,200 ‘next-gen’ satellites would then follow with 54 countries covered by 2028.

Since April, operational Kuiper satellites have launched aboard two Falcon 9s and two Atlas 5s. Freeman outlined “another launch in October, and another November-December to have approximately 200-plus satellites by the end of the year — not exactly where we wanted to be, but again, making great progress.”

There’s good news from the satellites already in orbit with Freeman saying that downlink speeds are reaching 1.8 Gb/s and uplinks to the satellite of 450 Mb/s.

He stressed that by the end of Q1 2026 the constellation will have a continuous coverage through and be able to offer services for the US, Canada, UK, Germany and France. By the end of 2026, he said Kuiper would be available in about 26 countries.

The service plans to be live in 54 countries in 2027, and up to 100 countries by the end of 2028.

ReOrbit recently closed their €45 million Series A funding round, the largest all-equity Series A round in Finland and one of the most significant deals overall in the European space and defence sector.

The round was led by Springvest, with participation from both new and existing investors, including Varma, Elo, Icebreaker.vc, Expansion VC, 10x Founders, and Inventure VC.

ReOrbit manufactures sovereign satellites and connected systems that provide nations with independent communications, intelligence capabilities, and full command of critical assets. Its systems serve both defence and civilian applications, enabling national resilience, autonomy, and control.

ReOrbit has closed numerous contracts, and is experiencing increasing demand from Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. This new funding will expand its manufacturing capacity, advance proprietary technologies, and grow its operations. ReOrbit is opening local satellite centers in several countries during the next 12 months.

Beyond manufacturing, ReOrbit provides knowledge transfer and expertise that allow nations to operate, maintain, and expand their infrastructure independently over the long term. Its current product portfolio includes Silta, a secure satellite communications platform, and Ukko, an advanced intelligence and surveillance system.

Closing a €45 million Series A is a milestone not only for ReOrbit, but for Europe’s space and defence sector,” said Sethu Saveda Suvanam, CEO and Founder of ReOrbit. “This investment enables us to meet growing demand, ensuring that nations can operate critical space systems independently and with full control. In today’s geopolitical environment, reliance on external parties is a risk no country can accept. ReOrbit ensures they never have to.”

ReOrbit is building capabilities that are central to any country’s strategic autonomy. This investment demonstrates our confidence in their ability to deliver sovereign space systems that are essential for national security and resilience,” said Riku Seppälä, Icebreaker VC. “We are honored to be able to continue supporting ReOrbit in continuing to build a company that could become one of the most important companies ever built in Europe.”

A new partnership between Qatari satellite company Es’hailSat (Qatar Satellite Company) and neXat will improve the way managed services are accessed and delivered across the Middle East and Africa.

Es’hailSat will use the award-winning neXat platform to make it easier for its channel partners—such as licensed resellers —to purchase the company’s managed services across the region. Es’hailSat will also benefit from improved access to resellers.

As well as managing the provision of managed services, neXat’s advanced tools will be used by Es’hailSat to manage their customer lifecycle. The platform is the first of its kind to unite the management of SATCOM services, customers and networks virtually.

Es’hailSat provides top-of-the-line managed VSAT services and associated communication solutions for government and enterprises, on two co-located satellites at MENA’s orbital hot slots. Es’hailSat aims to expand its managed services offering across the region, which includes end-to-end satellite connectivity with customizable bandwidth, data volume, and SLA options, supported by hardware provisioning, network monitoring, field engineering, and 24/7 technical support.

The service operates in Ku- and Ka-band, offering high-speed data transfer and seamless integration with other telecom networks for applications like cellular backhaul and maritime communications.

The platform will enable the operator to centralize management of multiple hubs, reduce operational overhead, and accelerate service rollout. neXat has been recognized by two award wins so far this year: the World Teleport Association’s Teleport Technology of the Year Award, in March, and the SatellitePRO Middle East Best Next-Gen Satellite Application, in May.

The OSS-BSS (Operational Support Systems – Business Support Systems) seamlessly integrates operators’ different hubs, simplifying operations, and brings multiple operational and business support systems together in one place to save operators time and money. It can also be used to offer customers new and better services including traffic shaping, bandwidth optimization, and VNO services.

neXat’s platform can help managed services providers address the higher costs and lower revenue per megahertz (MHz) in the current satellite market. The OSS-BBS helps operators reduce operational expenditures as they look to increase revenues by selling their MHz through managed services.

Our mission at neXat is to make managing and accessing satellite services easier, simpler and more cost effective. We’re excited for Es’hailSat, a major operator, to take advantage of our platform’s unique offerings to improve the access to their services across an important and growing region,” said neXat’s Senior VP APAC, Rajeev Nair.

At Es’hailSat, we are always looking at ways to enhance our service offerings to deliver the satellite, teleport and managed services needed for customers across Middle East and North Africa,” said Es’hailSat’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ali Ahmed Al-Kuwari. “We believe that the highly robust and reliable services offered by this partnership between neXat and Es’hailSat, together with our Tier-4 certified teleport infrastructure, provide a strong base needed to serve end customers and our resellers across the region.”

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) and IHI Corporation of Japan have signed an agreement to collaborate on the development of a new, small satellite constellation to strengthen Japan’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

The signing occurred on September 10th during the DSEI exhibition in London, reflecting the growing strategic partnership between the UK and Japan in space and defence, as highlighted in the Hiroshima Accord (2023) and reaffirmed by both nations’ defence ministers at their Tokyo meeting in August of 2025.

Under the agreement, SSTL and IHI will work together to advance Japan’s sovereign ISR capabilities, leveraging SSTL’s proven satellite platforms and operational heritage. The collaboration also envisages opportunities to share imagery and capacity between SSTL’s UK-built constellations and those developed in Japan by IHI, ensuring resilience and enhanced coverage for both nations.

For SSTL, the partnership follows the success of TYCHE, the UK Ministry of Defence’s first sovereign ISR satellite, launched in 2024, and the signing of the more capable JUNO follow-on spacecraft. With over 70 satellites built and operated for global government and defence customers since 1985, SSTL brings world-class expertise in rapid, innovative, and cost-effective satellite solutions.

This collaboration between SSTL and IHI will not only contribute to Japan’s national security but will also support the growth of its domestic space industry, while deepening ties between Japan and the UK through shared technologies and operational experience.

Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, SSTL’s Executive Chairman, said, “Space has become critically important for national security in recent years, and increasingly nations are deploying satellites in support of their Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance requirements, as they can provide global reach, privacy and priority. SSTL is a recognized pioneer and leader in this area, and not only designs and manufactures spacecraft but also has demonstrated dependable and reliable services from those satellites.”

Atsushi Sato, President of IHI’s Aero Engine, Space & Defense Business Area, said, “Today’s world is becoming increasingly unstable, and Japan’s National Security Strategy recognizes the importance of close cooperation with allied nations that share our strategic interests. This agreement with SSTL is an important first step towards developing the next-generation sovereign space capabilities that will be vital to Japan’s national security in the years ahead.”

Ovzon AB (publ) has entered into a facilities agreement with Danske Bank for a term loan and a revolving credit facility to refinance existing loan, which will reduce interest expenses and secure financing for future growth.

The facilities agreement, which comprises a term loan of 300 MSEK and a revolving credit facility of 300 MSEK, has a tenor of two years, with the option of a one-year extension. The interest rate is 3-month STIBOR + 220-290 basis points in accordance with a margin ratchet.

The transaction is expected to be completed during the third quarter of 2025, provided that the usual conditions are met.

We appreciate the trust and foresight of our new banking partner and would also like to take the opportunity to thank P Capital Partners for enabling the development and launch of our first proprietary satellite, Ovzon 3. Ovzon’s strong order intake, solid financial performance, and market outlook have made this refinancing possible. Upon full utilization of the new facilities and repayment of existing loan, interest expenses are estimated to be reduced by approximately 70 MSEK annually,” said André Löfgren, CFO at Ovzon.

Aerospacelab has closed an extended Series B funding round totaling 94 million euros ($110 million) throughout a dual-tranche funding of 56 million euros ($66 million) alongside a 38 million euros ($44 million) commitment from a European financial institution.

This Series B round has been strategically implemented to align with Aerospacelab’s ambitious industrial roadmap and solidify its position as a major force in the aerospace industry.

This substantial investment has served to propel Aeropacelab’s growth trajectory and fuel its products’ readiness, resulting in a fleet of ready-to-sell satellites to demanding customers active in a variety of industries (e.g. Earth Observation (EO), telecom, etc). Additionally, it has been directed towards the full verticalization of all key subsystems, reinforcing its industrial autonomy and accelerating its product development.

Aerospacelab’s Megafactory, a cornerstone of its industrial strategy, has already benefited from the Series B funding, enabling the company to build one of the most advanced satellite production sites in Europe, with a manufacturing capacity of up to 500 satellites per year.

The capital has also been instrumental in accelerating R&D, attracting top-tier engineering talent, and fully verticalizing subsystems—all of which directly enhance the reliability, performance, and delivery timelines for telecommunications customers and other commercial partners. Construction of the Megafactory began in 2024, with its first satellites’ production expected in 2026 and with a full production capacity to be reached by 2027.

Backed by a strong coalition of investors, including both returning and new partners, this round reflects the market’s growing confidence in Aerospacelab’s mission to drive innovation, speed, and performance through its vertically integrated technology stack.

This Series B is more than just capital — it’s a strong endorsement of our vision to deliver and scale our manufacturing capabilities powering the next generation of constellations”, said Benoît Deper, CEO and Founder of Aerospacelab. “It reinforces our position at a pivotal moment: our products are mature and ready to deploy, our industrial infrastructure is scaling up for mass production, and we are prepared to meet rising global demand with speed and precision. We are ready for what’s next.”

Pay-TV operator EchoStar is selling $23 billions-worth (€19.8 billion) of terrestrial spectrum designed to improve 5G and home Internet access.

AT&T and EchoStar have also agreed to enhance their long-term wholesale network services agreement, enabling EchoStar to operate as a hybrid mobile network operator providing wireless service under EchoStar’s Boost Mobile brand. AT&T will be the primary network services partner to EchoStar as it continues to serve wireless customers.

AT&T says it will acquire approximately 30 MHz of nationwide 3.45 GHz mid-band spectrum and approximately 20 MHz of nationwide 600 MHz low-band spectrum for approximately $23 billion in an all-cash deal, subject to certain conditions.

The agreement will see improved AT&T services in some 400 urban and suburban markets in the U.S.

The deal eases the financial pressures on EchoStar which only a few weeks ago was rumoured to be considering bankruptcy. EchoStar’s share price rocketed 74 percent on the deal’s announcement.

However, despite the wording of co-operation between EchoStar and AT&T, the deal seem to put an end to EchoStar’s hope of becoming the USA’s fourth cellular nationwide network. EchoStar will now become a hybrid mobile network operator, which is a carrier that operates on its own network, in addition to using other companies’ infrastructure.

John Stankey, Chairman and CEO, AT&T, said, “This acquisition bolsters and expands our spectrum portfolio while enhancing customers’ 5G wireless and home internet experience in even more markets. No one brings wireless and fiber internet to more places or does it better than AT&T – and we do it with the industry’s first and only guarantee for both wireless and fibre. We’re adding fuel to our winning strategy of investing in valuable wireless and broadband assets to become America’s best connectivity provider.”