Aerospace News December 2023

New federal space strategy adopted

Germany’s federal cabinet adopted the government’s new space strategy in September. Space exploration and its potential societal uses with specific focus attached to “New Space” initiatives in the private sector are front and center of the new framework policy. The new strategy lays out nine fields of action – including international cooperation, space flight market growth, climate change, digitalization, and sustainable use of outer space - as well as short-term and medium-term key projects and goals and measures. Announcing the policy, Federal Government Coordinator of German Aerospace Policy Dr. Anna Christmann said that “In Germany, we have strong established players, excellent SMEs and upcoming innovative start-ups in the space sector. We are building on European competition for launchers, a Space Innovation Hub and international partnerships. We want to make even better use of the potential for the mitigation of climate change and prevent space debris.”

High-tech microlauncher start-ups providing space travel momentum

German space start-ups in the south of Germany are developing new launch vehicles that will be used to launch satellites into space in the future. HyImpulse Technologies GmbH, Rocket Factory Augsburg AG and Isar Aerospace Technologies GmbH have all received funding to the tune of EUR 25 million from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of its microlauncher competition. The initiative has been set up to support private launch service providers to develop their launchers and establish a foothold in the marketplace. Visiting the three companies in summer, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck observed that “Just a few years ago, no one would have believed that you could start a rocket company in Germany and today we have three of them. High-tech start-ups from Germany provide important impetus for space travel in Europe. We need more competition and private sector involvement. Private providers drive innovation, increase our resilience and ensure that government agencies can buy launch services as anchor customers in the future – and more cheaply than if they continue to do everything themselves.”

Wingcopter launches delivery service and secures 40 million euro financing

Drone solutions provider Wingcopter launched Germany’s first everyday goods delivery service in October. Together with the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, the start-up has started its “Drone cargo bike express delivery” project. The “LieferMichel” pilot project provides residents of remote neighborhoods in Michelstadt, Hesse, with a grocery and consumer goods delivery service using Wingcopter delivery drones and cargo bikes. In May of this year, the Hesse-based company received EUR 40 million in fresh investment to scale up electric delivery drones and logistics services from the European Investment Bank (EIB). The EIB quasi-entity investment joins existing funding from an international group of investors including German supermarket chain REWE Group, Japanese Fortune 100 conglomerate ITOCHU, Xplorer Capital, and Expa. 

Quantum Systems secures EUR 63.6 million in series B financing round

Munich-based dual-use AI drone robot provider Quantum Systems secured EUR 63.6 million in new funding as part of a recent series B funding round, bringing total funding to over EUR 100 million. The investment – led by HV Capital and DTCP – underscores the company’s commitment to strengthening European resilience using advanced aerial reconnaissance technologies. Quantum Systems’ dual-use capability for both commercial and government clients has established the company as a global leader in AI-driven drone robotics solutions.

Droniq first company in Europe to receive operating license for drone-in-a-box system

Droniq has become the first company in Europe to receive an operating license for its DJI Dock drone-in-a-box system. Drone-in-a-box systems simplify drone usage through the deployment of ground stations in which drones are located, charged and ready for operation. The development will allow customers to enable automated drone operations in the near future, with automated deployment seeing drones fly according to a pre-programmed route before returning to the ground station. Remote pilot deployment also widens potential use to include critical infrastructure monitoring, construction site inspection and plant fire prevention management. 

Berlin satellite start-up to expand into forest monitoring

Berlin-based infrastructure monitoring company LiveEO has announced plans to expand into the area of forest monitoring after the introduction of new EU legislation. In April, the European Parliament passed far-reaching anti-deforestation legislation banning the import of coffee, beef, soy, timber, and other raw materials to the EU where they have been sourced from the destruction of the world’s forest. Companies must provide verifiable information specifying that goods and products have not been grown on land deforested after 2020. LiveEO wants to provide the 1.2 million companies in Europe affected by the law with information on the origin of raw materials using its satellite-based technologies and AI software. 

Solar airships potential game changer for air travel

Airships powered by solar energy could represent a sustainable and comfortable alternative to airplane travel in the future according to researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and TU Munich. Simulations carried out by the university teams show that travel by airship is entirely feasible and provide significant potential for the future. Drawing on the tragic example of the Hindenburg catastrophe in 1937, the researchers based their analysis on the dimensions of the historical airship as proof of the comfort of this type of travel. The use of solar energy could be a “real game changer” as a climate friendly mode of aviation transportation.

EUR 60 million equity for Alpine Space Ventures

Alpine Space Ventures (ASV) has secured EUR 60 million in equity from the European Investment Fund (EIF). The Germany-based VC fund focused on the “new space” market received the funding from InvestEU and the CASSINI investing facility of the European Space Programme as well as the European Recovery Programme of the German government. The new cash injection sees ASV surpass the EUR 100 million mark – bringing the fund close to its EUR 160 million target size. To date, ASV has invested in four companies: small satellite manufacturer Reflex Aerospace, electric propulsion company Morpheus Space, carbon composites expert Blackwave, and Source Energy, a provider of integrated energy solutions for space vehicles.