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Space

Fugro SpAARC’s space operations set to grow with further funding

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Fugro’s Space Automation, AI and Robotics Control Complex (SpAARC) in Perth, Western Australia (WA), is to receive an additional AUD 5 million (just under $3.2 million US) in funding from the WA Government.

Roger Cook, the WA Premier, made the announcement at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Perth on the morning of the opening of IPSEC 2023, Perth’s Indo-Pacific Space and Earth Conference for leaders in space and cross-sector technologies.

This additional funding cements Fugro SpAARC’s position as an international hub for space activities and will boost both WA’s and Fugro’s capacity for space mission operations. [Read more…] about Fugro SpAARC’s space operations set to grow with further funding

Advanced Navigation ‘furthering space exploration’ with NASA and Intuitive Machines

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Advanced Navigation, an AI robotics and navigation technology developer, has been awarded a Moon to Mars Initiative: Demonstrator Mission Grant by the Australian Space Agency, to support NASA’s endeavour to explore the Moon and beyond to Mars.

The grant will accelerate development and production of the company’s breakthrough Light Detection, Altimetry and Velocimetry (LiDAV) technology.

Supported by this award, Advanced Navigation will deliver a space-qualified LiDAV sensor called LUNA (Laser measurement Unit for Navigational Aid) to US-based space systems company, Intuitive Machines, as part of NASA’s ongoing Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) programme. [Read more…] about Advanced Navigation ‘furthering space exploration’ with NASA and Intuitive Machines

Saudi Arabia’s first astronauts return home after historic scientific mission to space

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Astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni arrived in Saudi Arabia amidst celebrations and an official welcome home.

They have accomplished the country’s successful and historic scientific mission to space aboard the ISS.

They have finished their quarantine and conducted all the medical tests required to evaluate the effects of microgravity on the human body. [Read more…] about Saudi Arabia’s first astronauts return home after historic scientific mission to space

PickNik Robotics secures two new NASA contracts

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PickNik Robotics, a leading provider of advanced robotic solutions, is pleased to announce its success in securing two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts with NASA.

These prestigious contracts highlight PickNik Robotics’ continued expertise in developing cutting-edge technologies for autonomous robotic manipulation, utilization, and maintenance, as well as integrated mission planning and execution for space operations.

The first SBIR award focuses on a groundbreaking project titled “A Framework for Failure Management and Recovery for Remote Autonomous Task Planning and Execution”. [Read more…] about PickNik Robotics secures two new NASA contracts

Nasa awards AeroVironment $10 million contract to design helicopters for Mars mission

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The success of Ingenuity Mars helicopter, co-designed and co-developed by AeroVironment and NASA/JPL, lays the foundation for the development of the Sample Recovery Helicopters

AeroVironment has been awarded a $10 million contract by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to co-design and co-develop conceptual designs and engineering development units of Mars Sample Recovery Helicopter flight systems.

Future efforts could include detailed design, build, and test of qualification and flight hardware. The helicopters build upon the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter design heritage and feature upgraded robotics to supplement aerial mobility.

AeroVironment engineers from the MacCready Works team previously worked with NASA JPL to co-design and develop the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, which has completed 52 successful flights to date on Mars and survived 781 sols on the surface, far outperforming its design objectives. [Read more…] about Nasa awards AeroVironment $10 million contract to design helicopters for Mars mission

PickNik Robotics and Motiv to jointly develop of advanced robotics capabilities


 for space exploration

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PickNik Robotics, a developer of advanced robot arm software solutions, and Motiv Space Systems, a designer and manufacturer of space-rated robotic systems, motor controllers, and mechanisms, have agreed a partnership to develop advanced robotics for space applications.

The partnership aims to advance In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities through the integration of PickNik’s MoveIt Studio technology for robot arm control and Motiv’s xLink robot arm product line.

PickNik Robotics, known as the Unstructured Robotics Company, has a ten-year heritage in advanced robotics control software and has received SBIR Phase 3 funding from NASA to develop advanced planning capabilities for robots in microgravity environments. [Read more…] about PickNik Robotics and Motiv to jointly develop of advanced robotics capabilities


 for space exploration

Space robotics market revenue forecast to grow to $7 billion by 2032

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The global market for space robotics is forecast to exceed revenues of $7 billion by 2032 with a projected compound annual growth rate of 9 percent over 2023-2032, according to a report by Global Market Insights.

The market growth is due to the rapid expansion of the electronic chip manufacturing industry globally. Besides, the increasing number of space projects in the MEA region will also foster the market growth.

For instance, in May 2022, Benya Group inked an MoU with OneWeb to explore the distribution of connection services in the MEA region. [Read more…] about Space robotics market revenue forecast to grow to $7 billion by 2032

Australia steps closer to building Moon rover

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Australia is one step closer to the Moon with the Federal Government’s announcement that the Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE) consortium is one of two successful teams chosen for Stage 1 of the Australian Space Agency’s flagship Trailblazer program.

The Trailblazer program will see Australia design, build, test, and operate an Australian-made lunar foundation services rover for NASA’s return to the surface of the Moon.

NASA has asked Australia to provide the lunar rover due to our world-leading expertise in remote operations and automation technology, developed through our resources industry. [Read more…] about Australia steps closer to building Moon rover

ArrowSpot signs multi-million-dollar deal with Astrocast to mass produce satellite tracking system

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Astrocast, a global nanosatellite IoT network operator, and ArrowSpot has signed a multi-million-dollar contract to start mass production of ArrowSpot’s ArrowTrack SAT device.

The contract between Astrocast and ArrowSpot includes hardware integration and Satellite IoT (SatIoT) connectivity for an initial three-year period.

For context, ArrowSpot’s technology solutions provide the worldwide supply chain logistics industry with online information for safe & secure sensitive chilled cargo and high value cargo. Clients working with ArrowSpot include ZIM Shipping Line and Oceanex Inc. intermodal transportation services. [Read more…] about ArrowSpot signs multi-million-dollar deal with Astrocast to mass produce satellite tracking system

PickNik Robotics and CisLunar Industries to develop metal processing facility in space

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PickNik Robotics, a robotics software and engineering services company, has agreed a collaboration with CisLunar Industries, a space technology company working on in-space metal processing.

The companies will explore how PickNik’s MoveIt Space software for robotic arms can help CisLunar with the precision feeding of metal materials into their in-space metal-processing system, Modular Space Foundry.

Workflows will include the dismantling, manipulation, transport, and transfer of simulated or actual metal debris into pieces of appropriate size and shape to be fed into the in-space metal processing system. The purpose is to support the processing and removal of space debris. [Read more…] about PickNik Robotics and CisLunar Industries to develop metal processing facility in space