Now that the ink has dried on the contract for a PICO-class satellite deorbit sail from HPS's ADEO dragsail family, the Munich-based space company is now also setting foot on North American soil: After carefully weighing the alternatives, the Canadian company StarSpec Technologies decided to integrate the system on its InspireSAT 12U ADCS MVP satellite, which is scheduled to be launched in 2026. The ADEO-P was purchased in early July. The integration will be carried out by the experts in 2025. The satellite is scheduled to be launched in 2026 on board a Falcon9 as part of the Transporter-17 Rideshire small satellite mission from the Vandenburg spaceport in the USA. At the end of the mission, the drag sail will be extended to a size of 1.4 m2 and the satellite will be automatically disposed of within the now mandatory period of less than five years. The satellite will burn up in the atmosphere without leaving any residue. This initiative advances StarSpec's high-precision, space-grade ADCS components, including sub-arcsecond precision star cameras, gearless reaction wheels, and ultra-high bandwidth controllers that provide 100x the precision and image quality for LEO imaging satellites. Jason Brown, Mechanical & Technology Lead, commented on the key factors that led to the selection of the ADEO-P for InspireSAT: “One of InspireSAT’s core missions is to provide high performance in-orbit capabilities that do not compromise and maintain the ongoing and future utility of LEO. We are delighted to have HPS, a proven high-tech specialist in the international space industry, on our side, enabling StarSpec Technologies to maintain its sustainable and environmentally conscious approach in space without losing focus on the successful demonstration of our transformative, state-of-the-art ADCS. Thank you HPS!”
StarSpec Technologies – Received a contribution of $2.15M to perform an on-orbit demonstration of its Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS). The end objective of this technology demonstration is to complete space-based packaging and adaptation of key components for the company’s InspireSat low Earth orbit satellite.
Agreement Number: 22SIMA01P2Agreement Date: Dec 14, 2023 - Dec 15, 2026
We are assembling CuRIOS-ED (CubeSats for Rapid Infrared and Optical Survey--Exploration Demo), an optical telescope payload which will act as a technology demonstrator for a larger constellation of several hundred 16U CubeSats known as CuRIOS. In preparation for CuRIOS, CuRIOS-ED will launch in late 2025 as part of the 12U Starspec InspireSat MVP payload. CuRIOS-ED will be used to demonstrate the StarSpec ADCS pointing capabilities to <1" and to space-qualify a commercial camera package for use on the full CuRIOS payload.
Additionally, we’ve already announced OTP-3 on Transporter-17 as our next mission. Not only will this mission advance us down our technical roadmap but offers one of the most diverse platforms to host payloads for our customers. The platform will have high resolution multispectral remote sensing, SDA sensors (LIDAR, Radar and optical) to support the RPOD capabilities as well as refuel and be refuellable. Manifesting Rogue’s own Scalable Compute Platform (SCP) we can offer edge computing hosting as well as use this capability for our mission.
SpaceWorks Enterprises today announced a payload hosting agreement with Rogue Space Systems Corporation, facilitating the integration of SpaceWorks’ FuseBlox™ docking and commodity transfer system onto Rogue’s Orbital Test Platform (OTP-3) spacecraft mission. This collaboration will mark the initial orbital flight for FuseBlox and will enable future refueling operations on the OTP-3 spacecraft.The agreement specifies the integration of a passive half of FuseBlox equipped with SpaceWorks’ novel fluid transfer system onto the OTP-3 spacecraft, which is slated for launch in 2026. In addition to preparing OTP-3 for future on-orbit refueling missions, the inclusion of the FuseBlox unit will also enable robust docking, power transfer, and data transfer functionalities with future servicing spacecraft. For more information about FuseBlox, visit spaceworks.aero/fuseblox/.Through this agreement, both SpaceWorks and Rogue are taking substantial strides toward enhancing space infrastructure and promoting sustainable space operations. The mission is part of an ongoing development and test program for Rogue’s revolutionary space logistics architecture based on the company’s Waypoint™ persistent platforms and Orblock™ payload containers. SpaceWorks, meanwhile, envisions FuseBlox as part of a modular building system that accelerates the utilization of structures, platforms, and spacecraft in Earth orbit and beyond. The deployment of FuseBlox on OTP-3 not only represents an exciting technical milestone but also sets a precedent for future collaborations and technological advancements in the on-orbit servicing sector.
The University of Palermo has already signed the contract for the launch with SpaceX, Elon Musk's company. The satellite would be launched in mid-2026 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. It is expected to operate in polar orbit, which will allow it to maximize coverage over areas of interest and transmit data to ground stations in Argentina and the region.
A hyperspectral satellite, named the "Hyperspectral 6U CubeSat," is currently being developed in Rwanda, with plans to launch it into space by 2026.This advanced satellite, designed by TRL Space Rwanda, is equipped with innovative sensors capable of capturing high-resolution images across a wide color spectrum. The satellite will primarily provide accurate data for agriculture, including crop monitoring and soil analysis.TRL Space Rwanda, a subsidiary of the Czech-based TRL Space, specializes in small satellites known as CubeSats. The company has been operating in Rwanda for three years and is headquartered at Norrsken House in Kigali.[...]The satellite, weighing between 10 and 12 kilograms, measures 10 cm by 20 cm by 30 cm.Construction began this week with a team of 20 engineers, including seven Rwandans. The project is scheduled for completion within the next 20 months, targeting a June 2026 launch date.Upon completion, the satellite will be shipped to the United States, where it is expected to launch from either Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral in Florida, using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.Once in orbit, the satellite will operate at an altitude of 510 kilometers for five years, delivering crucial agricultural data. It may also support other sectors, including security and communication.
Satellite launch: 2Q 2025
Agena Space announces its collaboration with Aerospacelab to demonstrate the flight readiness and capabilities of its Rocket Pack™ green propulsion system, which will be integrated into Aerospacelab’s renowned Versatile Satellite Platform, VSP-150. The launch aboard the Falcon 9 Transporter 17 is scheduled for May 2026.The Rocket Pack™ green propulsion system, a monopropellant version of the propulsion system, enabling rapid and effective maneuvers essential for various in-orbit civilian and military applications, including rapid collision avoidance with space debris, will be installed on Aerospacelab’s VSP-150, a 150kg Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite platform.
Dawn Aerospace, a global leader in green in-space propulsion, has announced a new partnership with Reditus Space Inc, marking it Dawn’s first venture supporting on orbit manufacturing applications in space.Reditus Space is a company focused on developing reusable satellites for zero-gravity manufacturing, particularly in materials, pharmaceutical and biologics, leverage the unique manufacturing opportunities that microgravity environments offer. They aim to unlock a unique manufacturing environment with sustained access to and from space through a reusable re-entry capsule. Reditus like Dawn employs a modular approach, allowing for responsive and flexible solutions for their customers and values reusability, the key to a sustained space economy.Reditus is preparing for its first full-scale re-entry mission, named ENOS, scheduled to launch on a Falcon 9 rocket in a launch window opening in March 2026. This mission will host a pharmaceutical research and development payload, with plans to fully re-enter and recover the satellite. Dawn Aerospace will be providing its signature SatDrive systems, with 5 already in orbit across three customers. Dawn plans to work closely with Reditus to explore reusability of the SatDrive propulsion system.
Exolaunch, a global leader in launch mission management, integration and satellite deployment services, has signed a Launch Services Agreement (LSA) with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to support the deployment of CubeSats as part of CUBICS (CubeSats Initiative in Canada for STEM), a program designed to advance space science and technology while training Canada's future space leaders.The agreement enables the launch of nine 3U CubeSats, developed by Canadian universities, with options for additional missions through mid-2028. These satellites will be deployed via a rideshare mission no earlier than mid-2026, with integration taking place at CSA's facilities in Quebec.Through this agreement, Exolaunch will provide its industry-leading mission integration, testing, and satellite deployment services. The satellites will be deployed using EXOpod Nova, Exolaunch's next-generation CubeSat separation system, which provides enhanced flexibility, scalability and reliability for high-performance missions. With this contract, Exolaunch grows its activities in Canada, reinforcing its commitment to enabling cost-effective, reliable access to space for government agencies, research institutions, and commercial satellite operators worldwide.The CubeSats supported under CSA's CUBICS program are developed by nine Canadian universities, each contributing cutting-edge research and technology demonstrations across a range of scientific disciplines, including Earth observation, space weather monitoring, and communications technology.In the coming months, CSA will host technical meetings, where Exolaunch will engage with the participating universities, review student presentations, and gather mission requirements to optimize the integration and deployment process.
Defense wants to increase space capacity in the short term with four satellites27-03-2025Defence wants to have four additional small satellites in space in the short term. De Telegraaf reports that according to those involved, two satellites will be launched in June and October of this year. The other two should then be launched in the second quarter of next year. These are probably so-called nanosatellites: small satellites about the size of a milk carton.Defence had previously indicated that it wanted more capacity in space, but the launch of the four satellites had not yet been announced.A spokesperson for Defence does not go into details, but does say that "the Dutch armed forces have invested heavily in satellite capabilities in recent years and will continue to do so in the future".[...](Google Translate from Dutch)
