Apple executive Doug Beck tapped to lead the Defense Innovation Unit
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-04 20:24
Doug Beck is the next director of the Defense Innovation Unit. DIU was established in 2015 to tap technologies from the commercial market for military applications. Beck is currently vice president of Apple, Inc., and has been with the company since 2009. He replaces Michael Brown, who left DIU in September 2022.
Apex to launch first satellite in 2024
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-04 14:10
Apex announced April 4 that its first Aries satellite will fly on SpaceX’s Transporter-10 mission. The satellite mission, dubbed “Call to Adventure” by the company, will carry multiple payloads. The mission is principally a technology demonstration for Apex.
Arabsat blames thruster issue for temporary satellite outage
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-04 14:00
A thruster issue was behind a temporary outage of Arabsat’s Badr-6 broadcast satellite. The satellite’s payload was shut off for “a few hours” Feb. 6. Badr-6 has since returned to service and is “healthy’
Virgin Orbit files for bankruptcy
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-04 12:02
Virgin Orbit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy April 4. The company had been in danger of running out of cash for months. The company reported in its bankruptcy filing $243 million in total assets and $153.5 million in debts. Its largest creditors include several who have paid customer deposits.
Arianespace to launch ESA’s JUICE mission to Jupiter via an Ariane 5 – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-04 00:00
JUICE will be Europe’s first mission to Jupiter. Probe will spend at least three years making detailed observations of its icy moons: Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. JUICE, is the first ‘large-class’ mission of the Cosmic Vision science program.
Lockheed Martin selected as the preferred bidder for the Australian Defense Satellite Comms System – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-04 00:00
Lockheed Martin has been selected by the Commonwealth of Australia as the preferred bidder for Project JP9102. The multi-billion dollar JP9102 project will provide the Australian Defence Force with a sovereign, military satellite communications system. Lockheed Martin will leverage its deep experience in space-based mission solutions and networks for its JP9102 offer.
ClearSpace and LeoLabs’ MOU to advance a safer, more sustainable space environment – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-05 00:00
ClearSpace and LeoLabs announce a strategic partnership. The two companies share a vision of a safe and sustainable space ecosystem. Both companies are finding commercial success within government and industrial markets. ClearSpace received a demo contract from the UK Space Agency. LeoLabs received a contract to help support the development of a U.S., civil-led STM prototype.
Arianegroup’s new CEO comes from Safran Electronics & Defense – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-04 00:00
Martin Sion has over twenty years of experience in the Space industry. He was previously CEO of Safran Electronics & Defense and has been a member of the ArianeGroup Board of Directors since April 2020. Eric Dalbiès, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ArianeGroup said, “I welcome this appointment of Martin Sion whose background makes him very well placed to succeed André-Hubert Roussel as CEO of ArianeGroup”
Major space companies call on governments to adopt ‘highway code’ to combat space junk – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-04 00:00
Inmarsat is one of 27 signatories to The Space Safety Coalition. The coalition has published new guidelines for organizations working in space. Inmarsat’s Space Sustainability Report, published in 2022, called on the industry, governments and regulators to strengthen regulation in the space sector.
Ovzon expands their Nigma Conseil offering – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-04 00:00
Ovzon has expanded their On-the-Move (OTM) SATCOM-as-a-Service offering with partner Nigma Conseil through an initial order at a value of $0.6 million. The order includes terminals and dedicated solutions development and support.
Using JWST, scientists observe silicate clouds and measure the temperature of exoplanets
Original Publication Date: 2023-04-03 19:00
Two teams of scientists have made groundbreaking, first-of-their-kind discoveries on two exoplanets. One team utilized the immense power of Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) and Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) instruments to observe and characterize clouds and molecules in the atmosphere of an exoplanet located 40 light-years away. The second team of scientists also utilized MIRI to measure the temperature of a rocky exoplanet in the TRAPPIST-1 star system.