Satellite News
ESA reveals Euclid’s first five images
The European Space Agency (ESA) has released the first full-color images from Euclid, the agency’s latest space telescope designed to study the nature and distribution of dark matter and dark energy in the universe. During a video broadcast on Nov. 7, scientists, engineers, and agency officials unveiled the telescope’s first five images.
SpaceX Launches Planet Lab’s Pelican-1 and SuperDoves
In a significant advancement for Earth observation technology, Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL) achieved a major milestone with the successful launch and commissioning of Pelican-1, a research and development (R and D) satellite, is central to Planet’s ambitious project to upgrade its current high-resolution satellite fleet, the SkySats.
DoD signs $270 million agreement to acquire SES satellite communications services
The five-year agreement is for medium Earth orbit O3b satcom services
SES, headquartered in Luxembourg, provides services to the U.S. government via its subsidiary SES Space & Defense, based in Reston, Virginia.
Launcher News
SpaceX hopes for second Starship flight test next week
SpaceX is hoping to re-launch Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, after an attempt in April ended in a spectacular explosion. “Starship preparing to launch as early as November 17, pending final regulatory approval,” SpaceX said on X Friday evening.
U.S. Air Force X-37B spaceplane to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket
EU finalizing contract with SpaceX for Galileo launches
Rocket Lab to launch hypersonic test vehicle for the Defense Innovation Unit
Exploration News
Airbus and Voyager sign agreement with ESA on Starlab commercial space station
Voyager Space and Airbus Defence and Space have created a joint venture that will handle development and operations of the Starlab commercial space station.
NewSpace News
D-Orbit Welcomes Marubeni Corporation as Lead Investor in Series C Funding
Marubeni Corporation has taken the lead in D-Orbit’s Series C funding round, which is expected to surpass 100 million euros and includes a diverse group of Italian, European, and international investors. This funding is poised to bolster D-Orbit’s operations within Italy and expedite their global growth plan, focusing on in-orbit servicing, space cloud computing, and orbital transportation.
Terran Orbital awarded an Engineering Change Proposal contract by Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin has awarded Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP) an Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) to host additional payloads. The contract modification adds $7.7 million to an existing satellite design and manufacturing program. This addition was awarded following a successful Critical Design Review (CDR) earlier this year
Space Safety News
World-first Zero Debris Charter goes live
From designing and building new missions to flying and responsibly disposing of them, ESA’s Zero Debris approach is seeing a bold new standard that will apply to all ESA missions and partnerships from 2030, with continual advancements and improvements in the years before.
