Via Satellite
• Rachel Jewett
OHB secured a contract worth more than $1 billion to build the MEO satellites for Europe’s IRIS² constellation, while Thales Alenia Space, Space Inventor and NorthStar won roles in Earth-observation, thermal-intelligence and uncontrolled-reentry tracking initiatives involving Italy and the European Space Agency.
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OHB secured a contract worth more than $1 billion to build the MEO satellites for Europe’s IRIS² constellation, while Thales Alenia Space, Space Inventor and NorthStar won roles in Earth-observation, thermal-intelligence and uncontrolled-reentry tracking initiatives involving Italy and the European Space Agency.
Japan’s Astroscale is maintaining an investment strategy focused on securing an early lead in satellite debris removal, rendezvous and proximity operations, and other in-orbit services. The approach may come at the expense of profitability over the next one to two years as the company builds positions in emerging markets.
Japan’s Astroscale is maintaining an investment-heavy strategy in satellite debris removal, rendezvous and proximity operations, accepting that it may forgo profitability over the next one to two years. The company is pursuing first-mover advantage as commercial demand for in-orbit servicing and space sustainability develops.
Kepler Communications will combine its optical data relay infrastructure with NorthStar’s space domain awareness services under a strategic partnership. The agreement also includes a hosted payload arrangement, linking high-speed space-based communications infrastructure with capabilities for monitoring and characterizing objects in orbit.
The Commerce Department’s civil space traffic coordination system, TraCSS, has expanded its user base for service testing but remains in a pilot phase. The department has not established a firm date for transitioning the system into full operational service.
NorthStar Earth & Space plans to place 11 optical space-domain-awareness sensors on Kepler Communications data-relay satellites in 2028, shifting its orbital-tracking architecture after the failure of its first four spacecraft. The deployment would expand NorthStar’s planned ability to monitor objects in orbit without relying solely on dedicated tracking satellites.
The Office of Space Commerce’s TraCSS system has onboarded more than 70 satellite owners and operators across more than 10 nations, but remains in pilot mode because of budget uncertainty. The status underscores the gap between growing demand for space traffic coordination and operationalizing the U.S. system.
Spire Global will develop and flight-qualify a satellite carrying a hyperspectral microwave sounder under a two-year, $28 million NOAA contract, targeting operational capability by 2030. Separately, LeoLabs won a $20.7 million Space Force contract to modify and demonstrate its transportable Scout radar for a defense mission.
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