NEOM Tech & Digital Holding Company and OneWeb have signed a $200 million, joint venture agreement to bring high-speed satellite connectivity to NEOM, a planned futuristic city that will be located in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

The first holding company to be established as a subsidiary of NEOM, NEOM Tech & Digital Holding Company plans to also deliver satellite connectivity to the planned city and the wider Middle East and neighboring East African countries.

The partnership will see the deployment of OneWeb’s LEO satellite constellation, which that will provide the rapid and reliable connectivity to enable NEOM’s ecosystem of cognitive technologies as well as transform businesses and rural communities in the region where access to fiber-like internet was previously beyond reach. The agreement also includes a long-term strategic partnership regarding research and development of future connectivity systems.

The relationship between OneWeb with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Ministry of Investment has contributed to the consolidation of this agreement in order to enhance the vision of the emerging space technology sector in Saudi Arabia and provide it to private investors.

Currently, OneWeb uses the latest security protection employed in advanced mobile networks. NEOM Tech & Digital Hold Co. will be trialing technologies to provide further security protection as well as testing new, more robust and resistant positioning and navigation solutions.

“It is a great pleasure to witness the signing of the joint venture between NEOM and OneWeb, which is a testament to Saudi Arabia’s promising future in the space technology sectors. Today’s agreement will contribute to economic growth and accelerate digital and communications knowledge transfer to the Kingdom through the transformative NEOM vision,” said Khalid al-Falih, Saudi Minister of Investment.

On October 12, 2021, Astra announced that a launch window would open on October 27, 2021, for a commercial orbital launch on behalf of the United States Space Force (USSF) from the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska (the “Spaceport”).

While the company is ready to begin launch preparations for LV0007, the Spaceport has informed the company that they have not yet completed some planned improvements for the range. As a result, Astra will not be able to complete the preparations for a launch of LV0007 until some time during the second segment of this launch window, starting on November 5, 2021.

Many different factors influence when the firm can launch, including factors driven by third parties over whom there is no direct company control. Astra set a launch window that would allow the firm to evaluate these factors and ensure that conditions are optimal for a launch. As a result, Astra may not attempt a launch on the first day of a launch window if conditions are not optimal for a launch. When a launch attempt is scheduled, the company will update their website with the date and time.

When the phrase “commercial orbital launch” is used, Astra means a launch conducted under an FAA commercial launch license.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Amazon’s Project Kuiper have announced a strategic collaboration to develop connectivity solutions for unserved and underserved communities.

As part of the collaboration, Project Kuiper and Verizon have begun to develop technical specifications and define preliminary commercial models for a range of connectivity services for U.S. consumers and global enterprise customers operating in rural and remote locations around the world.

Project Kuiper is an initiative to increase global broadband access through a constellation of 3,236 satellites in LEO around the planet. The system will serve individual households, as well as schools, hospitals, businesses and other organizations operating in places where internet access is limited or unavailable. Amazon has committed an initial $10 billion to the program, which will deliver fast, affordable broadband to customers and communities around the world.

The partnership seeks to expand coverage and deliver new customer-focused connectivity solutions that combine Amazon’s advanced LEO satellite system and Verizon’s world-class wireless technology and infrastructure. To begin, Amazon and Verizon will focus on expanding Verizon data networks using cellular backhaul solutions from Project Kuiper. The integration will leverage antenna development already in progress from the Project Kuiper team, and both engineering teams are now working together to define technical requirements to help extend fixed wireless coverage to rural and remote communities across the United States.

This partnership will also pave the way for Project Kuiper and Verizon to design and deploy new connectivity solutions across a range of domestic and global industries, from agriculture and energy to manufacturing and transportation. The Kuiper System is designed with the flexibility and capacity to support enterprises of all sizes. By pairing those capabilities with Verizon’s wireless, private networking and edge compute solutions, the two will be able to extend connectivity to businesses operating and deploying assets on a global scale.

Verizon Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg said, “Project Kuiper offers flexibility and unique capabilities for a LEO satellite system, and we’re excited about the prospect of adding a complementary connectivity layer to our existing partnership with Amazon. We know the future will be built on our leading 5G network, designed for mobility, fixed wireless access and real-time cloud compute. More importantly, we believe that the power of this technology must be accessible for all. Today’s announcement will help us explore ways to bridge that divide and accelerate the benefits and innovation of wireless connectivity, helping benefit our customers on both a global and local scale.” Connecting unserved and underserved communities in the United States."

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said, “There are billions of people without reliable broadband access, and no single company will close the digital divide on its own. Verizon is a leader in wireless technology and infrastructure, and we’re proud to be working together to explore bringing fast, reliable broadband to the customers and communities who need it most. We look forward to partnering with companies and organizations around the world who share this commitment.” Delivering new connectivity solutions for global enterprise customers."

Neutron Star Systems UG and Rocket Factory Augsburg AG (RFA) have jointly signed an agreement for launching a demonstrator mission into LEO.

RFA will launch Neutron Star Systems demonstrator mission in Q3 2023 on the RFA ONE launch system. This mission will demonstrate a key subsystem for Neutron Star Systems disruptive electric propulsion system called SUPREME (SUperconductor-based Readiness Enhanced Magnetoplasmadynamic Electric propulsion). The mission will focus on advancing technology readiness level on one of the most important subsystems of SUPREME thruster technology.

Jörn Spurmann, Chief Commercial Officer at RFA said, "We are happy to support Neutron Star System’s in-orbit demonstration mission with our rideshare program on the RFA ONE launch systems. Their propulsion system has the potential to disrupt satellite propulsion, and we are proud to enable this endeavor."

Manuel La Rosa Betancourt, Chief Executive Officer at Neutron STar said, "Neutron Star Systems is committed to secure the development of this technology in Europe and to the strengthening of the vibrant German space ecosystem. By demonstrating this capability we do not only advance the TRL of SUPREME but also make a contribution towards Europe’s non dependence and leadership in enabling technologies objectives. "

Rocket Factory Augsburg was founded in 2018 with the mission to significantly reduce launch costs in the space industry. The company’s goal is to develop a launch vehicle prototype by the end of 2022 which can launch satellites into low Earth orbits on a weekly basis at unmatched prices. The RFA ONE launch vehicle combines three key competitive advantages: a highly cost-efficient architecture using industrial automation and lowest-possible development costs, precise in-orbit delivery by its orbital stage, and superior propulsion systems using staged-combustion.

Neutron Star Systems is a new-space start-up headquartered in Cologne, Germany, focused on the development of superconductor-based spacecraft systems. NSS core product is an Electric Propulsion system combining High-Temperature Superconductors with Applied-Field Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters, providing greater scalability, efficiency, and operational flexibility, and enabling more powerful and more capable spacecraft while cutting costs by up to billions of dollars. Alongside the German headquarters, NSS runs operations in London, UK, and Colorado Springs, USA.

Synspective recently signed a partnership agreement with Orbital EOS, who made use of StriX SAR data for the analysis of oil spill detection off the coast of Syria in September of 2021, leading to the identification of 243.5 ㎢ worth of oil spill.

In October of 2021, Synspective Inc. signed a partnership agreement with Orbital EOS that specializes in oil spill detection data analysis for collaboration in the Asia region.

On the September 9, 2021, Synspective captured SAR imagery data using their own satellite StirX in stripmap mode of the entire area off the coast of Syria and the Lebanese border. The area is where a large amount of oil spill had spread out across the Mediterranean Sea from one the largest oil refineries, Baniyas, of Syria, with the spill occurring on August 23, 2021.

Synspective SAR stripmap mode captured SAR image, extract of Baniyas oil refinery alongside the coast of Syria (September 2021)

Orbital EOS have conducted their own analysis making use of our StriX data, to assess the extent of oil spillage spread. The analysis had confirmed 243.5km2 worth of oil spill across the surrounding sea.

Below, black and white imagery (center) is SAR imagery data captured by StriX-α. The area colored in blue is where Orbital EOS have identified as the sea surface effected by the oil spill.

According to Juan Peña Ibáñez, the CEO of Orbital EOS, water quality along the coastal line of Syria has dramatically deteriorated as a result of the oil spill. This has impacted the local marine life, while fishing has also been banned until further notice. It is essential that such analysis is made readily available at the earliest phase of the disaster in order to minimize the damage against the local marine environment and ecosystems as well as the economy.

Below is a Synspective SAR stripmap mode captured SAR image, extract of the city of Tartus and the Mediterranean coast of Syria (September 2021).

Synspective will continue to collaborate with Orbital EOS in an effort to help define the oil spillage area, its extent and the outflow prediction by providing its own SAR data imagery.

Satellogic has signed a Letter Of Intent (LOI) with Agencia Espacial del Paraguay (“AEP”) to develop a Space-as-a-Service program for the country. As a result of this LOI, Satellogic and AEP will undertake various technological and scientific projects, in accordance with AEP’s Institutional Strategic Plan and the Space Policy of Paraguay.

The LOI provides a framework for the start-up and development of a dedicated satellite constellation network. Satellogic’s Dedicated Satellite Constellation Program enables municipal, state, and national governments to manage a fleet of satellites over a specific area of interest and develop a geospatial imaging program at unmatched frequency, resolution and cost.

Countries unequipped with their own satellites orbiting the Earth are limited in their ability to capture data about their policy implementation and infrastructure. Satellogic’s Dedicated Satellite Constellation Program expands access to geospatial analytics and insights that contribute to strategic national interests, with no capital outlay and no technical or operational risks.

With access to Satellogic’s Dedicated Satellite Constellation Program, governments of all sizes are now able to develop EO programs to support key decisions and manage policy impact, measure investment and socio-economic progress, and foster collaboration, data and information sharing as well as innovation.

“The Dedicated Satellite Constellation Satellogic will develop for AEP is a low-risk, cost-effective Space-As-A-Service model tailored for AEP and the Republic of Paraguay,” said Luciano Giesso, Sales Director for Satellogic. “Latin America is increasingly focused on space technologies to create new infrastructures to unlock the benefits of satellite data across many industries. This region continues to be an area of focus for us, uncovering huge opportunities for new space activities and projects.”

“This is the first agreement of this kind signed between AEP and a global space company, contributing to aerospace development for the public and private sectors of Paraguay, and establishing a sustainable system for our Space Agency purposes,” said Alejandro Román, General Director of Aerospace Development for AEP. “Satellogic is building the first scalable, high-resolution, earth-observation platform, and they could become the ideal partner to leverage outer space peacefully for the benefit of the Paraguayan population and the development of our country on new satellite technologies.”

Dr. Stefan Tweraser has been named as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rocket Factory Augsburg AG (RFA) as of October 1, 2021 — he will support RFA in driving the continued company’s growth.

Previously, Stefan Tweraser was responsible for the DACH region at Google, and worked at the music streaming service Deezer, at the startup Snapshot and at consulting firm McKinsey & Company. With a doctorate in economics, he brings a wealth of experience from various industries where he drove innovative and future-oriented developments in management positions.

Given the rapid technological advances, increased success in the market and strong growth in personnel, the Executive and Supervisory Board of RFA believe that now is the correct time to complement and broaden the Executive Board.

Dr. Stefan Tweraser said, “The commercial use of space will change fundamentally in the coming decade. New space-based business models are emerging and innovative launch vehicles – with a strong focus on cost and customer orientation – are a cornerstone of this positive dynamic. RFA has made great strides by combining cutting-edge technology with innovative manufacturing processes. The team has also already succeeded in developing a promising commercial pipeline. I am very excited to lead RFA – together with the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board – to the next stage of our exciting journey.”

Jörn Spurmann, Chief Commercial Officer, said, “RFA is one of the fastest growing start-ups in the New Space scene. Stefan’s experience in leading large organizations is very valuable for our further development. He has great ideas and approaches on how we will maintain our rapid pace as a growing company and convince more investors of our vision.”

Dr. Stefan Brieschenk, Chief Operating Officer, said, “We are very excited that Stefan has decided to take on the position as CEO of RFA. Under his leadership, we will further professionalize RFA’s processes and structures. This will help us to transform our rapid technological progress into a sustainable business model.”

Rocket Factory Augsburg was founded in 2018 with the mission to significantly reduce launch costs in the space industry. The company’s goal is to develop a launch vehicle prototype by the end of 2022 which can launch satellites into LEO on a weekly basis at unmatched prices. The RFA ONE launch vehicle combines three key competitive advantages: a highly cost-efficient architecture using industrial automation and lowest-possible development costs, precise in-orbit delivery by its orbital stage, and superior propulsion systems using staged combustion.

A sobering realistic look at the many challenges in the European small satellite industry.

ACCESS.SPACE Alliance (ASA), which represents the small satellite sector, has published a position paper on the current state of space financing in Europe. In the paper, ASA states that start-ups and SMEs often lack customers and contracts to support their business and face difficulties in finding public support and participating in large or long-term space programs at European and national levels. It also remains difficult for space business, especially for start-ups and SMEs which often do not have dedicated resources, to navigate through even the available funding opportunities.

Comparing the financing situation with other parts of the world, ASA points out that the number of space-related companies and the amounts of public and private investments are often higher than in Europe. ASA does acknowledge that very few countries have developed comprehensive directories of space-related entities, and that there is limited visibility in terms of the number of companies, employment, investments, growth and ownership and control. 

Betty Bonnardel, founder and board member of ASA, said, “It is necessary to properly finance the space ecosystem and agree on concrete actions to support space-related start-ups. This is why ACCESS.SPACE proposes a number of policy actions to tackle these issues with a sense of urgency”.

One of the recommendations that ASA makes is the adoption of an innovation strategy for New Space in Europe, encompassing access to private and public capital and continue providing all needed support for start-ups and SMEs. ASA also suggests to increase the number of funding entities (venture capital firms, private equity firms and business angels), bridge the “valley of death” and focus on the areas where Europe can lead. 

To improve access to funding, ASA also recommends the creation of an official ‘one-stop-shop’ web site granting access to all European public funding programs with digital tools to facilitate access and provide guidance.