All posts tagged: Space Technology

Borealis launched to shield UK satellites from orbital threats

Borealis launched to shield UK satellites from orbital threats

Published by Miika Tikkanen

Britain has activated a new space monitoring and defence platform designed to strengthen protection for UK satellites and the services they support. The software, called Borealis, became operational six months earlier than planned and is now being used by the National Space Operations Centre to track potential threats in orbit. The system is designed to detect and analyse space debris, hostile satellites and other objects that could disrupt critical UK satellite infrastructure. Borealis will improve military decision-making by delivering faster, more accurate intelligence on space activity, helping safeguard communications, navigation systems, and national security operations. The launch comes alongside the release of the first images captured by Britain’s Noctis-1 military telescope, previously known as Nyx-Alpha. The telescope monitors objects orbiting Earth, including UK satellites, and feeds real-time tracking data into the Borealis platform to help prevent collisions and identify emerging threats. Commenting on the innovation, UK Space Minister Liz Lloyd MP said: “Borealis represents a significant step forward in the UK’s ability to monitor, protect and defend the critical space capabilities. “This joint investment by …

ESA expands Scout missions programme with two EO satellites

ESA expands Scout missions programme with two EO satellites

Published by Miika Tikkanen

The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected two new Earth observation Scout missions, Hibidis and SOVA-S, to join its growing fleet of low-cost science satellites. The missions were approved by ESA’s Earth Observation Programme Board after a 10-month evaluation process and will focus on biodiversity monitoring and atmospheric research. Hibidis will study ecosystems hidden beneath forest canopies using hyperspectral imaging technology, while SOVA-S will investigate gravity waves in the upper atmosphere. Together, the missions strengthen ESA’s strategy of using agile satellite programmes to address climate, environmental and Earth-system science challenges. The result is another expansion of ESA’s fast-moving Scout missions programme, which is designed to deliver scientific data more quickly and at lower cost than traditional large-scale satellite projects. The two satellites now join existing Scout missions, including HydroGNSS, NanoMagSat, and Tango. Commenting on the new missions, Director of ESA’s Earth Observation Programmes, Simonetta Cheli, said: “The ESA Scout missions show that achieving groundbreaking Earth science doesn’t always require large budgets and long development times. “By moving fast, embracing innovation and empowering emerging ideas, these …

Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite now fully operational

Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite now fully operational

Published by Miika Tikkanen

Launched last November, the Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite has completed the critical in-orbit commissioning phase and marks a milestone in Europe’s flagship radar mission. The first generation satellite of the Copernicus programme, Sentinel-1A was launched in 2014. The Sentinel-1 mission aimed to provide consistent, high-quality Earth Observation data for the Copernicus Services, helping inform analysis of meteorological events, natural disasters and climate change. The programme consists of two identical satellites orbiting our planet with 180 degrees of separation to optimise coverage. Sentinel-1B was launched in 2016 to pair with Sentinel-1A, but was its mission was ended prematurely by a technical anomaly in 2022. Sentinel-1C was launched in 2024 to fulfil the constellation, with Sentinel-1D launched as an additional satellite in late 2025. Day and night radar coverage of the Earth’s surface The mission delivers critical data for scientists, emergency responders and policymakers through high-resolution synthetic aperture radar imaging. Upon completion, the satellites will have provided twenty years of continuous observations, in all weathers and day and night, offering an unparalleled retrospective in a time of rapid …

ESA advances HydRON optical communications project

ESA advances HydRON optical communications project

Published by Miika Tikkanen

Efforts to transform how data moves between Earth and orbit are gaining momentum, as the European Space Agency (ESA) advances its HydRON programme. The initiative, short for High thRoughput Optical Network, is designed to bring fibre-like connectivity into space, using laser-based optical communications to deliver data faster and more securely than traditional systems. At the recent Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Canadian satellite operator Kepler secured a key contract to lead the programme’s next phase. The agreement marks a significant step toward building a multi-layered orbital network capable of near real-time data transfer. Extending internet infrastructure beyond Earth HydRON’s central aim is straightforward but technically ambitious: replicate the speed and reliability of terrestrial fibre networks in space. Instead of relying on radio frequency links, which are constrained by bandwidth and increasingly crowded, the system uses laser links to move large volumes of data between satellites and ground stations. This shift to optical communications enables faster throughput, lower latency and improved security. Laser-based systems are less prone to interference and can handle significantly higher data rates, …

The science of getting there

The science of getting there

Published by Miika Tikkanen

The idea of sending humans to Mars is often framed as a question of ambition or funding. In reality, future missions to Mars are a logistics problem shaped by physics. Distance, energy, time and mass define what is possible long before politics or budgets enter the equation. Mars sits, on average, about 225 million kilometres from Earth. That number alone doesn’t explain the difficulty. What matters is how you move people and equipment across that distance, how long it takes, and how much you have to carry to survive the journey. At the centre of it all is propulsion. Not just how you leave Earth, but how you travel through space, slow down at the other end, and potentially make the return journey. Every decision about a Mars mission – crew size, safety margins, cost – flows from that constraint. The six-month problem Using current technology, a journey to Mars typically takes between six and nine months. Orbital mechanics and the limits of chemical propulsion dictate that timeline. This duration creates a cascade of challenges. …

How plasma propulsion facilitates science and exploration at NASA

How plasma propulsion facilitates science and exploration at NASA

Published by Miika Tikkanen

The Innovation Platform Editor Georgie Purcell spoke with NASA’s John W Dankanich to find out how the space agency is using plasma propulsion to improve its missions. Plasma propulsion is an advanced form of electric space propulsion that uses electric and magnetic fields to ionise a propellant into plasma – a charged gas of electrons and ions – which is then accelerated to extremely high velocities, far exceeding chemical rockets. This solution offers a range of benefits for space missions, including increased efficiency and reduced costs. NASA has utilised plasma technologies for a variety of activities and missions in its history and is continuing to do so in an effort to optimise efficiency, cost effectiveness, and capability. To learn more about the role of plasma propulsion within NASA’s work, Georgie Purcell spoke with John W Dankanich, In-Space Transportation Systems Capability Lead at NASA. Can you identify some of the key uses of plasma propulsion within NASA’s missions? Plasma propulsion, or what we generally refer to as ‘electric propulsion’ (EP), encompasses a diverse set of propulsion …

UK allocates £30M to strengthen satellite communications sector

UK allocates £30M to strengthen satellite communications sector

Published by Miika Tikkanen

New funding aims to help domestic companies compete in the rapidly expanding global satellite network market. The UK Government has announced £30m fiscal backing to accelerate the development of satellite communications technology, part of a broader strategy to strengthen the country’s role in the global space economy. The investment, confirmed by Space Minister Liz Lloyd, will support British companies developing critical components for modern satellite networks operating in low Earth orbit (LEO). The funding comes through the UK Space Agency’s Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme and is designed to help technologies move from laboratory testing into operational missions. Government officials say the initiative is intended to position the UK to capture a larger share of a global satellite communications market estimated to be worth about £40bn and expanding by more than 10% annually. Minister Lloyd explained: “Space is now the cornerstone of our modern economy. Satellite constellations have revolutionised how we operate, digitalising industries, optimising logistics and connecting all corners of the globe. “This new funding will support the development of smarter satellites …

How RSS-Hydro is anchoring Luxembourg space ambitions

How RSS-Hydro is anchoring Luxembourg space ambitions

Published by Miika Tikkanen

RSS-Hydro is advancing Luxembourg space ambitions through innovative satellite Earth observation. In the heart of Europe, a landlocked nation is making waves across the orbital frontier. Luxembourg, long known as a global financial hub, has successfully pivoted its gaze upward, transforming into a “New Space” powerhouse. At the centre of this transformation is the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA), which has spent the last decade cultivating an ecosystem where commercial ambition meets planetary stewardship. Among the vanguard of this movement is RSS-Hydro, an R&D-heavy powerhouse that has become a symbol of how satellite Earth observation (EO) can be more than just “eyes in the sky”— it is becoming the backbone of global climate resilience. A Digital Twin for cities on a changing planet Luxembourg’s commitment to space isn’t just about exploration; it’s about application. The largest single catastrophic flood event in the Grand Duchy took place in July 2021 and caused over $150 million in damage. This served as a stark reminder of the need for better predictive, adaptive technology that can be used to mitigate, …

Bavaria invests €78m in new hub for human spaceflight

Bavaria invests €78m in new hub for human spaceflight

Published by Miika Tikkanen

Germany is laying the groundwork for the next chapter of human spaceflight with a major investment in a new mission control facility near Munich. The Human Exploration Control Center (HECC) will be built at the German Aerospace Center site in Oberpfaffenhofen, expanding Europe’s capabilities for crewed and robotic missions to the Moon and, eventually, Mars. Backed by €58m from the Free State of Bavaria and an additional €20m from Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) institutional funding, the project signals a long-term commitment to strengthening Europe’s independent role in space exploration. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028, with operations expected to start by 2030. Commenting on the landmark facility, Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder, commented: “Bavaria’s gateway to the stars is on its way. The Free State, DLR and ESA form a strong alliance. With innovation and pioneering spirit, we promote research, freedom and the future. “Bavaria is investing €58m in a new building, as well as €5m in the development of an orbital gateway and an AI project to support astronauts. The Moon …

Advanced materials made in space could benefit UK industries

Advanced materials made in space could benefit UK industries

Published by Miika Tikkanen

Life-saving medicines, optical fibres and semiconductors are among the advanced materials that could be manufactured in space to benefit people and businesses across the UK. The UK Space Agency has awarded contracts to three UK companies to investigate producing these advanced materials in Low Earth Orbit, where the conditions – including microgravity, natural vacuum, and extreme temperatures – can create products that are difficult, expensive, or impossible to manufacture on Earth. The research supports in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM), which the government identifies as a priority capability area for UK leadership, growth, and national security. “These pioneering studies show how British ingenuity is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible – leveraging space conditions to innovate the development of life-saving medicines and advanced materials that will power future technologies,” explained Space Minister Liz Lloyd. “By investing in in-orbit advanced manufacturing, we’re backing the jobs and industries of tomorrow while cementing the UK’s position as a global leader in the space economy.” Assessing the feasibility of in-orbit advanced materials Each study will assess technical feasibility, mature …