T-Minus Space Daily: Europe’s Push for Space Tech within the Financial Sector
Episode Release Date: May 20, 2025
Host: Maria Varmazes, N2K Networks

Europe’s Space for Finance Initiative

Timestamp: [01:27]

In today's episode, Maria Varmazes highlights a groundbreaking collaboration between the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) aimed at integrating satellite-based technologies into the financial sector. The joint initiative, titled Space for Finance, seeks to leverage Europe's advancements in earth observation and satellite navigation to enhance sustainability reporting, risk management, and impact assessment across industries such as investment banking and insurance.

Key Objectives:

• Utilize satellite data to improve financial services.
• Enable companies to monitor environmental performance.
• Anticipate risks and compare results across different business sites.

A significant aspect of this initiative is the Research and Development (R&D) Pilot Program, which will implement concrete pilot projects to evaluate the value of space data in financial decision-making. This foundational work is expected to pave the way for a broader call for projects open to industry participants. By merging expertise in finance and space, the EIB and LSA aim to position Europe at the forefront of employing space technologies to address global economic and environmental challenges.

Starfish Space’s Otterpup 2 Mission

Timestamp: [02:15]

Starfish Space is preparing to launch its Otterpup 2 mission this summer aboard the Transporter 14 rideshare mission with SpaceX. This demonstration mission aims to conduct rendezvous and proximity operations, ultimately attempting to dock with another spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). If successful, it will mark the first commercial satellite docking in LEO.

Mission Goals:

• Test key software and hardware technologies in orbit.
• Lay the groundwork for future OTTER missions for clients like Intelsat, the US Space Force, and NASA.

The client satellite for this mission will be a deorbit ion spacecraft, serving as a pivotal component in demonstrating docking capabilities. Starfish Space emphasizes that successful completion of Otterpup 2 will enhance their operational capabilities and expand their service offerings across various sectors.

Ursa Space Systems and Aireon Partnership

Timestamp: [03:10]

Ursa Space Systems has formed a strategic partnership with Aireon to integrate Arion's real-time aircraft tracking data into Ursa Space's geospatial platform. Ursa Space, known for its extensive catalog of over 50 million SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) images from the world's largest virtual radar satellite constellation, aims to enhance its analytic offerings by incorporating global aviation activity data provided by Aireon.

Partnership Highlights:

• Combines satellite intelligence with real-time air traffic surveillance.
• Enhances situational awareness for commercial, defense, and humanitarian use cases.
• Expands Ursa Space’s capability to provide comprehensive geospatial analytics.

This collaboration is expected to deliver a robust layer of aviation data, significantly improving the accuracy and utility of Ursa Space’s geospatial intelligence services.

Safran AI and ISI Strategic Partnership

Timestamp: [04:00]

Safran AI and ISI have entered into a long-term strategic partnership to develop advanced multi-sensor artificial intelligence solutions. The collaboration aims to enable governments to achieve faster and more accurate decision-making in geospatial intelligence.

Key Components:

• Multi-Sensor AI Solutions: Combining various sensor data for enhanced geospatial analysis.
• Space-to-Ground Link Solutions: Safran provides ISI with technologies for rapid transmission of high-resolution imagery.
• Dual-Use Technology: The partnership focuses on both commercial and defense applications, aligning with DARPA’s dual-use approach.

This partnership builds upon existing collaborations and seeks to push the boundaries of technological innovation in geospatial intelligence.

SARSATx Secures $2.6 Million Seed Funding

Timestamp: [04:50]

Saudi Arabia's SARSATx has successfully closed a $2.6 million seed funding round. SARSATx is a space startup dedicated to designing and developing small satellites for earth observation using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology. The funding is poised to accelerate the company's mission to advance SAR technologies and bolster Saudi Arabia's position in the global space industry.

Funding Utilization:

• Enhance SAR satellite capabilities.
• Support research and development in earth observation technologies.
• Expand operational infrastructure to meet growing industry demands.

SARSATx's advancements in SAR technology are expected to provide valuable data across various sectors, including environmental monitoring, agriculture, and disaster management.

Additional Story: Yank Technologies' NASA Contract

Timestamp: [07:32]

Yank Technologies has been selected for a two-year follow-on CIBER Phase 2 contract from NASA. The contract focuses on advancing dust-tolerant resonant connectors for use on lunar and planetary surfaces.

Project Objectives:

• Develop connectors that can withstand the harsh dust environments of the Moon and other planetary bodies.
• Enhance the reliability and longevity of space missions through improved hardware resilience.
• Support future lunar and planetary exploration activities.

For more details, listeners are directed to the Selected Readings section in the show notes.

Interview: DARPA’s Lasso Program with David Barnhart

Timestamp: [09:47]

Guest: David Barnhart, CEO and co-founder of Arcasis

Maria Varmazes engages in an insightful discussion with David Barnhart about DARPA's new Lasso program, which aims to search for water on the Moon.

Key Points from the Interview:

• David Barnhart’s Background:

  • Extensive experience in space-related government startups and academic endeavors.
  • Founded Arcasis with the goal of developing ports for space, analogous to nautical ports, to facilitate arrivals, departures, services, and cargo in space.

• DARPA's Lasso Program Overview:

  • Objective: Identify water ice on the Moon's surface by operating at low altitudes to accurately map gravitational variations.
  • Challenges: Navigating the Moon's amorphous gravitational field requires precise mapping to avoid collisions while conducting extensive data collection.
  • Mission Goals:
    • Create a detailed gravitational and surface map of the Moon.
    • Locate and quantify ice deposits to support future lunar missions.

• Significance of the Program:

  • Technological Advancement: Pushes the boundaries of current space mapping and navigational technologies.
  • Dual-Use Potential: Developments from the program have both commercial and defense applications, aligning with DARPA's mission.
  • Historical Context: Responds to increased interest and competition in lunar exploration, notably following China's Moon landings.

Notable Quote:

“DARPA wants to combine not only the mapping of the surface as well as the gravitational field but also, hey, where's that? Where's the ice crystals that we can go for?”
— David Barnhart ([11:09])

David emphasizes the ambitious nature of the Lasso program and its potential to unlock new technological capabilities that could benefit a wide range of space-related activities.

Tribute: Dr. Jennifer Leah Gannon and Storm Gannon Aurora

Timestamp: [18:20]

Maria Varmazes pays homage to Dr. Jennifer Leah Gannon, a prominent space weather scientist who tragically passed away on May 2, 2024, at the age of 45. Dr. Gannon was a leading expert in geomagnetically induced currents, ground-based magnetic field disturbances, radiation belt electron dynamics, and geomagnetic storms.

In recognition of her contributions, NASA scientists named the spectacular May 2024 KP9 Aurora as Storm Gannon, marking the first time a geomagnetic storm received a name since the 1859 Carrington event. The Aurora was notable for its unprecedented brightness and was witnessed globally, including in metropolitan areas unaccustomed to such displays.

Notable Quote:

“Absolutely a fitting tribute to a scientist whose life, work, and passion was to understand space weather and whose life was cut tragically short.”
— Maria Varmazes ([18:20])

This tribute underscores the impact of Dr. Gannon’s work on the field of space weather and the enduring legacy she leaves behind.

Conclusion

Today's episode of T-Minus Space Daily delves into Europe's innovative integration of space technology within the financial sector, highlighting significant partnerships and missions that underscore the growing intersection between space and other industries. The in-depth interview with David Barnhart provides valuable insight into DARPA's ambitious Lasso program, emphasizing the ongoing advancements and challenges in lunar exploration. Additionally, the heartfelt tribute to Dr. Jennifer Leah Gannon serves as a reminder of the human dedication behind space science.

For more detailed information and additional resources, listeners are encouraged to visit the show notes at space.n2k.com.

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