アクセルスペース restarted the commercial operation of the small Earth observation satellite GRUS-1E for the AxelGlobe Earth observation data provision business on January 13.

GRUS-1 will resume operations as a constellation of five satellites in the future.

アクセルスペース developed functionality to enable image data acquisition through an automated operation system for GRUS-1E.

The Earth observation capability will support multiple priority domains, including sustainability, security, and defense.

Satellogic’s vertically integrated production line enables an accelerated delivery timeline.

More than 85% of the components used in the satellites are European-sourced.

The partnership includes a comprehensive and structured transfer of knowledge program.

The agreement strengthens Portugal and Europe’s sovereign Earth observation capabilities.

Ownership and operational control of the satellites will transfer to CEiiA in Q2 2026.

The two satellites will integrate the Portuguese component of the Atlantic Constellation.

The satellites will enhance operational resilience and autonomous data availability.

CEiiA's collaboration with Satellogic supports the implementation and deployment of the Atlantic Constellation.

CEiiA is developing a new generation of satellite constellations to meet the needs of institutional, commercial, and defense markets.

The agreement between CEiiA and Satellogic is valued at $18 million.

The Atlantic Constellation will provide high-capacity Earth observation capability for timely geospatial intelligence.

CEiiA and Satellogic have reached an agreement for the supply and in-orbit delivery of two NewSat Mark V 50cm-class imaging satellites.

The supply of the two satellites marks an important milestone for the Atlantic Constellation.

Certain classes of asteroids have naming traditions, such as Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids being named after figures associated with the Trojan War.

The International Astronomical Union's Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature manages the asteroid naming process.

The provisional designation of an asteroid is based on the date of its discovery, such as in 2021 FE40.

Asteroid 2021 FE40 is at least twice the size of the ESOC campus on Earth.

Asteroid names must be pronounceable in at least one recognised language and must not be offensive.

The International Astronomical Union approved the naming of 10 asteroids in 2025 after people and places associated with the European Space Agency’s efforts to protect Earth from asteroids and comets.

ESOC has been Europe’s control centre for spacecraft missions for almost 60 years.

Once an asteroid receives a permanent number, its discoverers may propose a name to replace the provisional designation.

Asteroid 2021 FE40 is thought to be between 600 and 1300 meters across.

The asteroid provisionally known as 2021 FE40 has been officially named (810657) ESOC after ESA’s European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany.

ESOC serves as the administrative centre for ESA’s Space Safety Programme.

Asteroid names proposed to the International Astronomical Union must follow specific guidelines, such as being no longer than 16 characters.

The asteroid 2021 FE40 was discovered in March 2021 by astronomer Erwin Schwab and ESA’s former Head of Planetary Defence, Detlef Koschny.

Asteroid ESOC is one of 10 asteroids that received names in 2025 to honour ESA’s Planetary Defence activities.

Rolf Densing delivered a New Year’s address on 13 January 2025, celebrating the naming of the asteroids.

The 'E40' in the asteroid's designation indicates that it was the 1005th asteroid discovered in that half-month.

Asteroid 2021 FE40 orbits the Sun beyond the orbit of Mars.

The letter 'F' in the asteroid's designation indicates it was discovered in the second half of March.

Approximately 850,000 of the 1.3 million known asteroids have received permanent numbers.

Assuming every capacity could be bought by the CTC networks, reaching their desired satellite count would take at least a century at current production rates.

China Daily and the Global Times report that the filings for 200,000 satellites are part of long-term planning.

A super factory is planned near Wenchang’s two launch sites to produce 1,000 satellites.

Commercial satellite makers can produce 300 spacecraft per year, with plans to expand up to 600, while state-owned enterprises can produce several hundred.

Building the satellite networks will require activation, promotion, and coordination of the entire space ecosystem within China.

In the previous year, not even two hundred mega-constellation satellites were launched from China.

China’s national launch cadence is increasing through producing and reusing more launch vehicles.

Yang Feng, Founder and General Manager of Spacety, highlighted that China's satellite internet development involves nationwide coordination.

The Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilization and Technological Innovation is primarily responsible for the filings, with plans for two networks of 96,714 satellites each.

The Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilization and Technological Innovation will require billions or trillions of Yuan to expand satellite production and procure launches.

Chinese spacecraft operators submitted filings to the International Telecommunication Union for nearly 200,000 new satellites.

The majority of the planned satellites will come from one institute in China.

During launches, CTC networks' satellites need to share launch availability with other spacecraft.

China's vision includes building a community with a shared future in outer space focusing on development, security, and sustainability.