Imaging

China launches Yaogan satellite

China conducted a pair of launches sending a second Yaogan-50 satellite into a highly retrograde orbit and completing a Kuaizhou-11 solid rocket rideshare mission. A Long March 6A rocket lifted off at 8:22 a.m. Eastern (1322 UTC) March 15 from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) announced launch successful. spacenews.com

TelePIX wins Hungary satellite camera deal

TelePIX has signed a contract to supply a high-resolution electro-optical (EO) camera system to the Hungarian government’s national Earth observation satellite program “HULEO (Hungarian Low Earth Orbit).”. The HULEO program is aim to secure independent satellite capabilities operating in low Earth orbit (LEO). Core processes such as design, integration, and testing of the satellite system will be carried out in Hungary, and some advanced technologies will be introduced through international cooperation. https://biz.chosun.com

UK space agency contract to GMV

GMV has been awarded a contract by the UK Space Agency (UKSA) to develop advanced algorithmic capabilities for space launch monitoring, supporting the analytical requirements of the UK National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC). The activity focuses on the development and demonstration of data processing algorithms designed to detect, identify, and characterise space launch events using heterogeneous observational data sources. The work contributes to the continual enhancement of the UK’s Space Domain Awareness (SDA) capability, enabling more timely detection of catalogue changes and improved understanding of launch related activity.

RS7 Handheld SLAM Scanner launch

CHC Navigation announced the RS7, a new handheld SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) scanning solution. Built for BIM documentation, indoor surveying, renovation planning and complex spatial analysis, it is designed to help professionals capture high density 3D data efficiently and convert it into practical deliverables through CHCNAV’s software and cloud ecosystem. chcnav.com

Vietnam opens space center with Japan’s support

Vietnam officially inaugurated the Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC) on March 13 with the participation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The project was developed with official development assistance (ODA) from Japan, highlighting the growing technological cooperation between the two countries. The main objective of the Vietnam National Space Center is to establish the infrastructure needed for technology transfer related to Earth observation satellites while simultaneously building a strong domestic workforce in space science and engineering. The center will also play an important role in improving Vietnam’s capabilities in disaster monitoring, climate change response, natural resource management, and environmental observation.

During the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister called for the launch of the LOTUSat1 satellite by late 2027. The 600-kilogram Earth observation satellite was jointly developed by Vietnam and Japan and was initially scheduled for launch in 2025. However, the mission was delayed following issues with the EpsilonS rocket developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. www.azernews.az