TOP STORIES: February 2021

24 February 2021

Each month we round up some of the top stories in space, entrepreneurship, innovation, finance and technology.

Here’s our round-up for February:

ESA SEEKS NEW ASTRONAUTS

For the first time in over a decade, the European Space Agency (ESA) is seeking new astronauts. This one-hour-long briefing with ESA experts and astronauts outlines the selection criteria and desirable traits for astronauts. It also provides further detail around the Parastronaut Feasibility Project and astronaut reserve, as well as ESA’s vision for the next 10 years of human and robotic exploration.

EU wants more synergies between industry, defence and space

The European Commission wants more synergies between civil, defence and space industries and presented a related action plan. Read more at SpaceWatch Global.

EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. Credit: EU Commission

Turkey unveils National Space Program including 2023 moon mission

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced 10 goals as he revealed the country’s domestic space programme for the next 10 years, which will include the country’s first national observation satellite.

“Our primary and most important goal for our national space program is the contact of the Republic, in its 100th year, with the moon,” the Turkish leader said. “God willing, we are going to the moon.”

Read more at TRT World.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announces National Space Program at the Culture and Congress Centre on February 9, 2021. (AA)

‘Space Bridge’ across the world will help UK and Australia get ahead in global space race

The UK and Australia have signed a new ‘Space Bridge’ partnership to increase knowledge exchange and investment across the two countries’ space sectors. Read the press release by the UK Government.

UK Science Minister Amanda Solloway at the virtual signing of the Space Bridge partnership

GSA Entrepreneurship day

Through different prizes and competitions such as the EU GNSS Agency (GSA)’s MyGalileoSolution and MyGalileoDrone, the GSA is supporting and guiding a new generation of entrepreneurs and start-ups to ensure EUSpace is enabling the creation of innovative applications and solutions to respond to current and future challenges.

Entrepreneurship Day will present some of the most innovative projects from these competitions. The half-day event, which will take place online, will bring together investors, accelerators, the start-up community, tech influencers, GNSS innovators and everybody interested in space to hear from around 80 EU start-ups about how their Galileo-based innovations, developed with support from the GSA, are meeting important societal challenges and supporting the EU strategic agenda.

Register now at the following link.

 

data.space 2021

 

Data.Space is back in 2021 in a new format. Read more here.