by David Todd | Jan 19, 2021 | ESA, exploration, NASA, Satellites, Seradata News, Space politics
For very different reasons, two major space agencies confirmed in January that they were losing their leaders with another declaring that its departing leader was about to leave early. First up was the departure of Jim Bridenstine, current Administrator of NASA....
by David Todd | Dec 23, 2020 | ESA, Seradata News
It has been confirmed that Josef Aschbacher will succeed the sometimes controversial but nevertheless well-regarded Jan Woerner as Director General of the European Space Agency. The ESA Council meeting on 17 December formally appointed Dr Aschbacher for a period of...
by Matt Wilson | Dec 15, 2020 | ESA, Satellites, Science, Seradata News, Technology
On 9 December 2020 ESA (European Space Agency) placed an order with Italian suppliers for an reusable lifting body called Space Rider. The Space Rider has been championed by the Italian government and industry for many years as a way forward to a “space...
by David Todd | Dec 4, 2020 | ESA, Satellites, Science, Seradata News
ESA and Thales Alenia Space signed a €482 million (US$586 million) contract to develop the Radar Observation System for Europe in L-band (ROSE-L) environmental monitoring spacecraft – as part of Europe’s Copernicus programme. ROSE-L is planned for launch in 2028. ...
by Matt Wilson | Dec 3, 2020 | ESA, Satellites, Seradata News, Technology
The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded the first of its “Scout” missions which aim to use small sats to prove scientific concepts for the benefit of its Earth Observation Programme. This mission is known as Earth System Processes Monitored in the...
by Matt Wilson | Dec 3, 2020 | ESA, Satellites, Seradata News, Technology
On 26 November a team led by ClearSpace SA has been awarded an satellite development contract, valued at EUR€86m (US$102.4m). This follows winning the competition in December 2019 to prepare the final proposal for a debris removal mission. ESA is sponsoring this...