SpaceQuest Ventures’ Post

Private space companies represent a transformative force in the aerospace sector, providing innovative solutions and expanding access to space beyond the exclusive domain of government-operated agencies. Historically, space exploration has been characterized by the involvement of national organizations such as NASA and ESA, which undertook ambitious missions often focused on scientific research and technology demonstrations. Recent years, however, have witnessed a significant emergence of private enterprises that are reshaping the landscape of space travel and exploration. The motivations of private space companies are multifaceted. Many aim to capitalize on the growing interest in commercial spaceflight, satellite deployment, and extraterrestrial resource utilization. The introduction of private enterprise has spurred competition, leading to reduced launch costs and increased frequency of missions. Furthermore, these companies often embrace innovative technologies, harnessing advancements in engineering and materials science to pioneer new methods of exploration. Their operations frequently prioritize efficiency and cost-effectiveness, setting new benchmarks for the industry.

Thales Alenia Space announced a contract worth nearly $900 million Jan. 30 to develop and deliver the Lunar Descent Element (LDE) for Argonaut, the European Space Agency - ESA’s cargo lander slated for missions to the Moon starting in the 2030s. The contract includes mission design and integration of the LDE, which would be responsible for transporting and landing the spacecraft on the Moon. The LDE would be joined by an adaptable interface element designed to support a wide variety of cargo and scientific payloads. Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between France’s Thales and Italy’s Leonardo, said Argonaut’s first mission is expected to deliver navigation and telecommunication payloads, along with an energy generation and storage system, supporting commercial European exploration of the lunar south pole The European Space Agency is also positioning Argonaut, which has a capacity of approximately two metric tons of cargo, as a potential asset for future NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Artemis lunar missions. https://lnkd.in/eM_P4te4

🚀 Space Fundraising News & Weekly Roundup Skynopy Raises $3.1M LiveEO Raises €25M Series B Sift Raises $17.5M Series A Synspective Inc. Raises $43.9M Series C 🚀 Weekly Space Roundup NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Awards SpaceX $843 Million For ISS Deorbit Mission ARIANESPACE’s Ariane 6 Completes Wet Dress Rehearsal China National Space Administration’s Chang’e-6 Returns Samples from Far Side of the Moon Firefly Aerospace to Launch Alpha Rockets from Esrange in Sweden Starfish Space to Extend Intelsat Geostationary Satellite Life in First Commercial Mission Centre National d'Études Spatiales awards two GEO in orbit services missions to Infinite Orbits and Telespazio France Hydrosat to launch its First Thermal Infrared Sensor on Loft Orbital’s YAM-6 spacecraft on SpaceX’s Transporter-11 rideshare flight Viasat to Supply Satellite terminals for Spain’s Fleet of C295 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft Norway and Germany Collaborate on Space Launches: Norway and Germany have signed a joint declaration to facilitate German satellite launches from Andøya Spaceport United Launch Alliance (ULA) Sets Vulcan Cert-2 Without Dream Chaser Latitude wins €15M in France 2030 Call

🛰️ Extending the lives of satellites in geostationary orbit and disposing of end-of-life satellites and space debris in low-Earth orbit are reaching the commercial phase with three news items this week: two from the US and one from France. With SpaceX set to build the deorbit vehicle for International Space Station, this is the big one. It will be interesting to see how this segment will evolve. Mission success will guarantee a significant advance for the first one. It will probably become a winner-takes-all scenario, with the lion's share of the market going to the leader.

I had the opportunity to sit down with "Your Business In Space". I got to talk a little more about Max Space and how what we are doing is different, plus offer some details about my background. I hope you'll put this on your list of podcasts to listen to - they have a unique approach to their podcasts and a clear vision. #YBIS Inter Astra Institute

India makes the next move for manned missions. The success of this test is not just a technical achievement but a testament to India's growing prowess in space technology. It represents a crucial step towards realizing the nation's ambitions for manned space missions and enhances ISRO's capabilities for future deep space exploration. https://lnkd.in/eHu6hpNj ISRO - Indian Space Research Organization #space European Space Agency - ESA NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

🚀🌕 A New Era of International Space Collaboration Begins! 🌕🚀 Today marks an exciting milestone in space exploration as NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V. ) officially sign a contract solidifying their partnership in the Artemis program! Together, we are not just returning to the Moon, but aiming to establish a long-term human presence on its surface—paving the way for deep space exploration. 🌍 German Innovation Leading the Way 🇩🇪 The European Service Module (ESM), built by Airbus in Bremen, is powering NASA's Orion spacecraft to the Moon, highlighting the crucial role of international collaboration in Artemis' success. NEUROSPACE GmbH is also taking center stage with its TACHELES mission aboard Artemis II. Their 12U CubeSat will test groundbreaking technology for future lunar rovers, focusing on the impact of space radiation on critical electronics—vital for the next generation of lunar exploration. Neurospace‘s innovation pushes the boundaries of space robotics and is key to advancing sustainable exploration on the Moon and beyond. 🌕 We’re here to stay! 🌕 #Artemis #SpaceExploration #NASA #DLR #NEUROSPACE #CubeSat #Innovation #MoonMission #InternationalCollaboration #LunarMission #FutureTech #Space #Robotics #Rover #NewSpace #Deeptech #WomenInBusiness

Proud to contribute to the European Space Agency - ESA #ExoMars2028 mission! The rover will count on a drill developed by #Leonardo to collect soil samples by drilling into the #Martian soil up to 2 meters deep. The collection and analysis of soil samples will also take place thanks to a miniaturized infrared spectrometer (Ma_MISS) inserted inside the drill and developed by #Leonardo with Agenzia Spaziale Italiana and INAF - Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica - IAPS. One of the mission objectives is to search for subsurface bacteria, living or fossilized, which would be evidence of extant or previous life on the #RedPlanet. #Spaceforlife 

NASA is reconsidering its desire for a continuous human presence in low Earth orbit during the transition from the International Space Station to commercial platforms. - by Frederic Eger - Video by CSA: Cubics call - Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy mentioned the "elephant in the room" of a desired continuous human presence in LEO. NASA has had astronauts in orbit on the ISS continuously since 2000. NASA will use Crew Dragon for both the Crew-10 mission to the ISS, scheduled for no earlier than February 2025, and the Crew-11 mission, scheduled for no earlier than July. NASA is also evaluating if it will require Boeing to perform another test flight of its Starliner spacecraft. Canada's Mission Control plans to demonstrate AI on Spire cubesat, a technology demonstration mission focused on space-based artificial intelligence. Experts suggest that advancements in robotics and teleoperations may change how space operations typically handled by humans performing spacewalks are conducted. They discuss the potential benefits of AI for space operations as well as challenges like the need for powerful space-based computers and extensive training datasets. Estonia became the 45th country to sign the Artemis Accords, and countries that have signed the Accords say they need to redouble their efforts to encourage more nations to join. Additionally, Glasgow's Craft Prospect has been selected as the European Space Agency's Rising Star, and Aetherflux joins the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF).

NEWS BOARD☀️🚀✨ The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded Airbus Defence and Space a €340 million contract to build the Vigil spacecraft, designed to offer a unique view of the sun. Scheduled to launch in 2031, Vigil will operate at the Earth-sun L-5 Lagrange point, providing early warnings of solar activity up to five days in advance. "Vigil will drastically improve both the lead time and detail of space weather warnings, protecting critical infrastructure." has stated the ESAs general director Josef Aschbacher Key Points 💡 The Mission. ⚡️ As it helps observation of solar regions before they rotate into the Earth's view, improving space weather predictions. The positive economic Impact. ⚡️ It will create over 150 jobs in the UK, with construction in Stevenage. International Collaboration. ⚡️ Instruments from European institutes, NOAA, and NASA. The Vigil mission marks a significant step forward in safeguarding our technology and infrastructure from space weather impacts. #Space #ESA #Airbus #VigilMission #SpaceWeather #Innovation #SpaceExploration