Satellite And Space Projects News - August 2015

European Government satellite communications

The European Defence Agency (EDA) announced on 26 June 2015 the launch of a €1m, 18 month feasibility study for a future cooperative government satellite communications (Govsatcom) programme. Satellite communications play a vital role in areas such as defence, security, humanitarian aid, emergency response, diplomatic communications as well as civil and military operations in remote areas. The feasibility study is aligned with the ongoing work of European Commission and Council for the development of next generation Govsatcoms capabilities across Europe.

Series B funding for Spire

Satellite-powered data company Spire announced on 30 June 2015 that it has raised US$40m. The Series B funding (from Promus Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Jump Capital, RRE Ventures and Lemnos Labs) will support Spire's rapid growth plans which, if all goes to plan, will see the business having a constellation of 100 satellites in orbit within 18 months, collating weather and maritime data.

Nigeria SAR 1

UK-based Menasat Gulf Group Plc announced (26 June 2015) that it has entered into a US$250m joint venture with Nigeria's National Space Research and Development Agency to develop a high resolution Earth Observation Synethetic-Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite - Nigeria SAR 1. The venture aims to build and launch the satellite by 2020 and is expected to generate revenues from sales of satellite imagery and value added services to government and institutional clients in Nigeria.

UK satellites launched from India

Three Earth Observation Satellites from Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) along with SSTL's CBNT-1 platform and a CubeSat developed by Surrey Space Centre were all launched aboard a PSLV-XL launch vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota launch site in India. The Earth Observation Satellites will form SSTL's DMC3 TripleSat Constellation and will provide imaging services to Beijing company, The Twenty First Century Aerospace Technology Company Ltd.

SpaceX Falcon 9

Elon Musk confirmed on 20 July 2015 that the failure of its Falcon 9 rocket launch on 28 June was most likely caused by the breaking of a strut in the second stage liquid oxygen tank. The strut was used to secure a high pressure helium bottle and the investigation is focusing on the theory that when the strut broke, it caused helium to be released into the oxygen tank causing an overpressure event.

Virgin Galactic launch date

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