Space companies secure defence and Earth observation contracts

Open Cosmos, a UK-based satellite scaleup, has secured a role in supporting a national defence communications push. The company aims to provide space-based connectivity for a national defence network, marking a strategic expansion from Earth observation into the direct-to-device communications sector. CEO Rafel Jordà Siquier noted that the contract serves as a “stamp of approval” for the company's strategy.

In a separate development in the space sector, Axelspace Corporation has announced a partnership with Airbus Defence and Space. The agreement focuses on providing medium-resolution optical imagery captured by Axelspace’s “GRUS” microsatellites to a broader market.

The collaboration aims to combine Axelspace’s agile monitoring capabilities with Airbus’s expertise in Earth observation to serve sectors such as agriculture, environmental monitoring, and finance. The partnership is intended to bridge space technology and expertise between Japan and Europe.