Meet the Startups Creating the Future Lunar Economy
Plus: big week for Europe with Vega-C's successful return to flight, Sentinel and Proba-3 mission updates, new funding... and more!
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: Big week for Europe with Sentinel and Proba-3, new funding for IoT constellation and more!
💼 Top Space Jobs: There’s plenty of opportunities in the European space industry — don’t miss them!
🔍 Deep Dive: Meet the newspace startups disrupting and creating the future lunar economy.
Aerospace Weekly Roundup
Catch the latest European space industry highlights you can't afford to miss!
💰 EIB backs Sateliot with €30M for satellite IoT network
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted €30M to Sateliot to support the deployment of its 100-satellite constellation for global IoT connectivity. The network will act like mobile telecom towers in low Earth orbit and will provide 5G connectivity globally, enabling IoT devices worldwide to connect to the internet, particularly in remote areas.
🚀 Big week for Europe: Proba-3 and Sentinel-1C reach orbit
Europe celebrated two major space milestones this week. The Vega-C rocket returned to flight and successfully launched Sentinel-1C after being grounded since 2022. Meanwhile, Proba-3, a dual-satellite mission demonstrating high precision formation flying for solar corona studies, also successfully reached orbit, this time on an Indian PSLV rocket.
🌍 Space42 and ICEYE to bring SAR satellite manufacturing to UAE
Space42, a UAE-based spacetech firm, and ICEYE have announced a joint venture to manufacture SAR satellites in Abu Dhabi. This collaboration builds on the recent launch of Foresight-1, the UAE's first SAR satellite, and aims to strengthen Earth Observation capabilities in the region. This partnership aims to support the local EO industry and foster technology transfer for future missions.
🚧 Orbex pauses work on Scotland’s spaceport
UK-based Orbex is halting work on its planned spaceport in Scotland and will use instead SaxaVord’s spaceport in Shetland Islands. This moves allows the company to focus on its small-to-medium launcher programme and is expected to accelerate the development of their Prime rocket and their medium-class Proxima rocket. The first launch of Prime is planned for 2025.
📈 SpaceX nears $350B valuation
SpaceX is closing in on a $350B valuation thanks to Starship’s positive development and Starlink’s growth. The company’s unmatched achievements in reusable rocket technology and satellite internet services continue to drive investor confidence and lead the global space industry.
🌑 ESRIC unveils Space Resources Accelerator cohort
The European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC) has launched the first cohort of its Space Resources Accelerator, fast-tracking six pioneering projects for lunar exploration and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). These projects aim to support ESA’s lunar initiatives and the broader space resources value chain by demonstrating their technologies in lunar conditions.
Space Jobs Spotlight 🔍
Curated roles to accelerate your career in Europe’s thriving space sector.
🚀 Internships & Graduates
Spectrum Intern — Intelsat (London 🇬🇧)
Upper stage Design Engineer Intern — Arianespace (Bremen 🇩🇪)
CAD Design Intern — RFA (Augsburg 🇩🇪)
Project Management Placement — Airbus (Stevenage 🇬🇧)
💼 Space Jobs (ranked by experience)
Power Electronics Engineer — NewOrbit Space (Reading 🇬🇧)
Application Engineer — Pangea Aerospace (Barcelona 🇪🇸)
Systems Developer — Space Forge (Cardiff 🇬🇧)
Propulsion Engineer — HyImpulse (Neuenstadt 🇩🇪)
Commercial Lead — NewOrbit Space (Reading 🇬🇧)
Modelling Engineer — Eutelsat OneWeb (Paris 🇫🇷)
Thermal Modelling Engineer — OhmSpace (Southampton 🇬🇧)
Mechanical Design Engineer — Orbex (Forres 🇬🇧)
Supply Chain Manager — Orbex (Forres 🇬🇧)
Senior Director of Engineering — Volta Space Technologies (Broomfield 🇨🇦)
🎓 PhD Opportunities
Aero-Engine Aerodynamics PhD — Cranfield University 🇬🇧
Astrophysics PhD — Northumbria University 🇬🇧
🔥 Special Opportunities
ESA Academy Student Sponsorship. Apply.
Interested in Electric Propulsion? Then join the 2nd edition of the European Summer School on Electric Propulsion for Spacecraft. Sign up here (limited spots available!).
Do you want to receive a sponsorship to attend the 8th Annual PocketQube Conference? Then check this out.
Like these jobs or think something is missing? Hit ‘reply’ and let me know!
The Future of Lunar Exploration: the Startups Creating the Lunar Economy
The future of space exploration depends not just on technology but on using resources beyond Earth. The European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC) is moving this forward with its first Space Resources Accelerator. This program supports projects focused on creating sustainable technologies for the Moon, a key step toward future missions to Mars and beyond.
What is the Space Resources Accelerator?
The Space Resources Accelerator is part of the ESA’s Business in Space Growth Network (BSGN — yes, we like acronyms in Europe), which aims to foster innovation and support entrepreneurs with innovative solutions for space exploration. The accelerator focuses on companies working on space resources, or the concept of using materials found in space (Moon, planets or asteroids) to support human missions or in-space manufacturing.
Through this programme, six companies have received the opportunity to develop and refine their technologies with in-kind support from ESRIC. The goal is to help these startups advance to the point where they can test their technology in lunar conditions. The accelerator aims to transform ideas from early-stage concepts to viable, scalable technologies that could eventually become integral components of humanity's long-term presence in space. An ambitious goal.
The first cohort: meet the innovators
The first cohort of the Space Resources Accelerator consists of six companies with innovative projects:
FibreCoat 🇩🇪
This company is developing high-performance materials for lunar infrastructure. Building structures on the Moon is challenging due to harsh environmental conditions. FibreCoat’s work focuses on creating advanced materials capable of withstanding lunar extremes, which make it ideal for habitats, mining operations, and more.
Maana Electric 🇱🇺
Maana Electric is working on solar resource production on the Moon. Harnessing solar energy is vital for any lunar colony, and Maana Electric aims to establish technologies that can efficiently capture and convert solar energy into usable power for future lunar missions.Orbital Matter 🇵🇱
Orbital Matter is exploring additive manufacturing techniques for lunar infrastructure. They aim to use resources found on the Moon itself, such as regolith, to print building materials. This will reduce dependency on Earth-based supplies and could drastically cut costs for lunar construction.Orbit Fab UK 🇬🇧
Orbit Fab (which was selected through it’s UK branch) is focusing on providing fuel supply solutions for both orbital and lunar surface vehicles. They are right now they leaders in in-orbit refuelling and their technology is critical for sustainable space exploration.Space Power 🇬🇧
This company is addressing the problem of lunar dust, which is well known for damaging equipment and posing health risks to astronauts. Space Power is researching power beaming technologies and methods for mitigating the effects of lunar dust on machinery and structures.Volta Space Technologies 🇨🇦
Volta Space Technologies is developing wireless power transmission for the Moon. This aims to allow energy to be efficiently transferred between different lunar habitats, mining sites and vehicles. This is a key technology to ensure sustainable presence in the Moon, with reliable power source, can be achieved.
These companies are at the forefront of space innovation and contribute to the growing lunar economy, which is essential for humanity’s future presence on the Moon and beyond.
Why ISRU is critical for the future of space exploration
ISRU (in case you forgot: in-situ resource utilisation) refers to the use of materials available on other celestial bodies to support human activities in space. It is critical for sustainable space exploration. Currently, resources like fuel, food, and materials are transported from Earth. The ISS alone receives around 8-9 cargo missions per year. ISRU enables the use of local resources (lunar regolith, solar power) and therefore reduces the need to send supplies from Earth.
These technologies might seem science fiction right now (well, the same happened with rocket reusability not so long ago…) but they are vital for future lunar missions. In fact, they are vital for any human long-term mission beyond LEO. And there are a few planned for the next decades with the Lunar Gateway and the Artemis programme. All the technological breakthroughs supported by the Space Resources Accelerator will help make a permanent human presence on the Moon a reality.
The future ahead
As these startups progress, they will not only advance lunar exploration but also pave the way for future missions to Mars and beyond. The technologies developed in the Space Resources Accelerator have the potential to revolutionise how we approach space exploration.
With the first cohort starting this programme, “the future of space resources looks brighter than ever, with innovative startups leading the charge toward the next frontier of human exploration.”
In other news
NASA is moving forward with Orion heat shield. Read more.
Jared Isaacman to lead NASA under Trump. Read more.
NASA plans missions for two Artemis cargo landers. Read more.
Telesat Lightspeed clears early design review. Read more.
Great read on how to catch this year’s Geminid Meteors. Read it here.
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To your success,
Jaime