🛰️ MANUFACTURING AND OPERATIONS

🇮🇳 Skyroot Aerospace completed the proof pressure test (PPT) of the new Vikram-1’s Stage-1 hardware that will soon fly on its maiden flight. This 10-meter-long stage, named Kalam-1200, crafted with high-strength carbon fiber, will boost Vikram-1 from lift-off to above the denser atmosphere, delivering a peak thrust of 1200 kN.
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💰️ FINANCE, FUNDING AND M&A

nothing to see here today!

🛰️ CORE SERVICES

🇺🇸 🇧🇪 MDA selected Belgium-based Aerospacelab to supply components for its new line of satellites, expanding its roster of international partners.
Aerospacelab announced July 8 that it will provide more than 200 battery charge regulators for MDA Space’s Aurora satellites over a three-year period starting in 2026. These components are used to manage power distribution and battery charging in satellite systems.
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🛰️ PRODUCT, PARTNERSHIPS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

🇲🇾 🇨🇳 Spacetech company Angkasa-X Innovation Sdn Bhd has partnered with ADA Space Technology and Cangyu Space Technology to invest in the country’s space industry, spanning a satellite constellation, ground stations, a real-time satellite remote sensing data trading platform for the Asean region and an artificial intelligence (AI) data centre.
Total investments between Angkasa-X and Cangyu are expected to be over US$100 million (RM471.8 million).
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🚀 LAUNCH CONTRACTS AND MISSIONS

🇪🇺 The European Space Agency (ESA) Council has adopted a resolution on European launch services and the continuity of European access to space, consequently setting the way for Avio’s commercialization of the Vega launcher, as its prime contractor.
Arianespace and Avio have agreed that Arianespace will remain the launch service provider and operator for Vega and Vega-C launch services until Vega flight 29 (VV29)
Following VV29, the customers who have already contracted with Arianespace may transfer their contracts to Avio as the new launch service provider and sole operator of Vega
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🇨🇳 China successfully launched the Tianhui 5-02 satellite group at 6:49 a.m. Friday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province.
The satellite group was carried by a modified Long March-6 carrier rocket and has entered the planned orbits.
This group of satellites will be used for geographic mapping, land resource surveys, scientific experiments and other purposes.
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🌎️ SPACE INDUSTRY ←→ DOWNSTREAM

🇦🇿 🇨🇳 Azercosmos has announced signing a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese technology company Star.vision
The main goal of the memorandum is to engage in strategic cooperation for the joint development and application of the necessary algorithms for satellite and orbit tests that use artificial intelligence solutions by Star.vision. It also includes the joint implementation of advanced digital initiatives and the exchange of experiences towards reshaping the landscape of Earth observation with artificial intelligence and satellite technology
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📜 REGULATORY & GOVERNMENT

🇮🇳Orbit Connect India, a joint venture between India’s Jio Platforms and Luxembourg-based SES, has gained permission from India’s space oversight agency to operate satellites over the country for its gigabit fiber internet
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🇺🇸 The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected the startup Scout Space to participate in the BRIDGES (Bringing Classified Innovation to Defense and Government Systems) consortium. 
BRIDGES, launched by DARPA in 2023, aims to connect innovative small companies and nontraditional defense contractors with classified Department of Defense research and development efforts. The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between cutting-edge commercial technologies and classified defense needs, particularly in areas considered critical to maintaining U.S. military superiority.
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🇫🇮 🇺🇦ICEYE and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to further strengthen their cooperation in remote sensing of the Earth in the interest of Ukraine’s national security and defense.
The Memorandum of Cooperation builds on ICEYE’s support for the Government of Ukraine since 2022. In the Memorandum, ICEYE continues to ensure that the imagery it captures pertinent to Ukraine’s territory helps to ensure the security and defense of Ukraine in conditions of armed aggression and is not shared in any circumstance with hostile countries or entities.
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