Britain’s first ‘space factory’ blasts into orbit on test mission

Jun27
by on June 27, 2025 at 7:00 am
Posted In: Insider


A British-built manufacturing satellite successfully launched into orbit on its first test mission. Cardiff-based startup Space Forge launched the probe — called ForgeStar-1 — aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-14 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Tuesday. The launch marks the first time the UK has sent a spacecraft into orbit to produce new materials in the unique conditions of space, according to the startup.  Joshua Western, CEO and co-founder of Space Forge, hailed it as the start of a “new era” for materials science and industry.   “We’ve built and launched Britain’s first manufacturing satellite, and it’s alive in…

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Helsinki turns to AI to spot e-scooter crashes before they happen

Jun26
by on June 26, 2025 at 4:18 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized


Helsinki has launched a pilot project to test e-scooters equipped with AI-powered sensors that monitor rider behaviour and flag safety risks in real time.  Backed by the European Union, the trial involves 40 shared e-scooters from Tier-Dott, one of Europe’s largest operators.  Each vehicle is fitted with sensors developed by UK-based See.Sense, which detect sudden braking, swerving, and vibrations that may signal road hazards. The data is then analysed and visualised through a mobility data platform developed by French startup Vianova. The pilot is coordinated by Forum Virium Helsinki, the city’s innovation agency, as part of the EU-funded ELABORATOR project.…

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€19bn Visma picks London for tech IPO in rare win for UK stock market

Jun26
by on June 26, 2025 at 3:05 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized


Norwegian software firm Visma has provisionally picked London for its IPO next year. It could mark a rare win for the UK’s troubled stock market — if Downing Street pulls through on its promised reforms.  British private equity firm Hg acquired a 70% stake in Visma in 2006 at a £380mn (€445mn) valuation. The company, which makes accounting, payroll, and HR software products, is now worth an estimated €19bn.  Visma previously considered listing in Amsterdam but has since turned its sights to the British capital, according to the Financial Times.  Its IPO would run counter to the recent trend of…

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Isar Aerospace raises €150mn to strengthen Europe’s launch capabilities

Jun25
by on June 25, 2025 at 1:43 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized


Europe’s best-funded space tech firm, Isar Aerospace, plans to strengthen the continent’s access to orbital satellites after raising €150mn to expand its launch service. Daniel Metzler, Isar’s CEO and co-founder, said the investment reflects “strong confidence” in the company’s mission to become a new European space leader. “We are catering to the rising global demand for satellite launch services and provide global markets and governments with independent and flexible access to space,” he said.  Founded in 2018 as a spin-off from Technical University Munich, Isar aims to lower the cost and complexity of launching small to medium-sized satellites by offering…

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European startup’s space capsule ‘lost’ after reentry

Jun24
by on June 24, 2025 at 4:20 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized


Communication with a privately funded European space capsule was lost Tuesday shortly after the spacecraft reentered Earth’s atmosphere.  The capsule launched on a SpaceX rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Monday. The Exploration Company, which built the spacecraft, described the mission as a “partial success” and a “partial failure.” “The capsule was launched successfully, powered the payloads nominally in orbit, stabilised itself after separation with the launcher, re-entered and re-established communication after blackout,” the Munich-based startup said in a LinkedIn post today.  “But it encountered an issue afterwards, based on our current best knowledge, and we lost…

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