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27 Nov 25. Growth and security at the forefront in UK funding boost for European Space Agency. The UK’s economy and security will benefit from a new £1.7bn investment package in European Space Agency (ESA) programmes.
£1.7bn UK investment in the European Space Agency
Agreed during the ESA Council of Ministers (CM25) in Bremen, this new funding brings sharper focus to deliver maximum value for money, sustain thousands of high-skilled jobs, and drive science and innovation that directly benefits people and businesses, from increased connectivity to more resilient infrastructure and public services. Building on existing commitments, the new funding increases the UK’s current level of support for ESA programmes to £2.8bn over the next decade (2025/26 to 2034/35), with further commitments set to be made in 2028 at the next ESA Council of Ministers. This funding returns to UK industry and universities as contracts, supporting the development of new technologies, while putting British scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs at the forefront of global space programmes. Evaluation shows that every £1 invested in ESA returns £7.49 in direct benefits to the UK economy.
Space Minister Liz Lloyd CBE said: “Our space sector is a key driver of our economic growth and national security, and also supports our allies in Europe and beyond. After these negotiations in Bremen, during what remains a challenging time for economies across Europe, we have secured backing for our priority ESA programmes, which will support thousands of jobs, greater resilience and cutting-edge science and technology across the UK.”
The new commitments include a record £162m for launch programmes, including the European Launcher Challenge. This initiative is designed to improve access to space by opening up the European market to commercial operators, increasing resilience and driving down the cost of launching the satellites that deliver services like communications, navigation and weather forecasting. This commitment supports the aim of securing assured access to space for the UK, enhancing our national security in an uncertain world, and ensuring the UK benefits from the fast-growing global space market, which makes an outsized contribution to our economy. Through these initiatives, the government will continue to work with launch companies that can deliver our assured access objectives, and develop and strengthen existing partnerships with NATO and European allies. The UK-led Vigil mission to monitor and forecast dangerous space weather, in partnership with the US, will proceed, with a new £131m commitment from the UK and significant support from European partners. Space weather – which generated displays of the Northern Lights over parts of the UK this month – can disrupt vital technology on Earth and in space. These rare but extreme events risk impacting our daily lives, damaging power grids, satellites, and satellite navigation and timing signals used by emergency services. Vigil will improve forecasting of solar storms to help manage these risks and protect national security. Europe’s first Mars rover, built in the UK by Airbus and named after British scientist Rosalind Franklin, secured further backing in Bremen, bringing its launch a step closer in 2028. The mission will drill down into the red planet to hunt for signs of past life, putting the UK at the forefront of the race to answer one of the longest standing scientific questions about the potential for life to exist on other planets. The UK also continues its support for the Argonaut lunar lander, following the award of major UK industrial contracts last week to supply the engine and propulsion sub-systems for the mission. High-growth programmes, including Commercialisation, the General Support Technology Programme and Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems, share a new £261m commitment. This includes support for a new direct-to-device satellite system that can connect directly to mobile phones, boosting connectivity in hard-to-reach areas and during emergencies. A commitment of £511m to ESA’s core budget backs the UK’s role at the cutting-edge of space science. A commitment of £120 m at this Ministerial for Earth observation programmes will support mission studies and harness data from climate and environment monitoring satellites to boost security and growth. This is in addition to the UK’s existing ESA commitments, meaning a total of approximately £350 m allocated to ESA Earth observation projects over the next four years. Additionally, a new £57m investment in advanced Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) technologies will support UK strengths in this important area. Global demand for space capabilities is growing fast. The UK space sector employs 55,000 people, with a further 81,000 jobs in the supply chain, and generates an annual income of £18.9 bn. More broadly, satellite services support wider industrial activities worth £454 bn to the UK economy, or 18% of GDP.
UK Space Agency CEO Dr Paul Bate, and Space Minister Liz Lloyd CBE. “The government is putting greater focus on developing key space capabilities, and increasing access to more capital and financing options, while making strategic investments in important missions through ESA, as well as bilaterally with wider international partners.”
Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said: “With a sharper focus and more coordinated approach to space across government, we entered these important negotiations with clear priorities, and delivered against them. But what’s even more important is how we worked as a team – government, industry, academia – to deliver the capabilities in space that our country needs. I’d like to put on record my thanks to everyone in the UK space sector for all the work they do, day-in day-out, and to all those who supported these important negotiations. Now the real work begins to translate these commitments into valuable contract wins for the sector.”
As well as ESA programmes, the UK space sector has access to a wider range of national space funding than ever before. This year the government increased the core civil space budget through the UK Space Agency by 8% and announced a further £2.8 bn over the coming four years (2026/27 to 2029/30). Today’s commitments to the European Space Agency form one integral part of this larger effort, delivering growth for the UK economy through space, as part of the Government’s Plan for Change. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
25 Nov 25. BlackSky delivered the first very high-resolution images from the company’s third Gen-3 satellite less than 24 hours following the satellite’s successful launch. This Gen-3, unit three, very high-resolution image captured over the Port of Jebel Ali in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, displays active offloading operations at the roll-on/roll-off “RoRo” terminal as stevedores maneuver vehicles down a ramp and into the collection area where thousands of vehicles await transport to their final destination. The BlackSky image was collected at 10:08 a.m. on November 22, 2025. Company’s advanced, low-latency commercial architecture delivering decision-quality data at real-time, mission-relevant speed BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) delivered the first very high-resolution images from the company’s third Gen-3 satellite less than 24 hours following the satellite’s successful launch in November. The company’s advanced, low-latency commercial architecture is delivering decision-quality data at real-time, mission-relevant speed and meeting growing global demand for flexible, secure tactical ISR capabilities.
“BlackSky’s third Gen-3 unit has delivered incredible initial image quality at unprecedented speed — less than one day from launch,” said Brian O’Toole, BlackSky CEO. “Customers no longer have to wait months typically associated with traditional commissioning timelines. BlackSky’s rapid commissioning process places tasking capacity into customers’ hands quickly and increases the overall operational life of each satellite as they come online sooner.”
With remarkable clarity, the new Gen-3 satellite has delivered imagery detailing vehicles, maritime vessels, and aircraft of various sizes, as well as individual people and their shadows. The new Gen-3 satellite has already demonstrated fully automated tasking to delivery capability. Image quality is expected to increase as final calibrations become complete, and the satellite enters its final operational altitude.
“As BlackSky continues to expand our Gen-3 constellation, this successful mission signifies the value of strategic investments in advancing commercial space-based intelligence capabilities. Our purpose-built software and hardware architecture is uniquely suited to provide secure and flexible commercial services that complement national assets with mission-relevant tactical ISR capability at disruptive speed, scale and economics,” said O’Toole.
BlackSky’s Gen-3 constellation continues to evolve through a regular interval of launches that expand capacity, reduce latency, add flexibility and increase customer applications for automated real-time and predictive battlefield monitoring. BlackSky is leveraging its full technology stack of vertically integrated satellite manufacturing, software and AI solutions to meet global customer demand for guaranteed access to data, when and where customers need it, through novel delivery models like capacity sharing, Assured subscription access or full sovereign systems.
24 Nov 25. Blue Origin boosts New Glenn power and paves way for new super heavy rocket. Blue Origin has unveiled a major suite of upgrades to its New Glenn launch vehicle, aimed at boosting payload capacity, increasing launch frequency and improving overall reliability. The enhancements covering engines, structural design, avionics, reusability and recovery systems will gradually roll out from the NG-3 mission onwards. One of the headline improvements is a significant jump in engine performance across both stages. The seven BE-4 engines on New Glenn’s first stage will see total thrust rise from 3.9 m pounds-force (17,219kN) to 4.5 m pounds-force (19,928kN). Blue Origin said the BE-4 has already hit 625,000 pounds-force in ground testing and is expected to reach 640,000 pounds-force later this year, thanks in part to propellant subcooling that lifts the engine’s original 550,000-pound-force output. The upper stage is getting a similar upgrade. The pair of BE-3U engines will lift from a combined 320,000 pounds-force (1,423kN) to 400,000 pounds-force (1,779kN) over the next few missions. The BE-3U has already demonstrated more than 211,000 pounds-force on the test stand. Blue Origin said these performance boosts will immediately benefit customers already booked to fly on New Glenn, including missions to low-Earth orbit, the lunar surface and deeper into the solar system. Other improvements include a reusable payload fairing to support higher launch rates, a redesigned lower-cost propellant tank, and an upgraded reusable thermal protection system to speed up refurbishment and re-flight. In a major step towards expanding its launch portfolio, Blue Origin also confirmed development of a super heavy variant of New Glenn. Named for its engine configuration, the New Glenn 9×4 will feature nine BE-4 engines on the first stage and four on the second, substantially increasing lift capacity The 9×4 variant is designed to haul more than 70 tonnes to low-Earth orbit, over 14 tonnes directly to geosynchronous orbit, and more than 20 tonnes on a translunar injection trajectory. It will also debut a larger 8.7-metre payload fairing for oversized cargo. Blue Origin plans to operate the 9×4 alongside the current 7×2 New Glenn model, offering customers a broader range of options for mega-constellation deployments, lunar missions, deep-space exploration and national security launches, including projects such as the Golden Dome. The company said the combined fleet will provide the flexibility and muscle required to meet rapidly growing global launch demand.
26 Nov 25. Spainsat NG Programme Completed As Second Secure. Communications Satellite Launches. Europe has strengthened its secure-communications capabilities with the successful launch of SpainSat NG II on 24 October, wrapping up the SpainSat Next Generation programme supported by the European Space Agency (ESA). With both SpainSat NG satellites now in orbit, Europe will see its most advanced governmental communications system to date, a major step for the continent’s security, crisis-response capacity, and technological autonomy. The launch of SpainSat NG II from Kennedy Space Center comes nine months after its twin, SpainSat NG I. They are part of Spanish satellite service provider Hisdesat’s SpainSat Next Generation programme, focused on advancing secure satellite communications for Europe. Set to begin joint operations in 2026, the satellites will serve the Spanish Armed Forces, and other national and allied government agencies. It will also be used by the European Union through its GOVSATCOM HUB and help cover humanitarian response missions worldwide. Their coverage extends across Europe, the Americas, Africa, and parts of the Middle East and Asia. Built on Airbus’s Eurostar Neo platform and weighing approximately six tonnes each, the satellites have reconfigurable X-band antennas together with KaGov-band steerable antennas developed under ESA’s Pacis 3 Partnership Project. European space collaboration between ESA, Hisdesat, Spanish Space Agency and Airbus Defence and Space enabled the innovative development of these antennas with pooling and sharing capabilities, so that it quickly adapts to changing uses and users. Instead of relying on many fixed antennas, the X-band antenna system integrates an active array capable of performing the work of 16 traditional antennas. It can shift capacity in real time based on demand or environmental conditions. This is crucial when communication needs suddenly change during natural disasters or high-security operations. The antenna can also geolocate and disabling jamming attempts, making sure connections stay reliable when signals are disrupted. The satellites were built in just five years and launched within the same year, a pace that highlights the efficiency of the industrial process led by industrial prime Airbus Defence and Space. Additionally, Spanish industry contributed extensively through companies such as Sener, Indra, Arquimea, Tecnobit, GMV, and Airbus Crisa, reinforcing Europe’s position in secure-satellite technology. With SpainSat NG now complete, Europe gains a powerful and adaptable system designed to provide reliable, secure communications, strengthening Spain’s capabilities and the continent’s strategic autonomy in space.
“The success of SpainSat NG demonstrates what Europe’s space players are capable of,” said Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA. “ESA’s role as a neutral technological expert allowed us to build a collaborative philosophy directly into the pool-and-share capabilities enabled by Pacis 3, ensuring governmental users can communicate during a crisis. We are proud to champion this collaboration across public and private spheres, which made it possible to innovate quickly and improve our collective safety and strategic autonomy.”
“SpainSat NG represents the next generation of secure satellite communications in Europe. This second launch marks a key milestone in providing more adaptable and secure communications services that will benefit governmental users across Europe and beyond,” said Laurent Jaffart, ESA’s Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications.
“Pacis 3 has been an excellent collaboration between institutional and industrial organisations”, said Miguel Ángel García Primo, Hisdesat’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are proud to have developed SpainSat NG I & II, the most advanced European secure communications satellites, in collaboration with ESA, Spanish Space Agency and Airbus Defence and Space, with the participation of most of the Spanish Space sector. This project has placed Spanish industry at the forefront of active antenna technologies”. (Source: ASD Network)
25 Nov 25. $180m agreement secures ADF SATCOMs through the 2030s. Defence has finalised a $180m contract to ensure the continued delivery of secure ultra high frequency satellite communications for the Australian Defence Force and its coalition partners for at least the next eight years. Under the agreement, Intelsat, now operating as a subsidiary of SES, will extend the operational life of the IS-22 satellite and its hosted ultra high frequency (UHF) payload until at least 2033, with scope for further extension should the capability remain viable. The arrangement includes the flexibility to reposition the satellite as required, alongside comprehensive logistics, training and operational support to keep ADF personnel connected across land, sea and air. A new Australian-based ground antenna facility will also be established as part of the contract and is designed to enhance sovereign control of critical communications infrastructure, support domestic industry participation, and reinforce the long-term resilience of the ADF’s tactical communications network.
Construction of the site is scheduled to commence in 2026.
Assistant Secretary of the Space Systems Branch Michael Hunt said the contract delivered significant national security and industry benefits. “This agreement not only ensures the ADF maintains access to secure UHF satellite communications (SATCOM) and remains interoperable with our coalition partners, but it also supports Australian jobs and strengthens sovereign control of critical communications capability,” Hunt said.
Launched in 2012, IS-22 provides secure, continuous UHF communications that enable ADF personnel to coordinate operations, respond to emerging situations and support missions in remote or contested environments. UHF SATCOM remains a vital component of tactical communications, particularly for maritime and land forces requiring robust, all-weather, beyond line-of-sight voice and low-rate data connectivity.
How this fits Into JP 9102 and Australia’s future SATCOM architecture
The extension of IS-22’s service life complements Defence’s long-term satellite communications modernisation effort under Project JP 9102 – Australian Defence Satellite Communications System. JP 9102, awarded to Lockheed Martin Australia in 2023 but subsequently cancelled in 2025, was designed to deliver a sovereign, high-capacity, geostationary SATCOM constellation providing advanced Ka-band and military communications services to replace Defence’s reliance on the US-operated WGS system. While JP 9102 focused on delivering a sovereign strategic and operational SATCOM backbone, the IS-22 extension ensures continuity of the ADF’s UHF tactical SATCOM capability, a function that would not be immediately replaced under JP 9102. UHF remains essential for secure voice command and control, especially for deployed forces, submarines, small vessels, rotary aviation and special operations elements. By sustaining IS-22 through the 2020s and potentially beyond, Defence avoids a capability gap while broader sovereign SATCOM initiatives come online. The new Australian antenna facility established under the contract will also integrate with the ground segment being built for JP 9102, further strengthening sovereign control and redundancy across the ADF’s communications architecture. Hunt noted that extending IS-22 ensures reliability and operational continuity while future sovereign SATCOM capabilities mature, adding, “By extending the operational life of IS-22, we can continue to provide secure and reliable communications for our ADF personnel.” The agreement marks another step in building an integrated, sovereign satellite communications ecosystem capable of supporting Australian operations across the Indo-Pacific and beyond. (Source: Space Connect)
25 Nov 25. ALL.SPACE, the leader in multi-orbit, multi-link SATCOM solutions, today announced a major milestone in defense communications with the successful completion of testing under the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Tactical Terminal (NGTT) program. The company’s Hydra MAX terminal has been validated as a first-of-its-kind solution capable of delivering seamless, simultaneous, and resilient connectivity across Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellite networks – all while on the move. The NGTT program was established to address a long-standing challenge in beyond-line-of-sight communications: maintaining uninterrupted, high-throughput connectivity during maneuver operations. ALL.SPACE was selected to deliver a production-ready, multi-orbit terminal meeting Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL 6) – bridging the tactical edge to the cloud and ensuring mission-critical applications remain accessible, even in contested environments. As part of the NGTT initiative, ALL.SPACE – with support from Telesat Government Solutions and Viasat – successfully demonstrated simultaneous multi-beam On-The-Move (OTM) LEO/GEO and LEO/MEO operation of the Hydra MAX terminal using off-road land mobility profiles at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG). The testing and demonstrations delivered sustained high data rates and high-resolution video while both stationary and in motion. Despite challenging off-road conditions and rapid azimuth and elevation changes, the terminal maintained its LEO 3 beam lock – showcasing exceptional robustness, agility, and performance. ALL.SPACE’s Hydra terminals use digital beamforming with monopulse tracking to deliver up to 4× faster responsiveness than traditional methods, ensuring precise, high-speed connectivity across wide scan angles even under intense motion, vibration, and dynamic conditions. This success follows the recently announced collaboration between ALL.SPACE and Telesat Government Solutions to secure type certification for Hydra MAX on the upcoming Telesat Lightspeed network, further enhancing its readiness for deployment across U.S. and allied defense operations. In a defining moment for ALL.SPACE, Hydra MAX has now been formally recognized by the U.S. Army as achieving Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL 6) – marking a significant transition from prototype to operationally validated system. This designation confirms the Hydra MAX has been proven in a relevant military environment, demonstrating readiness for near-production deployment and integration into broader defense and Joint Force networks.
Paul McCarter, CEO, ALL.SPACE: “Successfully completing this testing as part of the NGTT program and reaching TRL 6 is a defining moment for ALL.SPACE, Hydra-2 MAX has proven it can deliver uninterrupted, intelligent connectivity in the harshest operational conditions. For commanders, this means cloud access, data fusion, and decision superiority remain intact – no matter the orbit, no matter the threat.”
Purpose-built to align with the Department of Defense’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) objectives, Hydra MAX supports a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), enabling rapid integration with future constellations, including Telesat Lightspeed once Hydra MAX is certified for the network. With multi-beam transport diversity, integrated SD-WAN resilience, and demonstrated compatibility with leading networks, Hydra MAX sets a new standard for resilient, intelligent military communications. With Hydra MAX, ALL.SPACE is not just connecting the battlespace – it’s redefining it.
24 Nov 25. Viasat Completes Network Control Station Installations for Spanish MoD. Today’s geopolitical environment and rapidly evolving threats are causing allied nations to determine ways to maintain the sovereignty of their data and eliminate their reliance on information sharing by other countries. One route that many are choosing to follow is the creation of in-country Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) satellites and sovereign UHF Network Control Stations (NCSs) that enable more efficient voice and data transmission. Most recently, Viasat worked with the Spanish Ministry of Defence (MoD) to install two redundant NCSs to support two satellites, SpainSat NG I and SpainSat NG II. One ground station controls the UHF Time Domain Multiple Access (TDMA) networks – while the other ground station serves as a back-up. Viasat delivered the Spanish MoD NCS installations ahead of SpainSat NG I’s anticipated entry into commercial service.
UHF radio pervasiveness drives increased demand
Why are our allies turning back to UHF now? UHF has progressed technically, from an inefficient, single-channel setup known as Single Channel Per Carrier to an equally inefficient Demand-Assigned Multiple-Access (DAMA) system, which split the channel into five pieces to allow up to five users on a single channel. Viasat maximizes efficiency with its Integrated Waveform Channel Controller (IWCC), which expands the setup to 10-14 users for every UHF channel. While it initially looked like UHF could lose its prominence in the early 2000s given the shifting interest towards higher frequency bands like Ka and Ku for faster data rates, the pervasiveness and reliability of the technology have created trust that has remained. Almost every military in the world has UHF radios in use on ground or aero platforms. Additionally, there are more than 500,000 UHF satellite communications (SATCOM) capable radios currently in the field.
“This demand will keep growing, certainly for the next 20 or 30 years,” says Tony Karkainen, Director of Narrowband Solutions, Viasat Government. “UHF is still very viable. I would even say that we have never had more requirements for UHF, because our off-the-shelf, integrated UHF waveform is flexible to the needs of customers – from simple single station/single channel products to multiple ground stations in multiple locations with multiple antennas and many, many channels.”
Behind the build-out: Partnerships deliver successful results
The NCSs for the Spanish MoD were built by Viasat team members in our Carlsbad, Calif. lab, utilizing antennas built by our close partner, Blacktree Technology. Once assembled, we underwent a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) to demonstrate the system’s operation for the customer and our project partners, Telefónica S.A., who served as the overall Program Prime under the Spanish MoD, and AICOX SOLUCIONES, S.A.U. who served as Viasat’s prime contractor/in-country representative for the Spanish MoD and provider of civil works and antennas.
“After the FAT, we disassembled and packaged the system for shipment to Spain,” says Matthew Kaletta, Systems Design Engineer, Viasat, and a lead team member for the project. “We went out there to install the system into their ground station. We were there for four weeks, building it out and testing it. Then, we successfully completed an onsite system acceptance test.”
After doing the same for the second NCS site, the team combined both sites and conducted another successful, full-system acceptance test.
Viasat solutions enable data control and secure network management
To achieve Spain’s priority objective of a UHF SATCOM capability for the country’s armed forces using the new SPAINSAT-NG satellites, the NCS included the following Viasat solutions:
- Visual Integrated SATCOM Information, Operation and Networking (VISION) planning and network management software is an integrated, user-friendly single network management interface for legacy UHF DAMA and IW services. The integrated controller dramatically accelerates connectivity on the battlefield, improving from 90 seconds through a legacy UHF SATCOM system to as little as 4 seconds with IW. Additionally, operators can reconfigure UHF satellite networks on the fly to meet new mission priorities in real time.
- The interface simultaneously manages all 25-kHz legacy DAMA and IW networks and services, enabling multiple data and voice users to operate at the same time. VISION is part of Viasat’s Network Management Solution, which allows users to maximize channel efficiency and remotely control sites from a single terminal – streamlining logistics and reducing labor needed to run the network.
- Integrated Waveform Channel Controller (IWCC) enables multi-user group communications with the addition of MIL-STD TDMA protocols to traditional 5- and 25-kHz UHF satellite channels and expands capacity to 10–14 data and voice users for every UHF channel.
Ultimately, Viasat was able to deliver two fully integrated, operational, and manageable IW-capable NCS installations to support the Spanish MoD, which will allow the optimization of UHF capabilities by increasing the number of users able to access satellite resources.
An off-the-shelf, customizable NCS for allies
As other NATO allies evaluate opportunities to maintain sovereign control of their voice and data and invest in proven IW NCS solutions, Viasat has a turn-key, fully-integrated NCS that can be customized to the specific needs of our customers – whether they require a simple, single-station, single channel solution or multiple ground stations in multiple locations with multiple antennas and dozens of channels.
“We do not believe in ‘one size fits all’ or otherwise cookie-cutter responses to our customers’ problems,” Karkainen says. “Instead, we meet with them to assess their requirements and priorities, and then we give them what they need.” (Source: ASD Network)
21 Nov 25. 6 start-ups graduate from UniSA accelerator as South Australia’s space sector gathers pace. South Australia’s fast-growing space industry has received another boost, with six emerging space start-ups graduating from the University of South Australia’s 2025 Venture Catalyst Space accelerator program. Run by UniSA’s Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC) and backed by the South Australian Space Industry Centre, the program provides funding, mentorship and commercialisation support to high-potential founders working on next-generation space technologies. Now in its seventh year, the accelerator has become a key pillar of the state’s ambition to establish itself as Australia’s centre of space innovation. The 2025 cohort spans satellite communications, propulsion, in-orbit services, data analytics and advanced materials, highlighting the breadth of capability being built across the local and international space ecosystem. UniSA’s deputy director of business incubation, Craig Jones, said the diversity of the 2025 cohort reflects the maturity of South Australia’s space sector, saying, “Each of these start-ups is tackling a critical challenge for the future of space.”
This year’s graduating companies include:
- AFTdynamics (Adelaide, Australia) – developing advanced propulsion and flight systems aimed at improving satellite manoeuvrability and reducing the cost of access to space.
- Altair Orbital (Adelaide, Australia) – building modular satellite platforms designed for rapid deployment and scalable mission architectures.
- BioSky Space Innovations (New Delhi, India) – using satellite data and AI to deliver smart insights for industry, with ambitions to become a leading space intelligence provider for the Global South.
- GroundZero Space (Victoria, Australia) – advancing real-time space traffic management and orbital situational awareness to improve safety in increasingly congested orbits.
- TrizLabz (Kerala, India) – developing new materials and manufacturing solutions to enhance the reliability and performance of space hardware.
- Zyntax AI (Adelaide, Australia) – applying artificial intelligence to enable autonomous decision making and optimise mission efficiency for space operations.
Jones added, “It’s been remarkable to see how much South Australia’s space ecosystem has matured since we launched this program. These founders aren’t just building clever technology, they’re building capability, jobs and international partnerships that lift the entire industry.”
AFTdynamics founder Dr Alexander Wright credited the program with transforming his early-stage propulsion concept into a viable business. “The ICC hasn’t just shaped my path; it’s completely created it. AFTdynamics wouldn’t exist without the Venture Catalyst Space program,” he said. “The mentorship and funding turned an idea into a real company that’s now raising investment to build rocket propulsion systems in South Australia.”
South Australia’s Assistant Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Michael Brown, said the accelerator had become a global attraction point for innovators. “Venture Catalyst Space is a launchpad for high-potential space start-ups, drawing top talent from around the globe to develop and scale their ideas right here in our state,” he said. “The Malinauskas government is proud to support a program that plays such a vital role in building capability, attracting investment and driving innovation across South Australia’s space industry.”
Since its inception, the Venture Catalyst Space program has supported 46 start-ups and 90 founders, with more than 90 per cent of alumni still operating. Its total economic impact on the South Australian economy is estimated at nearly $36m. For a state positioning itself at the forefront of Australia’s space ambitions, including hosting the Australian Space Agency and Space Discovery Centre, UniSA’s accelerator continues to act as a launchpad for the next wave of global space companies. (Source: Space Connect)
20 Nov 25. Dcubed’s next venture ARAQYS – the power solution for space. Dcubed GmbH, provider of release actuators, deployable space structures and In-Space Manufacturing (ISM) technologies, announces its expansion into space-based energy systems with the introduction of ARAQYS — the power solution for space. With ARAQYS, Dcubed is positioning itself as the category leader in delivering affordable, scalable, and unlimited energy in orbit. After SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and others transformed access to space through lower launch costs and increased capacity, a new generation of in-orbit applications — from data centers, high delta v transportation and direct-to-device communications to defense constellations — has emerged. Each shares a common challenge: a massive demand for affordable, scalable power.
Dcubed’s Story – From 3D printer to revolutionary space products
ARAQYS addresses this by providing a full spectrum of space power solutions — from traditional deployable solar arrays to their proprietary in-space-manufactured KW solar array subsystems, and ultimately to Space Power Plants capable of beaming energy wherever it’s needed. This technology aims to dramatically reduce the cost per kilowatt, laying the groundwork for space infrastructure and directed-energy platforms of the future.
“Dcubed is fully committed to leading the next frontier: power generation in orbit,” said Dr. Thomas Sinn, CEO of Dcubed. “My involvement in a NASA NIAC study on space- based solar power more than 15 years ago set this journey in motion. Since then, we’ve been steadily developing the technologies required to make in-space energy a practical reality. With ARAQYS, we’re now combining those years of innovation into affordable large scale power solutions designed to meet the demands of the rapidly growing space economy.“
From Frustration to Founding
As the next step toward this vision, Dcubed announced the ARAQYS-D3 mission, which is manifested for launch in Q1 2027 aboard a SpaceX Rideshare mission. This mission will demonstrate a 2kW in-space-manufactured solar array with combined application cases in power-beaming and directed energy as well as demonstrating EP enabled high delta-v capabilities. Collaboration between these European and American teams results in the ARAQYS-D3 satellite to be built by Astro Digital and Dcubed. This venture symbolizes transatlantic cooperation in advancing the next era of space systems. Astro Digital, a heritage spacecraft bus provider is located just a few miles from Dcubed’s American headquarters in Berthoud, Colorado. The launch of ARAQYS-D3 is brokered by Maverick Space Systems, who will also provide launch management and integration services for the satellite. Maverick’s support will help Dcubed streamline the launch process, reduce risk, and allow us to focus on the ARAQYS-D3 mission.
“We’re excited to partner with Dcubed on this groundbreaking mission,” said Chris Biddy, CEO of Astro Digital. “The Araqys-D3 satellite will demonstrate how in-space manufacturing and large scale economic power generation can unlock a new class of small satellites—capable of generating, storing, and transmitting the energy required for the next generation of orbital missions.”
“We’re grateful to be supporting the launch of the ARAQYS-D3 mission,” said Roland Coelho, CEO of Maverick Space. “We see this as just the beginning of a close collaboration with Dcubed on future projects and developments.“
Dr. Sinn added: “It’s an honor to partner with Astro Digital and Maverick. This collaboration brings Europe and the United States closer together, uniting two space ecosystems to shape the future of satellite design and space power delivery.”
The production of the ARAQYS-D3 spacecraft and the ISM solar array will be conducted across Dcubed’s facilities in Munich, Germany, and Berthoud, Colorado, demonstrating the company’s bi-continental production capability and readiness for megawatt-scale manufacturing. The launch integration will be carried out by Maverick Space Systems form San Luis Obispo, California.
Paving the Way: ARAQYS-D1 and ARAQYS-D2
- ARAQYS-D3 builds on two precursor missions that are already integrated and ready for launch on two separate SpaceX rideshare missions in Q1 2026:
- Dcubed-1 (internally known as ARAQYS-D1) “BOOM! THERE IT IS”, a 3U satellite that will manufacture a 60 cm ISM boom directly in free space.
- ARAQYS-D2 “WATTS NEW IN SPACE”, which will print and deploy a 1 m-long ISM solar array aboard Exotrail’s next SpaceVan mission.
These demonstrations will validate the building blocks of in-space power generation, paving the way for ARAQYS-D3’s multi-kilowatt-class system.
Dcubed is determining it’s next step after seven years of building capabilities and delivering over 1,500 flight-proven products to more than 120 customers across four continents, Dcubed is leveraging its deep heritage in deployable mechanisms to power the next phase of orbital industrialization. Dcubed‘s Actuators+ business unit continues to serve as a cornerstone, providing flight-proven reliability and financial flexibility as Dcubed expands into in-space energy systems through ARAQYS.
Dcubed’s newly elevated leadership team for global growth reflects the company’s strengthened transatlantic focus and its rising ambitions in technology and commerce:
- Dr. Thomas Sinn, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- Dr. Philipp Bell, Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
- Dr. Markus Geiss, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), formerly “Commercial Director“
- Dr. Antonio Pedivellano, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), formerly „Director of Deployables“
- Daniel Gillies, Chief Innovation Officer (CIO), fomerly „Senior Strategic Engineer“
- Alexander Titz, Managing Director Actuators+, formerly „Director of Operations“
- Erik Pranckh, Managing Director, Dcubed USA
- Manfred Leipold, Corporate Mission Manager
Together this newly elevated leadership team is guiding Dcubed toward its long-term vision: to deliver affordable, unlimited energy in space — enabling the construction, assembly, and industrialization of space infrastructure across orbit, the Moon, and beyond. (Source: Satnews)
18 Nov 25. INNOSPACE signs MoU with UAE’s Madari Space for Space Data Center development. INNOSPACE (KS:462350) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Madari Space to cooperate on the joint development and commercialization of space data centers in the UAE. Through this MOU, INNOSPACE and Madari Space will jointly explore new space business, focusing on the establishment of space data centers, the development of launch and satellite operation–linked services, and the identification of related commercialization opportunities. The two companies will collaborate to identify launch service opportunities in line with the growing global demand for space-based technologies, while also exploring pathways for technical integration and sustainable business models. INNOSPACE will leverage its comprehensive service portfolio, encompassing system development, component and system-level environmental testing, launch operations, and data transmission, whereas Madari Space will contribute its specialized expertise in orbital data center development and strong regional networks. Together, the partners aim to advance practical collaboration toward establishing next-generation, space-based data infrastructure platforms. Madari Space, headquartered in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, is a space data center development startup that combines high-capacity data storage technology and satellite-based high-performance computing to provide secure, reliable, and AI-driven data solutions for global users. Supported by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) under the UAE Ministry of Finance, the company is developing a next-generation data storage and processing infrastructure operating in LEO. In collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), Madari Space plans to launch a pilot orbital data center system into LEO in 2026. (Source: Satnews)
20 Nov 25. ESA’s Celeste (LEO-PNT) program advances + Thales Alenia Space selects Anywaves navigation payload antenna. As low Earth orbit Positioning Navigation and Timing (LEO-PNT) initiatives advance, Europe is moving forward with ESA’s Celeste In-Orbit Demonstrator (IOD). Thales Alenia Space, prime contractor of one of the two consortia developing the IOD, has selected Anywaves with the design and delivery of the antennas required for the mission, including the navigation payload antenna. Anywaves delivered this RF equipment, operating in L-band and designed as a deployable helix, highlighting the company’s strong technological contribution to the European program. Developed, qualified, and delivered in less than eighteen months, this navigation payload antenna, intended to radiate a Navigation signal from the low Earth Orbit, features an innovative design. Optimized for small satellite platforms, it combines compactness and performance through a quadrifilar helix configuration and a deployable mast technology. The antenna offers an excellent ratio between stowed and deployed dimensions, ensuring homogeneous signal distribution on the ground with consistent power and quality, even in challenging environments. Its circular polarization and helical structure enable reliable and accurate transmission, while the deployment mechanisms are specifically designed to withstand launch loads and meet the requirements of low Earth orbit.
Reflectarray Antenna
As part of the Celeste IOD contract, Anywaves has delivered one qualification model and two flight models, validating its development processes and its ability to provide flight-ready payload antennas. This new delivery marks another milestone in Anywaves’ continued growth trajectory. Earlier in 2025, the company became the first commercial supplier to deploy a Reflectarray antenna in orbit, demonstrating its industrial expertise in the design of payload antennas, particularly deployable models. Now contributing to the Celeste program, the delivery of both the helix antenna and a GNSS service antenna builds on the collaboration initiated with Thales Alenia Space in 2020 and realized in 2022 with the launch of Omnispace Spark-1TM, the first satellite of the Omnispace program, also equipped with Anywaves antennas. Flying aboard Pathfinder-A, the first satellite of the Celeste IOD, Anywaves reaffirms its capacity to innovate rapidly and provide high-performance payload antennas for constellation missions. The company continues to demonstrate its expertise in delivering payload antennas designed for both commercial and institutional missions. The next satellites in the demonstrator constellation, four Pathfinder-B satellites for each of the two parallel IOD contracts, will carry a new L-band antenna as well as several deployable helical antennas operating in C and S bands, all developed by Anywaves in the case of Thales Alenia Space Consortium. (Source: Satnews)
20 Nov 25. Rocket Lab launches BlackSky Gen-3 beating the annual launch record with 2 launches in 2 days from 2 hemispheres. Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) a global provider in launch services and space systems, today completed its second launch in two days from its launch sites in two hemispheres, setting a new annual launch record for the Company: 18 Electron launches in 2025 with 100% mission success. Photo captured by Satnews. The “Follow My Speed” mission lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand on November 20, 2025 at 12:43 UTC (November 21, 2025 at 1:43 am NZDT) to successfully deploy its payload for a confidential commercial customer. The mission launched just two days after the Company’s latest launch from Launch Complex 2 on Wallops Island, Virginia, Rocket Lab’s third HASTE launch this year and sixth mission overall involving its suborbital variant of Electron for hypersonic technology test flights. These record-setting events further solidify Electron’s industry leadership as the world’s most frequently launched small orbital rocket. Rocket Lab has increased the annual launch cadence of Electron by 1,700% in less than a decade, driven by international demand for its responsive space capabilities and proven execution with pinpoint payload deployment accuracy. Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: “Electron once again proves why it is the champion of small launch globally. These two launches serve as great examples of the team’s skill at delivering mission success for our customers anywhere, anytime, and no matter the mission profile – from a suborbital hypersonic technology demonstration to a commercial orbital mission, all within 48 hours and from opposite sides of the world. This new annual record is a proud moment for a remarkable team that continues to set new benchmarks for the launch industry.” Rocket Lab remains on track to further extend Electron’s annual launch record and end the year with more launches scheduled. Details on upcoming missions will be shared at www.rocketlabcorp.com (Source: Satnews)
16 Nov 25. Project Kuiper is now known as Amazon LEO. Amazon LEO is a simple nod to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation that powers the network. Seven years ago, Amazon set out to design the most advanced satellite communications network ever built. The company’s vision was simple: There are still bns of people on the planet who lack high-speed internet access, and ms of businesses, governments, and other organizations operating in places without reliable connectivity. With a constellation of satellites in LEO, the company could help bridge that gap and extend fast, reliable internet to those beyond the reach of existing networks. Amazon LEO started small, with a handful of engineers and a few designs on paper. Like most early Amazon projects, the program needed a code name, and the team began operating as “Project Kuiper”—inspired by the Kuiper Belt, a ring of asteroids in our outer solar system. The code name stuck through many of the early milestones: filing and receiving initial licenses, signing the largest set of launch contracts in history, completing a successful prototype mission, and deploying our first full batch of production satellites earlier this year. The company is now ready to share the permanent brand for the program: Amazon Leo. The long-term mission remains the same and the company now operates one of the largest satellite production lines on the planet. Some of the most advanced customer terminals ever built, including the first commercial phased array antenna to support gigabit speeds, have been built by the company. There are now more than 150 satellites in orbit, and customers and partners such as JetBlue, L3Harris, DIRECTV Latin America, Sky Brasil, and NBN Co., Australia’s National Broadband Network operator, have already signed up to deploy the service. The initial satellite constellation continues to be built out and service will be initiated once more coverage and capacity to the network has been added. (Source: Satnews)
21 Nov 25. Readout of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s Meeting With U.S. Space Command Commander General Stephen Whiting. Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and Senior Advisor Sean Parnell provided the following readout: On November 20, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth met with General Stephen Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command, at the Pentagon. The leaders discussed the relocation of U.S. Space Command’s headquarters to Huntsville, Alabama. Gen. Whiting presented current relocation courses of action on efforts to relocate personnel and mission capabilities expeditiously and responsibly to support the President’s directive. Both leaders discussed ways to accelerate the military construction process, additional requirements to cut through bureaucratic red tape, and the balance between cost, speed, and the uninterrupted execution of the command’s warfighting mission. Gen. Whiting reiterated the command’s steadfast commitment to working with organizations across the Department of War and elected leaders to identify efficiencies in relocating the headquarters per the President’s direction in an expedient manner while ensuring the U.S. Space Command mission is unimpacted and can still achieve the requirements of our national security and allied and partner organizations. In September, President Donald Trump announced that U.S. Space Command – one of the Defense Department’s 11 unified combatant commands – would be relocating from Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, to the Army’s Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. The command was reestablished in August 2019, during Trump’s first term as president. (Source: U.S. DoD)
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