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SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

HPS GmbH selected to supply communications antenna for OHB Italia’s Apophis-bound “Ramses” smallsat

OHB Italia has signed a contract with antenna specialist HPS GmbH, appointing HPS to procure the communications antenna for the Apophis-bound “Ramses” spacecraft. The agreement was formalized at SmallSat Europe 2026, with procurement responsibilities assigned to HPS GmbH.

2026-05-27T01:11:07.974515-07:00

Bloomberg

NASA awards lunar transport and surface robotics contracts to Blue Origin and other firms as it formalizes a moon-base buildout

2026-05-26T12:54:36.648420-07:00

Reuters

Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29B for Space Data Network Backbone LEO communications

2026-05-26T14:43:28.561315-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Open Cosmos targets a 2028 Europe broadband/IoT constellation after €170M+ in prior contracts

2026-05-26T14:30:22.317607-07:00

News Timeline

SpaceWatch Global

HPS GmbH selected to supply communications antenna for OHB Italia’s Apophis-bound “Ramses” smallsat OHB Italia has signed a contract with antenna specialist HPS GmbH, appointing HPS to procure the communications antenna for the Apophis-bound “Ramses” spacecraft. The agreement was formalized at SmallSat Europe 2026, with procurement responsibilities assigned to HPS GmbH.

2026-05-27T01:11:07.974515-07:00

HPS GmbH selected to supply communications antenna for OHB Italia’s Apophis-bound “Ramses” smallsat

Reuters

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Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29B for Space Data Network Backbone LEO communications The U.S. Space Force has awarded SpaceX a $2.29 billion contract to develop the “Space Data Network Backbone,” a low Earth orbit satellite network intended to operate as a military internet in space. The backbone is positioned to support the broader Space Data Network, including SDA transport-layer satellites.

2026-05-26T14:43:28.561315-07:00

Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29B for Space Data Network Backbone LEO communications

SpaceNews.com

Open Cosmos targets a 2028 Europe broadband/IoT constellation after €170M+ in prior contracts Open Cosmos says it is building toward a 2028 deadline to field an ambitious Europe-focused broadband constellation designed to bring IoT to space. The UK-based company says it closed more than €170 million in contracts last year and is now positioning to deliver Europe’s sovereign telecom capability.

2026-05-26T14:30:22.317607-07:00

Open Cosmos targets a 2028 Europe broadband/IoT constellation after €170M+ in prior contracts

Bloomberg

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NASA awards lunar transport and surface robotics contracts to Blue Origin and other firms as it formalizes a moon-base buildout NASA has begun contracting for elements of its moon-base effort, including agreements for robotic landers, rovers and drones, plus delivery of crew-carrying rovers/“moon buggies” to support planned surface operations near the south pole. NASA also signaled that “perimeter” planning and operational safeguards are part of the program’s direction.

2026-05-26T12:54:36.648420-07:00

NASA awards lunar transport and surface robotics contracts to Blue Origin and other firms as it formalizes a moon-base buildout

Payload

Op-ed: LEO in-space manufacturing lacks self-sustaining commercial demand—policy support is the bridge An op-ed argues that low Earth orbit (LEO) remains a compelling market for in-space manufacturing, but current commercial demand is insufficient to support durable, market-led operations. It contends government support is required to close the gap until scalable revenue models emerge.

2026-05-26T10:51:23.043170-07:00

Op-ed: LEO in-space manufacturing lacks self-sustaining commercial demand—policy support is the bridge

SpaceNews.com

Starcloud orders SpaceX Starlink optical terminals to power orbital data centers Starcloud has ordered optical terminals from SpaceX to route data for its planned orbital data center network using Starlink as a global data-relay layer. The move deepens Starcloud’s dependence on SpaceX for the communications backbone needed to scale future full-size spacecraft and on-orbit compute.

2026-05-26T10:21:33.738307-07:00

Starcloud orders SpaceX Starlink optical terminals to power orbital data centers

SpaceNews.com

SmallSat Europe: Defense-budget momentum won’t fix Europe’s smallsat bottlenecks without cutting red tape and unlocking capital Panelists at SmallSat Europe said rising European military budgets could create demand for space capabilities from entrepreneurial smallsat firms, but regulatory burdens and limited access to capital remain major blockers. The sector’s growth depends on clearing bureaucratic roadblocks to convert spending into investable, scalable programs.

2026-05-26T10:05:53.544149-07:00

SmallSat Europe: Defense-budget momentum won’t fix Europe’s smallsat bottlenecks without cutting red tape and unlocking capital

Payload

SEOPS to begin “Waymaker” LEO rideshares in 2028 for time-sensitive and non-standard payloads SEOPS says it will launch its Waymaker low Earth orbit rideshare service in 2028, targeting payloads that can’t be accommodated on existing rideshare options and missions requiring assured launch integration for time-critical demand.

2026-05-26T05:18:32.488129-07:00

SEOPS to begin “Waymaker” LEO rideshares in 2028 for time-sensitive and non-standard payloads

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Commercial Space News

HPS GmbH selected to supply communications antenna for OHB Italia’s Apophis-bound “Ramses” smallsat

NASA awards lunar transport and surface robotics contracts to Blue Origin and other firms as it formalizes a moon-base buildout

Space Force awards SpaceX $2.29B for Space Data Network Backbone LEO communications

Open Cosmos targets a 2028 Europe broadband/IoT constellation after €170M+ in prior contracts

News Timeline