A New Voice for European Space Founders
Why I’m launching a podcast to share the journeys of Europe’s top space founders.
Welcome to Aerospace Insider 🚀
In this week’s issue, we’re diving into the latest and greatest from Europe’s booming space sector. Big things are happening!
Today’s summary:
🚀 Aerospace News: One of the busiest weeks of the year so far!
💼 Top Space Jobs: New week, new jobs!
🔍 Deep Dive: Something new is coming…
Aerospace Weekly Roundup
Catch the latest European & global space industry highlights you can't afford to miss!
🌊 Germany supports offshore launch platform with €870k
Germany has allocated an additional €870.000 to develop an offshore launch platform in the North Sea, led by the German Offshore Spaceport Alliance (GOSA). The project aims to create a versatile launch site on a 170-meter vessel for commercial orbital and suborbital launches, with initial demonstrations expected by September 2025.
✅ Atmos Space Cargo secures approvals for first reentry mission
German startup Atmos Space Cargo obtained regulatory approval for its first mission to demonstrate reentry technologies, becoming the first private European company to receive such authorisation. The Phoenix capsule, set to launch in April, has completed environmental testing and is ready for launch. The mission will test an inflatable decelerator over the Indian Ocean, collecting data from various payloads. Atmos aims to return larger payloads and reuse the satellite bus, with future missions planned to stay in orbit for extended periods.
🚀 CNES to develop reusable upper stage for heavy-lift rocket
The French space agency has launched Project DEMESURE to develop a reusable upper stage for a heavy-lift rocket. This initiative aims to demonstrate the recovery and reuse of a launch vehicle upper stage, targeting a payload capacity of 20 tonnes to low Earth orbit (similar to Ariane 6). The project will begin with concept reviews and technical evaluations, with future phases focusing on building and testing the demonstrator.
🔥 Spire and OroraTech win contract for wildfire detection satellites
The Canadian Space Agency has awarded a contract to European companies Spire Global and OroraTech to develop a constellation of cubesats for monitoring wildfires. The $72 million Canadian contract will fund the development of 10 satellites for the WildFireSat constellation, set to launch in 2029. The system aims to provide near real-time data, and has the potential of saving billions in wildfire-related costs over its five-year lifetime.
💵 The UK Space Agency funds companies for LEO connectivity
EnSilica and Exelerate Technology have secured £10M and £6M, respectively, from the UK Space Agency. This funding will support the development of semiconductor chips for next-generation satellite broadband user terminals as well as multi-orbit, multi-beam satellite antennas over the next three years. The project aims to create cost-effective, power-efficient terminals that can connect with various satellite constellations while providing high-speed connectivity to its users.
💰 ArkEdge Space raises JPY 8 billion in Series B funding
Japanese startup ArkEdge Space has raised $51M to accelerate the development of commercial satellite constellations, focusing on maritime communication and remote sensing.
Space Jobs Spotlight 🔍
Curated roles to accelerate your career in Europe’s thriving space sector.
🚀 Internships & Graduates
People & Organisation Management Working Student — Rivada Space Networks
Robotics Intern — Infinite Orbits
System Engineering Intern — Infinite Orbits
💼 Space Jobs
Propulsion System Engineer — PAVE Space
Aerospace Engineer — Destinus
Structural Analyst — Dark
Optical System Engineer — Infinite Orbits
Remote Sensing Specialist — Involve Space
Satellite Systems Engineer — Constellr
Electronics Engineer — ION-X
Launch Systems Software Engineer — Latitude
Production Quality Engineer — Destinus
Mission Analyst — Dark
🎓 PhD Opportunities
PhD on Space Robotics — Durham Space Research Centre
PhD on AI/ML — Politecnico di Bari
🔥 Special Opportunities
Cybersecurity Training Course — ESA Academy
Do you like these jobs or think something is missing? Hit ‘reply’ and let me know!
I’m launching a podcast. Here’s why.
Lately I’ve been working on something behind the scenes that started with a simple thought that stuck in my head sometime ago:
Why don’t we hear more from the founders actually building Europe’s space industry?
The European space industry is growing, and it’s growing fast. Although we are still light years away from the US (and perhaps we will not get to directly compete with them any time soon), there are a great number of startups in Europe pushing the boundaries of space technology. More than 200, to be precise.1
However, we often hear very little of the stories behind these companies: the risks founders take, the near-failures they survive, and the bold decisions that shape the future of European space. These aren’t just technical challenges; they’re personal battles, strategic gambles, and lessons that could inspire the next wave of builders.
So I’m doing something about it.
🎙️ Introducing: Space to Grow: a podcast where I sit down with Europe’s top space founders to share their journeys, struggles, and boldest bets on the future.
✅ The first 3 episodes are already recorded.
✅ My goal? 30 founders by the end of 2025.
✅ My challenge? Making this the go-to podcast for space builders.
Feel free to follow Space to Grow or myself on LinkedIn to not miss the first episode.
Why this matters
European space is at a turning point. We have world-class talent, but our founders need more visibility, more connections and more shared knowledge. If we want to compete on a global scale, we need to be telling our stories (not just in investor decks) but out in the open, where others can learn, connect and be inspired.
The future generation of space founders is out there. And I believe the stories behind the existing space startups can and will inspire many young individuals to start their own companies.
What’s next?
🚀 The first episodes drop soon. And trust me, the stories from these founders are gold.
🚀 If you’re a space founder (or know someone who should be on the show), let’s talk.
I hope you enjoy these conversations as much as I did. Every episode, I walk away with new insights and fresh perspectives from the people shaping the future of European space. I can’t wait to share that with you.
👉 If you could hear from any space founder, who would it be? Reply and let me know.
Thanks for reading Aerospace Insider.
If you found this newsletter useful, feel free to share it with someone who might enjoy it.
And if you have any feedback or suggestions, just reply—I’d love to hear your thoughts.
You can also connect with me on LinkedIn here.
See you next week.
Jaime
As per the data in my personal database of incredibly-cool-startups-to-watch.