The UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) has announced it has been developing a Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW), which it describes as a cutting-edge drone killer radio wave weapon. The UK designed and built system – which can neutralise a swarm of drones – is designed to provide battlefield protection for the UK Armed Forces. It can ...
Military/Aerospace Electronics
Electronics related to Military/Aerospace
Redwire handed robotic arm prototype for the Argonaut lunar lander
The European Space Agency has chosen Redwire to develop the robotic arm prototype for the Argonaut lunar lander to support its exploration of the Moon. The goal for the lander is to establish the capability, for Europe, to land 1,500-1,800 kg of cargo, infrastructure, and scientific instruments on the lunar surface. Argonaut The robotic system is known as MANUS – ...
Anduril takes up tenancy at Westcott Drone Test and Development Centre
Anduril, the US- and London-based defence contractor, has taken up a tenancy in one of the Satellite Applications Catapult’s drone hangars at its Drone Test and Development Centre (DTDC) in Westcott. The company had been searching for a site to safely test and develop its autonomous drone capabilities, the Catapult related. “Due to the talent we want to attract, a ...
ESA, NASA ramp up co-operation to land Europe’s ExoMars rover on Mars
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA say they are consolidating their cooperation on the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin mission, reshaping what originally was a European-Russian joint mission. Both agencies have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to include important US contributions, such as the launch service, elements of the propulsion system needed for landing on Mars, and heater units ...
Satvu signs up for HotSat-2 thermal imaging satellite
SatVu, the UK Earth Observation company, has announced signing contracts for its second satellite, HotSat-2. The London-based thermal infrared satellite firm – which aims to become the ‘The World’s Thermometer’ – says the launch of HotSat-2 will be followed by HotSat-3 in 2025. It aims to build a nine satellite constellation in total. The mid Wave Infra-Red (MWIR) thermal imaging ...
Xona geolocation service provider raises $19 million Series A
Xona Space Systems, a startup geolocation service provider, has raised $19 million in Series A funding to develop the satellite network for its PULSAR navigation system. The company said the funding round – led by Future Ventures and Seraphim Space – was oversubscribed and new investors NGP Capital, Industrious Ventures, Murata Electronics, Space Capital, and Aloniq took part. Xona says ...
Phlux APDs to boost ESA satcomms
Phlux Technology, a manufacturer of avalanche photodiode (APD) infrared sensors, Airbus Defence and Space, and The University of Sheffield have embarked on a €500,000 Euro project to build more efficient free space optical communications (FSOC) satellite terminals. Funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), the project’s medium-term goal is to achieve reliable 2.5 Gbps communications with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) ...
UK Space Agency funds satellite instruments to monitor emissions
The UK Space Agency has announced £9 million of funding for satellite instruments to help monitor the climate. Delivered by the Centre for Earth Observation Instrumentation (CEOI), the money will support 12 projects that will measure emissions such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen dioxide. The idea is for the instruments under development to give a clearer picture of activities ...
Redwire Phantom VLEO spacecraft bridges gap between air and space
Redwire has announced its Phantom platform, which it describes as being a European Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) spacecraft platform. Phantom will be developed at Redwire’s facility in Belgium – in Kruibeke, near Antwerp – and it will support a range of intelligence, Earth science, and communications missions. The European involvement is through the European Space Agency’s VLEO Skimsat mission, ...
NASA starts commercial service studies for science missions to Mars
NASA has selected nine companies to perform initial studies of how commercial services can be applied to enable science missions to Mars. The U.S. companies will perform a total of 12 concept studies, and each will receive between $200,000 and $300,000 to produce a report on specific potential services, including payload delivery, communications relay, surface imaging, and payload hosting. “We’re ...