UK-Based Firm Gains Major Backing for Satellite Development British space technology firm Space Forge has raised £22.6 million ($29.8 million) in a new funding round led by the NATO Innovation Fund. The announcement, made on Wednesday, highlights strong investor interest in the fast-growing space sector. Founded in 2018, Space Forge specialises in manufacturing advanced materials in space. These materials have potential applications in various high-tech industries, including semiconductors. The newly secured funds will support the company’s next phase of satellite development. Expanding Space Economy Draws Global Investment The global space industry is expanding rapidly, driven by competition among the US,…
Author: StratNewsGlobal Tech Team
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Media Briefing Scheduled for Ax-4 Mission Launch Updates NASA will participate in a media teleconference hosted by Axiom Space on Tuesday, 20 May, at 10:30 a.m. EDT. The discussion will focus on the upcoming Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), the fourth private astronaut flight to the International Space Station (ISS). The briefing will feature several key speakers, including Dana Weigel, the manager of NASA’s ISS Programme, and Allen Flynt, Axiom Space’s chief of mission services. Other participants are Sarah Walker from SpaceX, Sergio Palumberi of the European Space Agency, Aleksandra Bukała from the Polish Space Agency, and Orsolya Ferencz representing HUNOR,…
U.S. Unveils Major Plan to Modernise Air Traffic Control System U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has announced a sweeping proposal to modernise the nation’s ageing air traffic control system. The effort aims to tackle growing airport congestion, reduce flight delays and improve safety standards. A Complete Overhaul of a Failing System Speaking at an event on Thursday, Duffy said the current system is beyond repair. “The system we have here is not worth saving,” he stated, estimating the project would take three to four years. He described the need for a “brand new state-of-the-art air traffic control system,” noting that…
Critical minerals are non-fuel minerals that are essential in use and come with serious supply risks, says Pranay Kothasthane of the Tech Geopolitics programme at the Takshashila Institution in Bengaluru. In this conversation on StratNewsGlobal.Tech, Kothasthane points to the widespread use of such minerals, in everything from electronics to magnets, and even defence applications. But they are used in small quantities, which many countries find uneconomical to explore for and process. https://youtu.be/iYKls6BwP1k It explains China’s stranglehold over their supply but Kotasthane argues that Beijing’s move to leverage its control can only backfire as the world finds alternatives top such minerals.…
Last week, Ather Energy, a startup that originated in the IIT Madras Incubation Cell, successfully closed its IPO. Having successfully evolved from a startup to a commercial venture, Ather Energy has emerged as the poster boy of the incubation cell. Coincidentally, this development came about on the heels of the announcement from the incubation cell that it had birthed a record 104 deeptech startups last year. Cumulatively, it is home to about 460 startups. Not surprisingly, it is being dubbed as the deeptech hub for India. https://youtu.be/twbzL9Q9ZFY How did IIT Madras pull this off? Can these learnings, especially in forging…
President Xi Jinping Pushes Shanghai to the Forefront of Tech Development President Xi Jinping has called on Shanghai to accelerate its transformation into a global centre for technology and innovation, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI). This marked Xi’s first visit to the city since November 2023, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua. Xi emphasised that Shanghai, China’s top international financial hub, should also lead in AI development and governance. His comments highlight the growing importance of the city not only in finance but also as a strategic pillar in China’s push for technological self-reliance. AI at…
Enforcement Directorate of India Investigates E-Commerce Practices The financial crime agency of India has requested confidential sales data and contract details from smartphone makers, including Apple and Xiaomi, as part of an ongoing investigation into Amazon and Flipkart. According to sources familiar with the matter, this move forms part of a broader effort to scrutinise potential violations of Indian e-commerce laws. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which probes economic offences, is investigating whether Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart have breached regulations by exerting control over inventory sold through their platforms. Under Indian law, foreign e-commerce firms can only operate as marketplaces, serving…
China Outlines Bold Plan for Robotic Mars Base by 2038 China has unveiled an ambitious roadmap for interplanetary exploration, aiming to establish a robotic Mars base by 2038. Managed by the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the project is part of a broader plan to explore the Solar System through 2050. Building Foundations for Martian Exploration The roadmap’s first major milestone is the Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission. Already approved, it is scheduled for launch in late 2028, with samples expected to return to Earth by 2031. This mission will lay the technological foundation necessary for future Mars exploration efforts.…
Airbus Finalises Deal to Acquire Key Spirit AeroSystems Assets Europe’s Airbus has finalised an agreement to take over select assets from Spirit AeroSystems, completing a crucial part of a wider transatlantic carve-up involving US rival Boeing. The move stabilises an important part of the global aerospace supply chain. Spirit Split Between Airbus and Boeing Last year, Boeing agreed to reacquire Spirit, the world’s largest independent aerostructures supplier, for $4.7 billion in stock—two decades after originally spinning it off. Meanwhile, Airbus committed to take over Spirit’s loss-making, Europe-focused operations. This joint intervention by competing aerospace giants is unprecedented. It was triggered…
Hubble Celebrates 35 Years with Stunning New Space Images NASA has marked the 35th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope with the release of four breathtaking images that span our solar system and beyond. These new visuals showcase Mars, a colourful planetary nebula, the Rosette Nebula known for star formation, and the flocculent spiral galaxy NGC 5335. Since its launch aboard the space shuttle Discovery on 24 April 1990, Hubble has transformed how we view the cosmos. With its ability to observe in ultraviolet and visible light, it has given scientists and the public an unparalleled look at the universe’s…