Space Sovereignty: European & Canadian Funding, US Satellite Deorbit, and Lunar Missions

European Sovereign Capabilities

• 🇪🇺 SWISSto12 secured €73 million from ESA member states for the HummingSat project, aiming to meet demand for commercial and sovereign communications.
• 💡 This funding will accelerate HummingSat development, scale manufacturing, and drive innovation in phased array antenna technologies for various orbits.
• 🚀 The HummingSat platform, a partnership with ESA, is smaller, more cost-efficient than legacy satellites, with a first launch planned for 2027.

Canadian Space Launch Initiative

• 🇨🇦 Canada Rocket Company (CRC) emerged from stealth with $6.2 million CAD in seed funding from Canadian investors.
• 🎯 CRC aims to provide sovereign medium-lift space launch capabilities, positioning itself as an alternative to existing providers.
• 🛠️ The company plans to initially design a light-lift vehicle and build a foundation for a medium-lift vehicle, creating aerospace jobs in Canada.

US Space Force Satellite Services

• 🇺🇸 Starfish Space was awarded a $52.5 million contract by the US Space Force's Space Development Agency (SDA).
• 🛰️ The contract is for Deorbit-as-a-Service for satellites within the proliferated warfighter space architecture, marking the first dedicated end-of-life disposal mission for a LEO constellation.
• ⚙️ Starfish Space will build, launch, and operate an Otter spacecraft to safely dispose of SDA satellites, with a targeted launch in 2027.

NASA's Lunar Exploration

• 🌕 NASA has selected three new science investigations for its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative and Artemis campaign.
• 🔬 These payloads, set for lunar delivery no earlier than 2028, include instruments for 3D thermal modeling (Amelia 3D), subsurface heat flow measurement (LISTER), and radiation environment study (SELEN).
• 🌌 The selected investigations aim to strengthen humanity's understanding and exploration of the Moon's terrain, interior, and radiation environment.

Space Debris and Space Weather

• 🧹 Orion Space Solutions received a follow-on subcontract for phase two of the IARPA Space Debris identification and tracking program (CIRA).
• ⚡ A recent severe solar flare resulted in significant auroral displays, highlighting the ongoing study of space weather events and their potential impact on satellites.
• 🧑‍🚀 Legendary astronaut Sunny Williams announced her retirement after a 27-year career at NASA, logging 608 days in space and completing nine spacewalks.