Each month we round up some of the top stories in space, entrepreneurship, innovation, finance and technology.
Here’s our round-up for May:
SpaceX to make history launching NASA astronauts on a private rocket
On 27 May, astronauts were due to blast off to space from the US for the first time since the end of the space shuttle programme in 2011. Two NASA astronauts – Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley – were slated to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket. Read more on New Scientist.
Standing down from launch today due to unfavorable weather in the flight path. Our next launch opportunity is Saturday, May 30 at 3:22 p.m. EDT, or 19:22 UTC
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 27, 2020
Join the second attempt of the Crew Dragon launch
On Saturday 30 May, NASA and SpaceX will attempt for a second time to launch astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley to the International Space Station.
State(less) surveillance: how satellite tech is used for journalism
Satellite imagery is a powerful technology that is becoming democratized, and is now being used in the interests of press freedoms and transparency. One firm in particular, Planet, has made access to information part of their mission. Read more at Byline.
American satellite start-up founded by SpaceX veteran expands to the UK
An American start-up developing low-earth orbit satellites in a bid to improve the accuracy of GPS signals has expanded to the UK. Xona Space Systems has hired a European head in London and set up a UK subsidiary as it plans to hire more staff in the country. The business was co-founded by Brian Manning, who worked on the Falcon 9 rocket thrust structure at Elon Musk’s rocket business SpaceX. Read more in the Daily Telegraph.
Iceye to offer interferometry with small radar satellites
Finland’s Iceye is demonstrating for customers its ability to detect millimetre-scale vertical differences by comparing data in multiple Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images of the same location.
Read more at SpaceNews.
30 Voices on 2030: The Future of Space
What will the space industry look like in 2030? KPMG Australia asked 30 global leaders within the sector to predict what will happen in the next 10 years.
Read more at KPMG Australia.
Galileo Masters and Copernicus Masters international kick-off
Every year the International Kick-off of the Galileo Masters and Copernicus Masters gathers prominent representatives from key institutional and industrial players that actively shape the biggest innovation eco-system of the European Space Programme.
FARMING BY SATELLITE PRIZE
The Farming by Satellite Prize rewards young innovators exploring the use of satellite technologies to improve agriculture and reduce environmental impact. Applications for the 2020 Prize are now open. Read more.
