Sponsored by MatrixSpace
http://matrixspace.com
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
11 Dec 25. PowerBank Corporation (NASDAQ: SUUN) (Cboe CA: SUNN) (FSE: 103) (“PowerBank” or the “Company”), today congratulates Smartlink AI (“Orbit AI”) on the successful launch of the DeStarlink Genesis-1 satellite.
This inaugural satellite marks Orbit AI’s first step toward building its Orbital Cloud network — an architecture where AI compute, connectivity and blockchain-verified processing occur directly in low-Earth orbit.
DeStarlink Genesis-1 satellite, pictured November 10, 2025. Source: PowerBank Corporation. (CNW Group/PowerBank Corporation)
Orbit AI is developing DeStarlink, the first decentralized low-Earth-orbit network for global connectivity, and DeStarAI, a suite of orbital AI data centers powered by solar arrays and naturally cooled in space. Together, these systems form the Orbital Cloud, a unified infrastructure layer designed to enable sovereign, censorship-resistant connectivity and in-orbit compute services.
By 2032 projected size of Global Satellite Market is USD$615B1. Additional opportunities span orbital infrastructure, in-orbit data centers, and satellite data services, representing a combined market potential of USD$115.64B over the next decade2-4.
A core differentiator of the Orbital Cloud is its solar-powered execution layer. Satellites are equipped with lightweight, space-grade solar panels that harvest continuous sunlight during orbit, intended to enable round-the-clock AI inference, blockchain node operation, and on-board data processing. PowerBank’s future contributions will focus on supporting advanced solar modules, adaptive energy management systems, and thermal control solutions–components essential to powering the next generation of larger, higher-compute satellites in the constellation.
“Today marks a transformative moment in the evolution of space-based infrastructure,” said Dr. Richard Lu, CEO of PowerBank. “The successful launch of DeStarlink Genesis-1 validates our vision of supporting solar-powered solutions for the digital economy. This demonstrates how clean energy and advanced computing can converge to build resilient, globally accessible infrastructure beyond terrestrial constraints. PowerBank is proud to collaborate with Orbit AI in pioneering this new frontier where our solar energy expertise can help power the next generation of orbital computing and connectivity.”
Through its collaboration with Orbit AI, PowerBank intends to contribute advanced solar energy systems and adaptive thermal control solutions, reflecting its broader shift toward digital asset, data center, and Real World Asset infrastructure, where solar power supports digital infrastructure deployments and high-growth AI markets. PowerBank’s contribution focuses on solar power and adaptive thermal technologies essential to future satellite’s “Execution Layer.”
Orbit AI plans to expand its constellation beginning in 2026, with larger-scale deployments anticipated through 2028–2030. PowerBank expects to continue as a key partner in these developments.
Key Milestones
• Q4 2025: Launch of Genesis-1 with Ethereum wallet, blockchain node, and initial AI inference payload.
• 2026: Expansion to 5–8 orbital nodes integrating compute and connectivity.
• 2027–2028: Full constellation rollout and commercialization of Orbital Cloud services.
• 2028–2030: Autonomous network governance; large-scale orbital compute and communication operations.
PowerBank’s collaboration with Orbit AI on the Orbital Cloud initiative reflects the Company’s strategic expansion into high-growth digital infrastructure markets. The successful launch of Genesis-1 marks the first step in a multi-year roadmap of Orbit AI to establish a fully operational constellation of solar-powered, AI-enabled satellites that will redefine global connectivity and digital sovereignty from low-Earth orbit. At this time PowerBank elected not to make any additional investment in Orbit AI.
About PowerBank
PowerBank Corporation is an independent renewable and clean energy project developer and owner focusing on distributed and community solar projects in Canada and the USA. The Company develops solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects that sell electricity to utilities, commercial, industrial, municipal and residential off-takers. The Company maximizes returns via a diverse portfolio of projects across multiple leading North America markets including projects with utilities, host off-takers, community solar, and virtual net metering projects. The Company has a potential development pipeline of over one gigawatt and has developed renewable and clean energy projects with a combined capacity of over 100 megawatts built.
To learn more about PowerBank, please visit www.powerbankcorp.com.
(Source: PR Newswire)
11 Dec 25. AMTI ASAP: Space Force readying multi-source acquisition for satellites to track aircraft. “So the focus is going to be on delivering AMTI [airborne moving target indication] capability very quickly,” Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said.
The Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) are working to craft an acquisition strategy based on multiple contract awards for developing and fielding satellites that can track aircraft and drones, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said today.
“The drivers we’re getting in the department is: deliver capability very quickly. So the focus is going to be on delivering AMTI [airborne moving target indication] capability very quickly. But we also have to make sure that we have a long-term strategy that goes with that. So we’re in the process of researching what that looks like,” he told reporters during the Space Force Association’s Spacepower 2025 conference here in Orlando.
“It’s going to be a competitive acquisition, probably be multiple awards to different contractors so we don’t end up with a single source. So that’s what we’re going through right now,” Meink added. “We’re gonna start building the capability pretty quickly.”
He explained that one of the challenges is that because the program is being jointly funded by the service and the spysat agency, it requires getting authorizations and appropriations from different congressional committees.
Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said during the press briefing that there are also technical challenges to AMTI.
“So GMTI [ground moving target indication] and AMTI sound like they’re really close, just because one little letter that is all you changed, [but it] turns out they’re pretty different. What it takes to accomplish AMTI is different than what it takes to accomplish GMTI,” he said. “Things on the ground move slower than things on the air, so require different levels of fidelity tracks.”
Meanwhile, Meink said, the Department of the Air Force is working with Congress to address lawmakers’ concerns about the Trump administration’s plan announced in June to cancel the E-7 Wedgetail program in favor of a space-based system. The E-7 had been envisioned as a replacement the outdated E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System fleet, with Boeing winning a whopping $2.6 billion award last August for two rapid prototypes to be delivered by fiscal 2028.
Along with provisions aimed at preventing the Wedgetail’s termination, the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would also authorize a total of $846.7 million to continue the radar plane’s development and procurement. The House passed the policy bill on Monday; it now is in the hands of the Senate.
Meink said the Air Force would complete the E-7’s “rapid prototype test” as directed by the NDAA.
In addition, he stressed that the Wedgetail “already is being flown by some of our allies and partners,” and the Air Force is “working with them to see how they fit into the production run going forward on each set of new capability that the rapid prototypes will bring on.”
(Source: Breaking Defense.com)
10 Dec 25. Overview Energy, a space solar energy company making satellites to beam energy from orbit to Earth’s grid, today emerged from stealth after successfully transmitting power from a moving aircraft to a ground receiver 5 kilometers (3 miles) below—the company’s second major milestone on the path to delivering grid-scale clean energy from space.
Overview’s satellites will beam energy to large solar projects on Earth, allowing them to generate power at night and turn solar into a reliable 24/7 resource. The satellites will collect continuous sunlight in geosynchronous orbit and transmit it as safe, low-intensity near-infrared light, using wavelengths already proven in fiber-optic networks, medical imaging, and security cameras. This wavelength choice makes the architecture both highly efficient and passively safe, able to link the constant light of the sun in space to the real-time needs of Earth’s grid with dispatchable utility-scale power.
A single Overview satellite cluster will be capable of serving multiple continents and dynamically shifting power delivery based on demand. The system is being designed from the start to strengthen grid reliability and to meet the needs of energy-intensive users like data centers, growing cities, and large military bases. Existing and future solar projects will serve as the receivers for Overview’s system. Together, these elements form a flexible, resilient energy network that can deliver power instantly to where it’s needed.
“Imagine sunlight collected 36,000 kilometers above Earth, then arriving as clean energy wherever the grid needs it,” said Marc Berte, Founder and CEO of Overview Energy. “That’s what we’re making real. Our airborne milestone proved that the core transmission system works in motion—the same foundation that will operate in orbit. Space solar energy will only matter when it powers real demand on Earth, and we’re designing for that scale from day one.”
Overview’s airborne demonstration validated that its power beaming system works in motion, which is a world’s first for high-power wireless energy transmission. The test used the same optics and laser chain that will be taken to space and successfully transmitted power via near-infrared light from a moving aircraft to a ground receiver. It confirmed that the company’s system—lasers, optics, and control—performs under real-world conditions, forming a bridge between laboratory validation and Overview’s upcoming orbital demonstration in low Earth orbit.
“Overview Energy is building a key pillar for our growing energy demand, one that can dynamically allocate energy where it is the most valuable and scale without the constraints of ground-based generation and transmission,” said Reed Sturtevant, General Partner at Engine Ventures. “Their space solar energy approach isn’t just technically ambitious; it’s designed with real-world deployment in mind from the get-go. Engine Ventures backs companies like Overview where the founders bring technical depth and commercial discipline to build infrastructure that will have global impact.”
While in stealth, Overview has designed its system to meet the technical, safety, economic, and regulatory requirements of real-world deployment. The airborne demonstration marks Overview’s second major milestone, after validating its laser and optics system at thousands of watts in the lab. A low Earth orbit demonstration will follow in 2028, proving end-to-end functionality from space. Commercial operations in geosynchronous orbit are targeted to begin with the world’s first megawatt transmission from space in 2030.
Founded in 2022, Overview is led by experts in energy, lasers, space, manufacturing, business, and regulation. Its leadership team has founded deep tech startups, built high-power laser systems, led space programs, launched constellations of satellites, stood up manufacturing lines, and shaped global space regulation. The company has raised $20M to date and is backed by Engine Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, Prime Movers Lab, EQT Foundation, Earthrise Ventures, Aurelia Institute, and others.
For more information, visit overviewenergy.com.
About Overview Energy
Overview Energy is turning uninterrupted sunlight in space into energy on Earth wherever it’s needed. Its satellites will collect solar energy 24/7 in geosynchronous orbit and beam it to receivers on the ground—existing and future utility-scale solar projects—as safe near-infrared light. The system will be able to shift power across continents in real time based on demand, without changing infrastructure on the ground. Founded in 2022, Overview has already achieved first-of-its-kind power beaming from a moving airborne transmitter and is backed by leading investors in energy, aerospace, and climate technology. (Source: PR Newswire)
10 Dec 25. Kongsberg, Helsing team up for European satellite-intel constellation. Norway’s Kongsberg and Germany’s Helsing are teaming up to provide Europe with a sovereign satellite constellation for space-based intelligence, surveillance and targeting by the end of the decade, the companies said in a joint statement on Wednesday. The plan is to deploy a satellite fleet with interconnected communications for defense use by 2029, with Germany’s Hensoldt providing sensor technology and German startup Isar Aerospace the preferred launch parter. Kongsberg and Helsing signed their teaming agreement to speed up the roll out of critical European space capabilities, the companies said.
European leaders increasingly see their dependency on American space-based intelligence as a strategic liability, with the U.S. halt on data sharing with Ukraine earlier this year setting off alarm bells across the continent. Finland’s ICEYE has been one of the most visible beneficiaries, selling at least eight radar satellites this year to European countries seeking a sovereign space capability.
“Sovereign monitoring, intelligence, and targeting are fundamental to credible deterrence,” Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace President Eirik Lie said in the statement. “Communication, oversight and connectivity are key to operate defense assets effectively, and Europe needs full control over these capabilities.”
The cooperation is a response to Europe’s greater need for deterrence and addresses the strategic issue of space-based intelligence, Kongsberg and Helsing said, with the companies citing “key lessons from recent geopolitical events.”
Kongsberg wasn’t immediately able to answer questions on the required investment or how many satellites are planned for the constellation, which countries the partnership is targeting, or who would own the satellites.
The teaming agreement combines Kongsberg’s satellites with Helsing’s artificial-intelligence capabilities, pulling together synthetic aperture radar, electro-optical and radio-frequency data for satellite-image analysis, they said. The companies said they have operational experience in Ukraine, with Helsing AI algorithms used there as well as deployed in orbit for data analysis.
“The war in Ukraine demonstrates that most reliable targeting begins in space,” Helsing co-Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Gundbert Scherf said. “Together with Kongsberg, we will provide crucial integrated space defense systems to ensure Europe wins the fight for sovereignty.”
Hensoldt will provide SAR, electro-optical/infrared and electronic warfare sensors, while Kongsberg Satellite Services will contribute with its ground network to communicate with satellites.
The cooperation will include setting up local satellite production in Germany to create “a self-reliant European defense capability,” the companies said.
With Norway’s satellite expertise and Hensoldt’s sensors, “we can build a resilient space architecture that gives Europe the information advantage it needs,” Hensoldt Chief Executive Officer Oliver Dörre said. “Europe’s security depends on sovereign sensing and intelligence.” (Source: Defense News)
09 Dec 25. MDA Space Ltd. (TSX: MDA), a trusted mission partner to the rapidly expanding global space industry, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Government of Canada and Telesat Corporation to develop and deliver military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) capabilities. This partnership is part of the Enhanced Satellite Communication Project – Polar (ESCP-P), one of the key procurements being led by Canada’s newly formed Defence Investment Agency (DIA).
“MDA Space has a long history as a trusted mission partner to the Canadian Armed Forces, delivering the advanced technologies and mission outcomes they need to accomplish their critical mandate,” said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space. “We understand the significance of the missions they execute and the challenges inherent in their operations. With this partnership, and in close collaboration with the Department of National Defence and Telesat, we are ready to deliver essential Arctic military satellite communications capabilities at the speed of innovation and operational relevance.”
A longstanding program of record, ESCP-P will significantly enhance the ability of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and the broader Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to conduct sovereignty operations in the Arctic, supporting the defence of Canada and North America. The project will deliver secure wideband and narrowband satellite communications capabilities that are essential to fulfilling the CAF’s continental defence mandate. It is also leveraging Canadian industry to create high-quality jobs across the country while unlocking a multi-bn dollar investment in Canada’s defence sector.
The Government of Canada selected MDA Space and Telesat as strategic partners because of their combined expertise in secure satellite communications and space-based infrastructure. This strategic partnership leverages the global technology and operational strengths of the domestic space sector while reinforcing the government’s commitment to Arctic security and Canadian sovereignty.
Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy will apply to ESCP-P, ensuring the project will generate high-value jobs in Canada, foster innovation, and strengthen Canada’s domestic space and defence sectors. As a result of the application of the ITB Policy, this strategic partnership will engage Canada’s space ecosystem, including small and medium-sized businesses, to maximize economic opportunities and advance national capabilities. (Source: PR Newswire)
09 Dec 25. The European Robotic Orbital Support Services (EROSS) project, funded by the European Commission and coordinated by Thales Alenia Space, has reached major development milestones in 2025, consolidating Europe’s position at the forefront of on-orbit servicing and in-space operations. Bringing together leading partners from across Europe – including Thales Alenia Space in France, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Sener Aerospace and Defence, GMV, PIAP Space, Almatech, CSEM, TRASYS, Kongsberg and SINTEF – the consortium exemplifies the strength and depth of European collaboration in this strategically important domain.
Following the successful completion of the System and Satellite Preliminary Design Reviews, the EROSS consortium – uniting this broad network of European industry and research organisations – is now progressing toward the mission’s Critical Design phase. The seamless integration of contributions from multiple countries and centres of excellence is a defining feature of the project, demonstrating Europe’s ability to jointly develop complex, next-generation technologies.
Since 2016, EROSS partners have been advancing the maturity of key enabling technologies for autonomous rendezvous and robotic servicing, from inspection and refuelling to repair and orbital transfer. These capabilities, now approaching Technology Readiness Level 6, form the foundation for future operational missions supporting both institutional and commercial users in Europe.
“In a context where European space sovereignty matters more than ever, Thales Alenia
Space is proud to coordinate the EROSS consortium,” says Bertrand Denis, VP Observation, Science and Exploration at Thales Alenia Space in France. “Technologies used for on-orbit servicing developed in the framework of current and upcoming phases of EROSS leverage our long experience in space exploration, and will strengthen European resilience thus contributing to Europe’s space sovereignty,” Bertrand Denis added.
Reflecting this long-term commitment to technical excellence, the German Aerospace
Center (DLR) emphasises the transformative potential of this work: Prof. Dr. Alin Albu-Schaeffer, director of the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), states: “EROSS is a game-changer for orbital services, and it puts European space innovation very visibly on the map. Over the last 20 years, DLR has developed the robotics technology needed for operations such as capturing, repairing, and assembling satellites in space. With this mission, we are not just demonstrating what’s possible; we are proving that Europe is leading the way in the future of robotic space operations.”
Building on its technical achievements, the consortium is preparing an ambitious in-orbit demonstration to validate these capabilities in real operational conditions – with both prepared and unprepared client spacecraft – while laying the groundwork for the provision of proto-services to European stakeholders.
Since early 2025, all critical flight components for the rendezvous and robotics subsystems of the EROSS spacecraft have advanced towards Technology Readiness Level 6. These include the robotic arm, developed by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and Kinetik Space; the grippers, designed by PIAP Space, Almatech and CSEM; the standard mechanical interfaces, led by Sener and Space Applications Services; the refuelling interface by Sener; the vision algorithms contributed by GMV, Thales Alenia Space and TRASYS; the Guidance, Navigation and Control algorithms developed by Thales Alenia Space; and the lidar sensors provided by Kongsberg, SINTEF, Thales Alenia Space and CSEM. Communication and dissemination best practices are implemented under the guidance of Tipik Communication Agency.
Stressing the importance of this key priority for Europe, Diego Rodriguez, Space General Manager at Sener Aerospace and Defence adds: “We believe it is essential for Europe to preserve its autonomy in critical on-orbit servicing technologies and EROSS stands as a cornerstone of that ambition. The EROSS consortium offers a solid and proven foundation, with validated outcomes and a clear roadmap for the path ahead. Furthermore, the upcoming phases will strengthen Europe’s competitiveness while enabling Sener to consolidate key technologies and deliver high-value industrial impact.”
At the end of November 2025, all these critical components were successfully submitted to design reviews, confirming their maturity and the robustness of the Europeandeveloped building blocks. With the detailed design phase now under way, the consortium is advancing toward a key contractual milestone at the end of 2025: satellitelevel approval of the overall maturation status and the coordinated planning of the next steps of the detailed design phase. This milestone illustrates not only the technical readiness of the project but also the effectiveness of Europe’s collaborative approach to shaping the future of on-orbit servicing.
“Be bold, be brave, be ambitious. In space, the sky’s the limit,” said Commissioner
Andrius Kubilius, in July 2025. This call resonates strongly with the ambition driving the EROSS consortium. As the project progresses toward a key contractual milestone at the end of 2025 – satellite-level approval of the overall maturation status and coordinated planning of the next steps of the detailed design phase – the results already achieved demonstrate that Europe is indeed rising to this challenge. By advancing the maturity of critical technologies through a deeply collaborative, pan-European effort, EROSS embodies the bold and forward-looking spirit highlighted by Commissioner Kubilius and contributes directly to strengthening Europe’s autonomy and leadership in on-orbit servicing.
09 Dec 25. UK Space Agency launches pilot programme to accelerate commercial growth within the UK’s space ecosystem.
Eighteen space businesses across the UK will receive funding and support from their local space cluster to accelerate their commercial growth, as part of a pilot initiative designed to strengthen the UK’s space sector supply chain.
The UK Space Agency’s new Space Ecosystem Commercialisation Programme (SECP) is delivered in partnership with 6 of the UK’s local space clusters and managed by the Midlands Aerospace Alliance. The programme provides targeted research and development funding alongside strategic and commercial business guidance.
Supporting innovation and growth
The 18 organisations will each receive up to £30,000 to invest in technology development, market validation, and customer engagement. Participating businesses will also benefit from dedicated support from their space cluster leads – locally embedded sector experts – who bring a deep knowledge of supply chains, partnership opportunities, and insight into market demand for space-enabled services. This will enable them to refine their products and services in line with specific commercial opportunities, and establish new growth-driving partnerships within the UK’s connected space ecosystem.
Jon Hulks, Space Ecosystem Development Manager at the UK Space Agency, said:
The Space Ecosystem Commercialisation Programme harnesses the networks and expertise found across the UK’s space cluster network to drive local economic growth. Working together, we are enabling individual space companies to take the next step in their commercial journey and enhancing the unique capabilities and supply chain resilience that underpin the UK’s national space ecosystem.
Strengthening local economies
The UK Space Agency has worked with each space cluster partner to ensure the programme addresses their particular market needs and strengthens their local economy, delivering on the government’s commitment to enhance the resilience of the space sector supply chain as outlined in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy: Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan.
In the Cornwall Space Cluster, the programme prioritises projects that boost the region’s recognised strength in satellite communications. Kernow Enterprises Ltd is developing a space-enabled autonomous communication system, and, through the cluster support enabled by the programme, has already established new partnerships with leading Cornish organisations including Goonhilly Earth Station, the National Drone Hub, Selletronics, and Skentel.
In the Midlands Space Cluster, harnessing the region’s local advanced manufacturing expertise, Future Aerospace Engineering are developing acid-resistant laminate and coating systems for next-generation spacecraft through its HESPERIA Materials Demonstrator project. The £11,200 award will help the company advance materials that could prove crucial for long-duration space missions and harsh orbital environments. Likewise, Space South Central is supporting Lunasa’s ECLIPSE project with £29,844 to develop an orbital testbed for advanced payload validation and inspection. This technology will enable more thorough testing and verification of space hardware in orbit, potentially reducing mission risks and improving satellite performance.
In the North West Space Cluster, which is home to leading expertise in nuclear power for space, Cerberus Nuclear is creating the Materials in Orbital Radiation Environments Database (MORED) with £14,220 in funding. This database tool will help engineers design more radiation-resistant space systems, addressing one of the key challenges facing satellites and spacecraft operating in harsh space environments.
The programme also supports the wider space community. Every company that applied receives bespoke guidance from their cluster to refine and pursue the commercialisation opportunities they identified.
Andrew Mair, Chief Executive Officer of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance, said:
We are pleased to be able to build on the success of the “Pivot into Space” R&D grant programme that the UK Space Agency previously supported in the Midlands by playing our part in this wider programme. For us, it’s all about mobilising local clusters across the country’s space ecosystem system to work closely with small companies that already have their own brilliant ideas and benefit from the kickstart of a small R&D grant, some key expertise and access to the wider network to accelerate their journey towards commercialisation.
The UK Space Agency’s Space Ecosystem Commercialisation Programme is supporting the following companies:
Midlands Space Cluster
Third Planet Orbital: TPOD Capability Expansion – £19,680 New 16U deployer and release sequencer test kit.
PGM Reball: 3D Printed Unitary Ball Nut – £29,074 3D printing a unitary ball nut that incorporates geometry only additive manufacturing can achieve.
Future Aerospace Engineering: HESPERIA Materials Demonstrator – £11,200 Acid-resistant laminate and coating systems for next-generation spacecraft and habitats.
NDE Clarke Pitchline: LIFTAR Launcher Integrated Flexible Transport and Rotation Drive System – £30,000 Designing and testing a flexible launch drive system.
South Central Space Cluster
Lunasa: ECLIPSE – £29,844 Orbital testbed for advanced payload validation and inspection.
Lodestar: ECLIPSE AI-Driven On-Orbit SDA Payload – £30,000 LiDAR integration to enhance space situational domain awareness.
Satraka Ltd: Satcom Dual-band Feed System – £30,000 Manufacturing and verifying a compact Ka/Ku dual-band feed system for satellites.
Space West
Space AM: LoRa as an alternative to GNSS/GPS – £28,200 LoRa tested as positioning alternative to GNSS/GPS.
Cornwall Space Cluster
Skentel Group Ltd: Remote Sensing With Non-Terrestrial Networks – £8,193 5G connectivity to augment existing terrestrial network sensor devices.
Kernow Enterprises Ltd: Emdrone – Space Domain – £29,923 Developing a space-enabled autonomous communication system with defence applications.
Flann Microwave Ltd: Compact 3-Way Waveguide Switch – £20,000 Design and development of a prototype electro-mechanical 3-way waveguide switch.
Piran Composites Ltd: Dual-Use Composite Development – £30,000 Digitally traceable composite manufacturing process for dual use in UAVs and small satellites.
Space North East England
Digventures Ltd: Deep Time: Citizen-Powered Earth Observation – £29,985 Refining citizen science platform to include enhanced QA validation.
Nascent Semiconductor: Enhanced Performance Satellite Electronics – £30,000 Novel scalable semiconductor fabrication process for satellites.
ViperRF: Ka-Band Amplifier for EO Telemetry – £12,734 Developing production tooling techniques for a Ka-Band amplifier chip.
North West Space Cluster
SmartIR Ltd: VER : Enabling Next-Generation CubeSat Thermal Control – £26,400 Thermal control system for next-generation CubeSats.
ThinkITTech: AM Powder Optimiser AI – £18,000 AI-driven optimisation for 3D printing metal powder for the space sector.
Cerberus Nuclear: Materials in Orbital Radiation Environments Database (MORED) – £14,220 Database tool for radiation-resistant space system design. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
02 Dec 25. Russia’s Space and Satellite Sector Under Strain. Russia’s space and satellite market is currently operating under intense strain, simultaneously prioritizing high-demand military launches while struggling to address significant infrastructure damage, supply chain disruptions, and tightening global export controls. This complex environment is fundamentally reshaping market risk for all operators and suppliers involved.
Looking across the past four weeks, the activities within Russia’s space sector reflect two concurrent races:
1. Meeting Military Demand: Maintaining a rigorous schedule of high-priority military and classified launches.
2. Patching Exposures: Urgent efforts to repair damaged launch infrastructure, stabilize vulnerable supply chains, and navigate increasingly complex international regulatory environments.
For commercial operators and suppliers, this volatile setting elevates systemic risk. However, it also creates specific strategic openings for companies specializing in:
• Sovereign Components: Providers capable of delivering domestically sourced or hard-to-substitute spacecraft and satellite components.
• Secure Ground Support: Solutions ensuring the security and resilience of critical ground infrastructure.
• Essential Services: Companies offering niche, difficult-to-replace services vital for the continuity of Russian space operations.
A number of elements have come into play to exacerbate the Russian Satellite dilemma, including damage to the Baikonur launch site following the Soyuz MS-28 mission launched successfully on Nov 27.
The recent damage at Baikonur’s Site 31/6, Russia’s sole operational crew-rated launch complex, has generated an immediate near-term capability gap for crewed missions. This incident significantly elevates scheduling uncertainty, operational risk, and insurance liability for all involved stakeholders.
The failure underscores critical systemic vulnerabilities: ageing infrastructure, minimal launch redundancy, and a growing disconnect between Roscosmos’ strategic objectives and its existing resource and capital constraints.
Financial and Commercial Impact
• Increased Risk Premiums: International partners, space insurers, and commercial launch customers are likely to face escalated risk premia on future mission contracts, reflecting the increased operational and political risk profile.
• Vostochny Acceleration: A prolonged outage at Baikonur may compel the Russian Federation to immediately accelerate development and activation of alternative launch infrastructure at Vostochny Cosmodrome, a move demanding considerable capital investment and a significant lead time. (Source: Satnews)
01 Dec 25. Blue Origin Announces New Glenn “Block 2” Upgrades. Blue Origin has publicized their plans for a substantial “Block 2” variant. This action signals the company’s intent to rapidly increase payload performance in order to seize a larger share of the burgeoning launch market and to better compete in the highly contested Kuiper and National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 bids. The rapid iteration to a more capable “Block 2” addresses competitive pressures within the super heavy-lift sector, positioning New Glenn to rival the evolving mass-to-orbit economics presented by its competitors.
Enhanced Propulsion Systems Drive Performance Gains
Primary enhancements across the New Glenn platform include higher-performing engines on both stages. The total thrust for the seven BE-4 booster engines is increasing significantly from 3.9 m lbf (17,219 kN) to 4.5 m lbf (19,928 kN) (Following the first “lbf” I would indicate that the abbreviation stands for “pound force” – also, for “kN” note that is “Kilonewton”). This is achieved through advanced propellant subcooling and design refinements. The BE-4 engine has already demonstrated 625,000 lbf on the test stand at current propellant conditions and is slated to achieve 640,000 lbf later this year, a notable increase from the current operational thrust of 550,000 lbf.
The total thrust of the two BE-3Us powering New Glenn’s upper stage will also increase from the original design of 320,000 lbf (1,423 kN) to 400,000 lbf (1,779 kN) thrust, a transition planned over the next few missions. The BE-3U has already demonstrated 211,658 lbf on the test stand during validation testing.
Concurrent Upgrades and Operational Efficiencies
These propulsion enhancements will immediately benefit customers already manifested on New Glenn for a variety of destinations, including low-Earth orbit, lunar missions, and deep space exploration.
Additional vehicle upgrades focus on reusability and cost efficiency:
• A reusable fairing designed to support increased flight rates and lower turnaround times.
• An updated, lower-cost tank design methodology.
• A higher-performing, reusable thermal protection system.
New Glenn 9×4: The Super-Heavy Class Variant
The next chapter in New Glenn’s roadmap is the introduction of a new super-heavy class rocket variant, internally named New Glenn 9×4—named for the number of engines on each stage (nine BE-4s on the booster, four BE-3Us on the upper stage).
This 9×4 configuration is specifically designed for a subset of missions requiring substantial additional capacity and performance. The vehicle targets a payload capacity of over 70 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, over 14 metric tons direct to geosynchronous orbit, and over 20 metric tons to trans-lunar injection. Furthermore, the 9×4 vehicle will feature a significantly larger 8.7-meter fairing to accommodate bulkier payloads.
Both the enhanced current variant (7×2) and the new 9×4 super-heavy vehicle will serve the market concurrently, providing customers with more flexible launch options for critical missions such as mega-constellation deployments, lunar and deep space exploration initiatives, and national security imperatives like the Golden Dome program. (Source: Satnews)
02 Dec 25. Arianespace launches KOMPSAT-7 satellite. On December 1st, 2025, Arianespace launched the KOMPSAT-7 (KOrea Multi-Purpose SATellite-7) satellite. The mission—VV28—used an Arianespace operated Vega C rocket, launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
KOMPSAT-7 was placed in Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) at an altitude of 576 km., with spacecraft separation occurring 44 minutes post lift-off.
KOMPSAT-7’s mission is to provide high-resolution satellite images to address South-Korea’s governmental and institutional needs. The satellite was developed by KARI at its facility in Daejeon, South Korea.
David Cavaillolès, Chief Executive Officer of Arianespace, said, “By launching the KOMPSAT-7 satellite, set to significantly enhance South Korea’s Earth observation capabilities, Arianespace is proud to support an ambitious national space program. This mission marks the fourth satellite Arianespace has launched for the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. We thank our South Korean partners for their continued trust and look forward to further strengthening our collaboration. (Source: Satnews)
02 Dec 25. BAE Systems, GlobalFoundries Partner in Chip Manufacturing for Space. BAE Systems and GlobalFoundries (GF) have formally entered a strategic partnership aimed at significantly advancing and streamlining the supply chain for high-reliability, radiation-hardened (rad-hard) microelectronics essential for next-generation space missions. This collaboration directly addresses the pressing industry need for more rapid access to cutting-edge, resilient chip technology.
The partnership leverages GlobalFoundries’ state-of-the-art U.S.-based manufacturing capabilities—specifically its specialized 300mm wafer fabrication processes—and BAE Systems’ decades of expertise in designing and producing certified rad-hard components for mission-critical satellite and deep-space applications.
Addressing the Capability Gap
Traditionally, the space microelectronics sector has lagged commercially available technology due to the stringent requirements for surviving the harsh radiation environment of orbit. This new agreement seeks to bridge that gap by applying advanced commercial manufacturing techniques to produce trusted components capable of withstanding extreme conditions, including exposure to high-energy particles and cosmic rays.
By utilizing GF’s existing, high-volume fabrication lines, the companies expect to achieve greater manufacturing efficiency and higher yield rates compared to existing, more specialized facilities. This is crucial for increasing the supply velocity and affordability of devices like Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), memory, and specialized ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) vital for on-board data processing, command and control, and satellite communication systems.
Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience
A key focus of this collaboration is reinforcing the domestic supply chain for space-grade electronics. Manufacturing these critical components within secure, trusted U.S. facilities mitigates geopolitical risk and ensures compliance with strict defense and national security requirements. This partnership directly supports government and commercial space programs that demand assured access to high-performance, rad-hard components for platforms ranging from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations to complex national security satellites.
This joint effort is expected to accelerate the insertion of new technologies into spacecraft architectures, reducing the time-to-market for advanced processing capabilities. This improved capability will, in turn, enable satellites to perform more sophisticated tasks, process data faster on-orbit, and enhance communication throughput—all critical factors in the rapidly expanding space economy.
The BAE Systems and GlobalFoundries alliance represents a significant step forward in transforming how the industry sources and utilizes advanced, high-reliability microelectronics for the enduring demands of the space domain. (Source: Satnews)
01 Dec 25. Congress desires LEO, but threats are real. Just before the holiday the U.S. Congressional Research Service (a non-partisan research operation) released a study which addressed the potential to bridge the ‘digital divide’. There are filings with the International Telecommunication Union for some 1 m proposed non-Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO) satellites. This means multiple headaches for the regulators and existing operators.
Most recent work in the U.S. and in other developed countries have concentrated their efforts by boosting terrestrial connectivity with fibre — increasingly to the home — and ensuring that if ‘hard-wired’ telcos cannot reach the home then cellular operators can bridge the gap.
But if there’s no cellular then remote communities and business and individual users can only depend on satellite, and in the recent past there have been a handful of perfectly satisfactory suppliers in the shape of ViaSat, Iridium, Intelsat/SES, EchoStar/Hughes, Iridium and Globalstar/Apple to step into the void, albeit at a price!
Now there’s Starlink and Eutelsat’s OneWeb, and during 2026 there will be rival satellite systems from AST SpaceMobile and Amazon Leo as well as the likes of Lynk Global and by 2027 Canada’s Lightspeed to provide competition and connectivity. Then there’s potential constellations from Viasat/Space42 and Greg Wyler’s E-Space as well as those from China and Russia. But adding tens of thousands of new orbiting satellites poses extreme risks, says a new highly detailed and comprehensive 160-page report from investment firm Summit Ridge Group (SRG).(Source: Satnews)
05 Dec 25. ICEYE, the world leader in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite systems has secured new financing, led by General Catalyst with broad pan-European participation. The funding will be used to accelerate the company’s delivery of sovereign satellite systems and data intelligence services.
Rafal Modrzewski, Co-Founder & CEO of ICEYE, said: “ICEYE’s SAR technology has become a core strategic and tactical tool for governments and institutions worldwide. Our team has a strong track record of turning advanced SAR technology into concrete results for customers who need answers in minutes, not days. This funding enables us to deepen that commitment by investing in the expansion of our world-leading SAR constellation, next-generation sensing capabilities, and data intelligence services that help governments and organizations manage risk and respond faster. For European nations and allies, that means greater control over their own space-based intelligence – and a partner capable of delivering at industrial scale.”
Jeannette zu Fürstenberg, Managing Director and Head of Europe at General Catalyst, said: “Europe’s security starts with sovereign space capability. ICEYE enables that, with the world’s largest SAR constellation, software-defined satellites, and fully sovereign missions that put independent visibility back in Europe’s hands. Ministries and intelligence agencies can secure borders via on-demand imagery, while nations seeking full control can deploy their own turnkey satellite missions. That’s why we see ICEYE as a rising global space prime.”
ICEYE has secured EUR 150 m in new funding, as well as a EUR 50 m secondary placement, valuing the company at EUR 2.4 bn (USD 2.8 bn). The Series E round was led by General Catalyst, with strong pan-European participation, including A.P. Moller Holding in Denmark, Bpifrance in France, Vinci (BGK Group) and RiO Family Office from Poland, as well as Finnish investors Solidium, Ilmarinen, European Tech Collective, Keva, Lifeline Ventures, Tesi, Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company, and Peter Sarlin.
The new capital builds on ICEYE’s strong momentum, powering the continued growth of its SAR constellation and the accelerated deployment of sovereign satellite systems, advanced sensing capabilities, and data intelligence services.
Sovereign space capability at unprecedented speed and scale
With the world’s largest synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation, ICEYE delivers objective, near real-time insights to detect, understand, and respond to change on Earth — day or night, in any weather. SAR uses radar pulses that pierce clouds, smoke, and darkness, providing a continuous view of the Earth that supports rapid response for defense and intelligence, security, disaster response and recovery, insurance, maritime monitoring, and finance.
ICEYE is accelerating the shift to software-defined satellites with its fourth-generation platform, which delivers the world’s highest-fidelity commercial SAR imagery of up to 16 cm resolution. The ICEYE platform is engineered so new capabilities can be deployed via software updates from the ground rather than hardware refresh cycles.
ICEYE has a proven track record in building sovereign systems for Europe and its allies, and has signed agreements with the Polish Armed Forces, Portuguese Air Force, Royal Netherlands Air Force, Greek National Space Program, and Finnish Defence Forces, alongside a separate SAR data agreement with NATO Allied Command Operations.
With 62 satellites successfully launched to date, the company plans to scale up to an average production rate of one satellite per week starting next year, deploying sovereign space capability for allied nations at unprecedented speed and scale.
About ICEYE
ICEYE delivers unparalleled persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth, faster and more accurately than ever before.
Owning the world’s largest synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation, ICEYE provides objective, near real-time insights, ensuring that customers have unmatched access to actionable data, day or night, even in challenging environmental conditions. As a trusted partner to governments and commercial industries, ICEYE delivers intelligence in sectors such as defense and intelligence, insurance, natural catastrophe response and recovery, security, maritime monitoring, and finance, enabling decision-making that contributes to community resilience and sustainable development.
ICEYE operates internationally with offices in Finland, Poland, Spain, the UK, Australia, Japan, UAE, Greece, and the US. We have more than 900 employees, inspired by the shared vision of improving life on Earth by becoming the global source of truth in Earth Observation. (Source: PR Newswire)
————————————————————————
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
————————————————————————