Space

Irish photonics company Pilot Photonics has secured a €1M ESA contract to advance its Optical Frequency Generator Unit (OFGU) for next-generation satellite communications. The technology aims to enable higher-frequency operations, flexible payload architectures, and lower SWaP-C systems as the space industry shifts toward integrated photonic infrastructures.

SD Government, a Gogo company, has secured a $7.5 million multi-year NOAA contract to provide mission-critical satellite communications for the agency’s Hurricane Hunter aircraft fleet ahead of the 2026 hurricane season. The agreement strengthens airborne weather intelligence, secure connectivity, and real-time storm data transmission for emergency preparedness and forecasting operations.

Synspective and KSAT are expanding their strategic alliance to strengthen SAR satellite operations, improve global data delivery, and support the growth of Synspective’s Earth observation constellation. The partnership focuses on low-latency satellite communications, operational resilience, maritime domain awareness, and next-generation geospatial intelligence capabilities.

Venturi Space has announced a €250 million investment to establish a major lunar and Martian mobility technology center in Toulouse, France. The new facility will create nearly 200 high-skilled jobs by 2030 and support advanced rover technologies for future NASA Artemis missions and European lunar exploration programs.

European launch provider PLD Space has announced a major expansion of its investment in launch infrastructure at the Guiana Space Centre (CSG), committing €35 million between 2025 and 2026 to accelerate development of its MIURA 5 launch complex.

SSC Space has partnered with Finland’s NorthBase to integrate the Muonio ground station in Finnish Lapland into its global ground station network. The collaboration strengthens Nordic space infrastructure, expands satellite coverage capacity, and supports growing commercial, institutional, and defense-driven demand for resilient ground segment services worldwide.

Virgin Media O2 is expanding its O2 Satellite service to compatible iPhone users across the UK, bringing direct-to-device satellite connectivity to millions more people. The service enables messaging, navigation, and app-based communications in areas without traditional cellular coverage, reinforcing the growing role of satellite-enabled mobile resilience and nationwide connectivity.

KONGSBERG has signed a new contract with Poland’s IMGW-PIB to deliver an advanced satellite ground station system in Kraków. The MEOS™-based platform will enhance Poland’s weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, and climate analysis capabilities by supporting Copernicus Sentinel and major meteorological satellite missions.