Sponsored by MatrixSpace
http://matrixspace.com
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
30 Apr 25. Satellite firm SES in talks with EU over long-term option to complement Starlink. European satellite company SES (SESFg.LU) is in talks with EU and other governments about complementing services provided by Elon Musk’s Starlink, its CEO told Reuters, as the region looks for home-grown options for its space-based communications. As tensions with the U.S. over Ukraine escalated, the European Union in March contacted the bloc’s satellite operators – including SES and France’s Eutelsat (ETL.PA) to see how they might contribute if Washington cut Kyiv’s access to Starlink. The European Commission also suggested last month that the EU should fund access to EU-based satellite operators for Kyiv.
SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh told Reuters that discussions had branched out to consider wider options.
“Now the discussions are much more strategic in nature They’re much more mid-term, long-term. And what we’re seeing is all of the European governments are serious about increasing their defence spending,” he said in an interview.
“There are alternatives, not to completely replace Starlink, that’s not possible, but to augment and complement Starlink,” he added.
SES, which operates a multi-orbit fleet of about 70 satellites, has contracts with NATO and the Pentagon for secure government and military satellite communications. (Source: Reuters)
29 Apr 25. Firefly’s Alpha rocket fails in space, sends Lockheed satellite falling into ocean. Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket suffered a technical issue on Tuesday as it ascended into space on its sixth flight, causing a Lockheed Martin satellite it was supposed to place into orbit to crash into the Pacific Ocean. About two minutes following liftoff from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the engine nozzle on Alpha’s upper portion broke off in space moments after it attempted to separate from the rocket’s core booster as designed, “substantially reducing the engine’s thrust,” Firefly said. While typical rocket mishaps trigger explosions or on-board shutdown commands, Alpha’s upper rocket body fired for several minutes and ascended to 320 km (200 miles) in altitude. But it failed to reach its intended orbit and was pulled back into the atmosphere by Earth’s gravity. (Source: Reuters)
29 Apr 25. New Zealand Air Force to set up space squadron as it grows in importance.
- Summary
- New Zealand Air Force to establish space squadron for defence
- Squadron Number 62 to have 15 personnel once created on July 1
- New Zealand joins U.S.-led Operation Olympic Defender for space security
The New Zealand Air Force will establish a small space squadron to signal its growing commitment to space-based defence and international security, a senior military official said on Wednesday.
Air Vice-Marshal Darryn Webb said the Air Force had a team already focused on space, but creating a squadron symbolized its growing significance. The Technology Roundup newsletter brings the latest news and trends straight to your inbox. Sign up here.
“A space squadron essentially just formalises the fact that space is here with us now. It’s going to be more and more important into the future so let’s perhaps put a little bit of bricks and mortar around that and provide a mechanism to enhance that growth,” Webb, who is chief of the Air Force, told Reuters in an interview. (Source: Reuters)
30 Apr 25. NAL Research and VectorNav Technologies, two U.S.-based leaders in Assured Position, Navigation, and Timing (APNT) solutions, announced today a joint development to produce Iridium STL (Satellite Time & Location)-aided Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) designed to meet the increasing demand for resilient PNT in GNSS-denied environments. Both companies will be exhibiting and discussing the collaboration during the SOF Week Exposition in Tampa, FL (May 5–8) — NAL Research (#3005) and VectorNav (#1941). GPS/GNSS signals are increasingly susceptible to vulnerabilities such as jamming/spoofing, outages, and other challenges. An alternative source of APNT is crucial for enabling continuous access to accurate location data and time synchronization. Unlike other APNT sources, NAL’s APNT receivers are integrated with Iridium STL service, which leverages a Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) transmitted signal approximately 1,000 times stronger than traditional GNSS and is capable of penetrating indoors and other GNSS-obstructed areas. Operators of uncrewed systems, in particular, can benefit from implementing an INS solution that leverages NAL’s Iridium STL-enabled APNT receivers to maintain critical operations in areas where GPS/GNSS are denied or degraded. For such applications, VectorNav is leveraging its VN-210E GNSS-Aided INS, which combines a tactical-grade IMU with an L1/L2 GNSS receiver in a miniature, board-mount package. Designed for maximum modularity, the VN-210E hosts VectorNav’s tightly-coupled INS and includes four serial ports that enable simultaneous integration with multiple external PNT-aiding sources, such as NAL Research’s ALTM Gen2 Mini Iridium STL receiver. When paired, the system provides a high-rate and continuous position, velocity, and attitude solution—even in dynamic applications and in GNSS-denied environments.
“This complete offering delivered through our high velocity collaboration with VectorNav will deliver dynamic innovation to the emerging APNT market,” said NAL Research President, Robert Bills. “Our partnership streamlines our customers’ implementation of alternative APNT sources. We look forward to helping government and enterprise users achieve operational success by enabling the ability to rapidly implement highly accurate and reliable navigation solutions.”
NAL Research and VectorNav will continue to focus on co-developing product solutions that combine VectorNav’s industrial and tactical-grade INS with NAL Research’s Iridium STL receivers. Future offerings will focus on reducing SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost), increasing environmental resilience, and supporting MIL-STD compliance for defense and aerospace applications.
“The demand for robust APNT solutions, manufactured at scale and capable of supporting dynamic autonomous systems, is growing rapidly—particularly in the critical maritime domain,” says Jakub Maslikowski, VP of Business Development for VectorNav. “This collaboration with NAL Research will help to realize the emerging LEO satellite PNT capability and strengthen the U.S. and allied nations’ resilience when operating in contested environments.”
To learn more about this collaboration between NAL Research and VectorNav, reach out to or . If you are attending SOF Week in Tampa, FL (May 5–8, 2025), do not miss the chance to meet in person—visit VectorNav at Booth #1941 and NAL Research at Booth #3005.
ABOUT NAL RESEARCH
NAL Research is a pioneer in delivering trusted and resilient connectivity and PNT solutions—designed to meet the dynamic communications, data intelligence, location, and timing needs of the future. In 2024, NAL Research and Blue Sky Network strategically merged to optimize operations and provide a diverse enterprise and government customer base with transformative solutions and enhanced service and support. NAL and Blue Sky Network’s combined portfolio now includes emerging satellite and mobile technology products, satellite-based tracking systems, powerful APNT modules, intelligent software applications, IoT tracking, and two-way devices enabling seamless global connectivity. For more information visit www.nalresearch.com.
ABOUT VECTORNAV TECHNOLOGIES
VectorNav Technologies is a global leader in inertial navigation solutions. Since its founding in 2008, VectorNav has provided systems integrators in the military, aerospace, marine, and robotics industries with SWaP-C optimized, high-performance navigation systems. VectorNav develops state-of-the-art inertial sensors and GNSS-aided solutions by applying industry-leading digital filtering and sensor calibration techniques, with decades of field experience in aerospace applications, redefining what’s possible in today’s inertial navigation technology. For more information visit www.vectornav.com
29 Apr 25. Rivada Expands Outernet Access to 33 Countries, Secures $16bn+ in Global Business. Rivada Space Networks today announced it has secured market access to its Outernet constellation in 33 countries and every continent, with Belgium, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Costa Rica among the latest nations to soon offer next-generation communications capabilities. This goes hand in hand with communications service agreements signed with nations, governments, and corporations worth more than $16bn for Outernet connectivity, with initial tests set for 2026. Resilient, secure communications are increasingly vital to businesses and governments in an evolving digital economy. These new markets are part of Rivada’s Outernet roadmap to ensure a robust infrastructure, and the advantages of ubiquitous coverage, low latency, resiliency, and flexibility support digital development and security across the globe. The Outernet is the first unified global communications platform, a unique next-generation constellation of 600 laser-linked LEO satellites that provide a ubiquitous, highly secure optical mesh network in space.
“Rivada has embarked on a global initiative to bring the Outernet to every corner of the globe,” noted Ann Vandenbroucke, Chief Regulatory Officer for Rivada Space Networks. “We are thrilled to announce we’ve secured market access in 33 nations and counting as we prepare to introduce the Outernet and ensure that investors, distributors, and users know with certainty this powerful constellation is on the way. Market access processes can take time to negotiate, and we greatly appreciate the regulators who have officially endorsed and supported the planned rollout of the Outernet.”
Declan Ganley, Rivada Space Networks CEO, said: “We are committed to ensuring that the Outernet is available globally to help solve essential connectivity and networking challenges and open up new business opportunities around the world. Businesses and governments across the globe have signed connectivity agreements worth more than $16 bn to date, underlining the demand and need for the secure communications capabilities of the Outernet, which is now poised to provide access in 33 countries and across every continent.” (Source: ASD Network)
29 Apr 25. UK researchers access more quantum and space Horizon funding. EU Commissioner visits London as UK researchers and businesses get access to more Horizon Europe funding calls for quantum and space research.
- Minister for EU Relations today welcomes EU Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič ahead of his first official visit to the United Kingdom.
- Visit comes as UK researchers and businesses benefit from wider access to Horizon Europe funding calls for quantum and space research, which will help drive sector and economic growth and deliver our Plan for Change.
- New backing from the world’s largest programme of research collaboration, worth c.£80bn, builds on high-potential tech areas like AI, telecoms and high-performance computing
Minister for EU Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, today welcomes EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, Maroš Šefčovič, ahead of his first official visit to the United Kingdom under this government (Tuesday, 29 April 2025). Commissioner Šefčovič’s visit follows the recent engagement with European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen last week, providing a significant opportunity to review the progress of ongoing discussions between the UK and the European Union. This engagement is a key step in the lead-up to the UK-EU Summit scheduled for next month. This visit comes as UK scientists, researchers and businesses working on the latest innovations in quantum and space technologies have now been given access to more Horizon Europe funding, under the new 2025 Horizon Europe Work Programme published last week (Friday 25 April). Access to Horizon Europe funding, and the opportunities for international collaboration that Horizon presents, will be an important boost to these two sectors which are at the cutting edge of new opportunities for economic growth, helping to drive the Government’s Plan for Change. These are technologies that will be instrumental to the future of the economy: quantum computing alone is projected to deliver $5-10 bn of benefits globally over the next 3-5 years, while since 2015 the UK has attracted more private investment in space than any other country outside of the United States. During his visit in the UK, the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, alongside the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds, will meet professors at Imperial College London who have benefited from Horizon funding for their projects.
Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds will co-chair the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee with Commissioner Šefčovič, who is also scheduled to meet with the Secretaries of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Northern Ireland Office.
The UK gained access to the vast majority (95%+) of Horizon funding calls, when we associated to the programme in 2024, with some very limited exceptions on some emerging technologies. Today’s breakthrough comes after a period of constructive collaboration between UK and EU teams and means that more British experts working on space and quantum can now confidently bid for a share of the c.£80 bn that is available through Horizon overall. They can also build consortia with research partners across Europe, and beyond in Canada, Switzerland, and more. This includes complete access to all Horizon Europe quantum funding calls. Horizon also offers a huge opportunity to businesses and researchers focusing on other cutting-edge technologies, like AI, telecoms, and high-performance computing, including through access to cutting-edge computing resources through EuroHPC. Recent UK-EU engagement has ensured that the UK retains open access to all calls in these areas. The Horizon Europe programme is an innovation powerhouse –spending over €380bn on R&D in 20231 – and fostering deep and high-quality links between the continent’s brightest minds, and the UK’s, will be critical if we are to seize the promise for science and tech innovations to support the Government’s Missions to grow the economy, fix the NHS and improve health outcomes and deliver clean energy under the Plan for Change. Innovative and high-potential sectors like space and quantum will be instrumental to rebuilding the foundations of the economy, and kickstarting growth. Greater access to Horizon is a win for the UK, given the growing importance of space and quantum to the economy and society. The UK space sector already employs 52,000 people and generates an of £18.9 bn each year. Meanwhile new innovations in quantum – harnessing the unique properties of subatomic particles to process information and solve problems – are already unlocking breakthroughs in healthcare, logistics, financial services and more. On top of this, experts working in fields like AI, high performance computing, and future telecoms continue to enjoy valuable Horizon access, as well as a vast number of other sectors including food and agritech, digital, industry and more. British researchers having access to more Horizon science funding calls also further emphasises the value of the UK’s participation in the EU’s Copernicus Earth Observation programme. Furthermore, the UK and EU have a strong shared commitment to developing assured and independent European access to space: work which forms a key part of the UK’s own ambitions for space launch. With plans for the first launches from SaxaVord in the Shetland Islands later this year, the UK is a leading international partner and cooperator in Europe’s space ambitions and it is encouraging that British researchers will be able to access calls that help to further Europe’s ambition. There is no time to lose for businesses, researchers, and scientists working in quantum, space and beyond to take advantage of this news, because new Horizon funding calls open in the coming weeks. New space and industry calls open from Thursday 22 May, and digital calls open from Tuesday 10 June. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
20 Apr 25. United Launch Alliance Amazon Project Kuiper launch targeting April 28. Kuiper 1, the launch of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 551 rocket carrying the first production satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, is now planned for April 28, 2025. The launch is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT at the opening of a two-hour window, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. This launch begins a new chapter in the commercial launch industry as Amazon partners with ULA to deliver the first batch of their advanced satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO). (Source: Satnews)
23 Apr 25. Rocket Lab confirms D2C ambitions. New Zealand-based (but Nasdaq-listed) Rocket Lab has confirmed that it intends attacking the Direct-to-Consumer market currently dominated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its Starlink broadband system. Rocket Lab, founded by Sir Peter Beck, has recently unveiled its ‘Flatellite’ satellite, which it claims will deliver a long life in orbit and low-latency, with high-speed connectivity and remote sensing capability for national security, defense, and commercial markets.
“And it’s more than just a new product developed to serve our customers’ ever-evolving needs. It’s a bold, strategic move toward operating our own constellation and delivering services from space,” says the company.
But Rocket Lab hasn’t just Musk and Starlink in its sights, it will have to compete head-to-head with bnaire Jeff Bezos and his Kuiper broadband offering (and the first Kuiper satellite is due to launch next week), as well as AST SpaceMobile, Lightspeed from Telesat, and the existing systems from Apple/Globelstar, well-established players such as Iridium (due to start its own D2D tests this summer) as well as a scheme from Lynk Global (in which SES has a stake) and Eutelsat’s OneWeb.Rocket Lab has stressed that it is an ‘end to end’ space company, with the ability to build and launch rockets, to build and supply at scale its satellites and now confirming that it is working to delivering its own applications from space. Rocket Lab says its project is “A bold, strategic move toward being a truly end-toend space company operating our own constellation and delivering services from space.”
However, there is a potential risk in the form of a shareholders Class Action, with April 28th as the deadline for investors. The Action alleges that “Rocket Lab and certain of its senior executives failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the Company’s plans for three barge landing tests were significantly delayed; (2) a critical potable water issue was not scheduled to be fixed until January 2026, delaying the preparation of Neutron’s launch pad; (3) as a result, there was a substantial risk that Neutron would not launch in the middle of 2025; (4) Rocket Lab’s only contract secured for Neutron was significantly discounted, with an unreliable partner; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.”
Class Actions have a habit of evaporating, but one can never assume this.
Rocket Lab’s VP Richard French recently spoke to Aviation Week,saying: “What Flatellite provides is an elegant solution for large-aperture systems, without the need for deployable [antennas], and so 5G NTN (non-terrestrial network) is a great example of a commercial application. That’s what’s exciting about that opportunity. This is an eminently scalable consumer application. We’re seeing that a lot of the minimum viable constellations are in the 150 to 200-satellite range. So yes, you don’t need mega-constellations to address this 5G NTN opportunity.” (Source: Satnews)
22 Apr 25. EUTELSAT OneWeb + E-SAT sign a distribution partnership agreement. Under this partnership, E-Sat will be selling a full suite of LEO connectivity solutions powered by Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation to Maritime and Enterprise customers across Europe These high-speed, low-latency offerings, made possible by Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO constellation, will extend existing E-Sat service portfolio, and enable low-latency connectivity solutions to reach customers out of traditional coverage on land and offshore. Combining Eutelsat OneWeb’s resilient, secure, high-performance connectivity with E-Sat’s commitment to end-to-end service excellence will ensure that customers receive the best satellite connectivity experience coupled with the best customer service experience. For instance, OneWeb offers new specific market opportunities for maritime users requiring quality services with fast connection speeds and low latency of OneWeb LEO satellites with easy to install hardware and costs savings plans. We are very enthusiastic to enter into this partnership with Eutelsat OneWeb. This promising collaboration will enable us to offer to our land and maritime customers high-speed, low-latency connectivity solutions with value added services. For more than 25years we have been offering the very best of satellite technology to our customers and we look forward continuing this with OneWeb,” said Sophie Proniewski, E-SAT CEO. We are delighted to add E-Sat to our list of trusted distributors in a further step in expanding the reach of our OneWeb constellation’s high-performance connectivity solutions in Europe. By adding OneWeb to its suite of offers, we are confident E-Sat will be able to leverage secure, low-latency satellite technology to deliver enhanced service to its enterprise and mobility customers,” said Pascal Fallet, EUTELSAT Group VP Connectivity Europe. (Source: Satnews)
28 Apr 25. Russian satellite linked to nuclear weapon program appears out of control, U.S. analysts say.
- Summary
- Russia’s Cosmos 2553 satellite has been seen spinning, U.S. firms say
- Satellite is part of U.S. allegations Russia has a nuclear space weapon program
- ‘Tumbling’ movements suggest satellite is no longer operational
- U.S., Russia have been vying over military space developments
The secretive Russian satellite in space that U.S. officials believe is connected to a nuclear anti-satellite weapon program has appeared to be spinning uncontrollably, suggesting it may no longer be functioning in what could be a setback for Moscow’s space weapon efforts, according to U.S. analysts. The Cosmos 2553 satellite, launched by Russia weeks before invading Ukraine in 2022, has had various bouts of what appears to be errant spinning over the past year, according to Doppler radar data from space-tracking firm LeoLabs and optical data from Slingshot Aerospace shared with Reuters. Believed to be a radar satellite for Russian intelligence as well as a radiation testing platform, the satellite last year became the center of U.S. allegations that Russia for years has been developing a nuclear weapon capable of destroying entire satellite networks, such as SpaceX’s vast Starlink internet system that Ukrainian troops have been using. U.S. officials assess Cosmos 2553’s purpose, though not itself a weapon, is to aid Russia’s development of a nuclear anti-satellite weapon. Russia has denied it is developing such a weapon and says Cosmos 2553 is for research purposes. Russia, a storied space power that launched the first man in space in 1961, has for decades been locked in a security race in space with the U.S. that, in recent years, has intensified and seeped into public view as Earth’s orbit becomes a hotspot for private sector competition and military technologies aiding ground forces. (Source: Reuters)
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.
The company combines novel artificial intelligence and radar technologies to identify movement and provide context in real-time. MatrixSpace sensors are the smallest, lightest and most portable high-performance systems on the market powered by AI. They deliver actionable insights that empower a broad range of public and private enterprises to protect assets and maintain safety with superior situational awareness.
For the modern, mobile battlespace, MatrixSpace provides both high performance 4D radar and jam-resistant mesh networked communications engineered to perform in the harshest conditions—day or night, in any weather, and in remote, rugged locations. Designed for flexibility, our radar systems can be integrated with tactical vehicles or mounted on structures like buildings, TOCs, or stanchions. Offering 360° coverage, they provide unmatched field-of-view advantages, while low energy consumption allows for solar/battery-powered operation in off-grid environments at twice the duration and a fraction the cost of alternatives. The MatrixSpace AI platform removes clutter and classifies objects, so operators can act confidently without specialized radar expertise.
The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.
MatrixSpace solutions are designed and developed in the United States, without ITAR export restrictions, manufactured under the highest ISO and IATF standards and rigorously tested for quality, reliability and compliance.
Visit maxtrixspace.com
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–