This announcement from NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. was released on Feb 17, 2026
12th Annual Space Traffic Management Conference
The Strauss Centre for international Security and law , the International Astronautical Association, and Mitre are hosting the 12th Annual Space Traffic Management Conference, to tackle the challenges of operational assurance for all.
Our CEO, Stewart Bain moderates the kick-off panel featuring Dr. Darren McKnight’s “Four Waves of Kessler Syndrome – LEO Population Evolution Features” (Senior Technical Fellow at LeoLabs) and Philip Cunio’s “Assessing Infrastructural Infringement on Economic Activity from Spaceborne Factors” (Professor of Practice at George Mason’s Department of Mechanical Engineering)
Stewart is also a speaker at the Roundtable discussion, “Looking Back and Looking Forward” with Ruth Stilwell (Aerospace Policy Solutions, LLC), Kevin OConnell (Space Economy Rising LLC and Chairman of Chairman of NorthStar Earth & Space Systems Inc. –USA), and Brittany Silvester (Vinson & Elkins). They gather new perspectives on how to frame and tackle some of the most pressing issues is Space Traffic. This conference assembles some of the most knowledgeable individuals dedicated to protecting the near-earth space environment.
Panel A: Baselining
Moderator: Stewart Bain, NorthStar Earth & Space
- Four Waves of the Kessler Syndrome – LEO PopulationEvolution Features – Darren McKnight
- Assessing Infrastructural Infringement on EconomicActivity from Spaceborne Factors – Philip Cunio
Roundtable: Looking Back and Looking Forward
Moderator: Ruth Stilwell, Aerospace Policy Solutions, LLC
- Kevin O’Connell,Space Economy Rising LLC
- Stewart Bain,NorthStar Earth & Space
- Brittany Silvester,Vinson & Elkins
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]]>Our women in STEM are empowering NorthStar.
Feb 11, 2026
International Day of Women & Girls in Science
Advancing the operational safety and sustainability of Earth’s orbital environment.
We believe space is not only a domain of technology—it is a domain of people. That’s why, on International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re spotlighting the women behind the work — the scientists, engineers, and analysts helping protect the space environment and keep orbital operations safe. Excellence in space requires diversity of thought, experience, and problem-solving approaches. Building a sustainable space future means building an inclusive space sector.
These interviews are more than career highlights. They’re personal stories of curiosity, resilience, and non-linear journeys — shared with the hope that the next generation of women and girls can see themselves in STEM. Representation isn’t symbolic: it directly shapes who feels welcome, who feels capable, and who believes they belong.
Stephanie Marsh 
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your career journey so far?
I started out with a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering and Bachelor of Arts in Melbourne, which led to an exchange program in Kiruna, a town above the Arctic circle in Sweden, where I lived for a year and studied a Space Master’s. I always had a natural interest in space, probably influenced by my love for sci-fi and fantasy books, so being able to study at Kiruna for a year, in the same building as the Esrange Space Centre, seeing the Northern Lights regularly and experiencing the midnight sun and total darkness for months, really turned my attention towards the sky and to space. During my bachelor’s degree, I also completed two internships at aerospace companies in Germany, which was a great chance to spend a lot of time with my German family as well (I’m originally from Luxembourg, but moved to Australia with my family when I was 9 years old). I’ve always loved languages, so I finished my degree with a minor in French, and along the way worked in a café and later as a rock-climbing instructor at a climbing gym. I then studied my Masters of Space Engineering at UNSW, during which time one of my professors recommended me to his industry contacts, and a day later I got a job offer to work at a launch company.
From there, I really learned by doing – working on launch trajectory analysis and risk assessments and getting the chance to meet and learn from people across the space industry. An awesome highlight was travelling to Vandenberg Space Force Base and seeing the launch pads there in person. After about three years in launch operations, I moved into my current role as an Orbital Dynamics Specialist at NorthStar, where I’ve been for over a year now. Working within the domain of data fusion, I primarily support international space safety as an operator – in a nutshell, we bring together and analyse data from many different sources, such as earth observations, space-based observations, photometric and passive RF data, to characterise and report on satellite manoeuvres, attitude changes and close approaches, with the goal of providing a safe space environment and increased situational awareness in space.
Which technical problem or challenge in your field inspires you the most, and why?
I think a large challenge is managing the increasing number of satellites that enter the space domain, and collision avoidance and debris impacts become very important. I love being able to work in real-time operations, where you’re dealing with live data and more time-critical decisions. Being able to also work directly with the code and see how things function behind the scenes has also helped me build a much better understanding of orbit determination algorithms, and it keeps the work very engaging. I’ve personally also always been quite curious about the space environment in terms of space weather, radiation belts and how the environment changes in different orbital regions.
What achievements in your career are you most proud of?
I’m really proud of the international simulation exercises I’ve participated in — working in a shared operations environment, responding to high-pressure scenarios, and putting our skills to the test has been incredibly rewarding. Being named as a finalist in the 2024 Australian Space Awards was also a huge honour and something I’m very proud of.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to enter this field?
Being open to new opportunities even if they seem scary. A lot of my career path and path in life in general has come from saying yes to unexpected, spontaneous things – like the exchange program in Sweden or last-minute work opportunities and trips – and trusting that I’d figure it out along the way. Also making the best out of any situation. Covid lockdowns disrupted my original plan to start working in the space industry in Germany, which led me to study my Master’s in Australia instead and in the end, everything worked out better than I could have imagined. I think going to networking events is also important, not just to meet people but also to gain a larger perspective of what goes on in the space industry worldwide. For me, these kinds of events always inspired me. One particularly memorable experience was chatting with an astronaut who described what Space Shuttle flights were like as a shuttle pilot – I remember just being in complete awe and feeling even more excited to work in this field.
Chloé Gingras
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your career journey so far?
I once heard someone joke that astronomy is a gateway drug to physics: you start with a perfectly innocent sense of awe at black holes and supernovae, and before you know it, you’re spending your Friday nights staring at some terrifying equations. That was certainly true for me. It began with an astrophysics class in Cegep, which led to an exploratory year in the Astrophysics program at University of Toronto, which I had to leave for personal reasons. I returned to Montreal and studied Engineering Physics at Polytechnique Montreal. (We did no astrophysics whatsoever, but I did stare at plenty of terrifying equations.)
After graduating, I took a gap year to go backpacking, and then did a Master’s in neutrino physics at McGill. I managed to sneak in a couple Astro classes even though my research topic wasn’t really related. This was mostly during the pandemic, and I lived alone and worked alone – it was a tough time. Afterwards, I wanted a change of scenery, and eventually, I stumbled upon an internship at NorthStar in Luxembourg that spoke to my interests. I moved over without even knowing that our main office is twenty minutes away from where I grew up! But I love it here, and luckily, my internship turned into a permanent position.
What does a SSA Operation Software Engineer do, and what let you into that role?
In short, the role is about bridging the gap between physics and software engineering. NorthStar Luxembourg develops SSA solutions that rely on advanced research and modeling, which means physicists and software engineers work in close collaboration; having some knowledge of astrodynamics and an affinity for programming, I had one foot in both. The position allows me to connect both sides and follow a project from its inception as a physics problem to its implementation as a turnkey software solution.
Which technical problem or challenge in your field inspires you the most, and why?
This is a difficult question for me, because I’m a puzzle-solver and I most enjoy sinking my teeth into the very concrete, granular technical problems that we work on every day. That said, I’m very much interested in the scalability of astrodynamics algorithms. Classical methods are elegant and practical on a small scale, but they become impractical or prohibitively computationally expensive for constellations or whole catalogues. Beautifully clever algorithms have been developed and are being worked on to maintain accuracy and propagate uncertainty at large scales.
What achievements in your career are you most proud of?
I’m only getting started, ask me again in a couple years! For now, I’m proud of keeping pace with the learning curve involved in learning both a new programming language and software engineering on the job, as a novice, and to have been trusted to work on some fairly involved projects. I can’t claim much credit, though. The team has been exceptionally supportive.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to enter this field?
Get comfortable collaborating across disciplines, and become versatile yourself, if you can. From where I’m standing, in this field, knowledge of physics is invaluable to software, strong software fundamentals are essential to physics research (especially in creating reliable SSA systems), and neither evolve far from operations. It all has to fit together. (Plus, it’s all fun – so why wouldn’t you want to?!)
Noemi Giammichele
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your career journey so far?
I’m a hockey lover, a mom of three little monsters, and an astrophysicist. For the past three years, I’ve been working at NorthStar Earth & Space, a Montréal-based start-up. I began my academic journey with a bachelor’s degree in physics, then took a detour into mechanical engineering for my master’s degree. During that time, my work focused on developing a new parameterization to better optimize airplane wing designs.
Eventually, I found my way back to my first love—astronomy—by completing a PhD in astrophysics. I then spent six years in postdoctoral research in Toulouse, France, studying pulsating white dwarfs. After that, I was ready for a new challenge and joined NorthStar, where I now work on monitoring and tracking space debris.
What does an image processing specialist do, and what led you into that role?
As an astronomer, my job was essentially to stare at telescope images and uncover the stories hidden in the light. Those images contain valuable clues about a star’s structure, properties, and evolution, which can be revealed through careful analysis and modeling.
At NorthStar, the challenge is surprisingly similar—just closer to home! I work with images capturing the light traces of Resident Space Objects (RSOs) as they cross our telescopes field of view. From those traces, I derive their physical characteristics as well as their position and velocity. Precise and accurate measurements are key to reliably tracking and characterizing the many satellites orbiting our planet.
Which technical problem or challenge in your field inspires you the most, and why?
Since the beginning of humanity, we have looked up at the dark sky, the stars, and the vastness of the universe. Recognizing that we live on a small blue dot, lost in such immensity, is a fundamental part of the human experience.
Today, with the rise of mega-constellations and the rapid expansion of satellite launches, we face a real risk of permanently polluting our night skies. It would only take a few collisions to seriously compromise our access to space. We’re already seeing the impact on ground-based astronomy, as light pollution from satellites increasingly interferes with observations.
That’s why I find my work at NorthStar so meaningful. By monitoring and tracking objects in orbit, we help protect our access to space and preserve the night sky—the same sky that has inspired generations to explore and reach further.
What achievements in your career are you most proud of?
During my PhD, I developed a new way to probe the core composition of certain white dwarf stars by rethinking how we analyze their pulsation properties and theoretical models. I’m especially proud that this work was published in Nature. It’s still amazing to me that by observing the subtle flickering of an unreachable star many light-years away, we can determine the composition of its core.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to enter this field?
It is a demanding and often stressful field, but my advice is simple: go, go absolutely go for it. It can be very difficult to see a clear career path at the beginning, but it is a field worth being proud of. It also provides a strong set of skills that can lead to successful careers in many related areas.
Laura Pirovano
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your career journey so far?
Back in high school, while choosing the topic I wanted to bring for the final exam I stumbled upon the SDO (solar dynamics observatory) a satellite publishing incredible pictures of the Sun at different spectral lengths. Of course I had no idea of what was going on, or what that meant, I was simply in awe of how beautiful those pictures were and the fact that they came from space. Despite this love at first sight, I did not venture the unknown path and instead went on to study mathematics in my bachelor, at Politecnico di Milano. I was good at it; it was a safe choice.
After three years, I realised it was not fulfilling my curiosity and decided was time to apply all those abstract concepts to space. I did my master’s degree at TU Delft focusing on space flight and my thesis in Germany on the coupling between orbital dynamics and flexible structures. It was while I was looking for a job that I stumbled on the theme of “Space Situational Awareness” which I had not been taught previously. I discovered the problem of cataloguing, of tracking, of making space safe for operations. And from there on I never left it.
I did my PhD on it (in between Spain and the Uk), then moved to New Zealand and continued with my Postdoc and PhD students’ supervision, including a brief teaching phase at the Master of Aerospace. After all these years applying mathematical and statistical methods to contribute to the cataloguing efforts theoretically, I felt the need to look at it from an operational perspective, and the occasion came at the perfect moment when NorthStar decided to open a pacific office.
What does an orbital analyst do, and what led you into that role?
An orbital analyst, as the name might imply, analyses data coming from different sources to characterise satellites orbital motions. Whether it is following the intended trajectory, it has deviated, and especially why it did so. It is an operational effort to understand where everything is and where it is going, which is the core of Space Situational Awareness.
Which technical problem or challenge in your field inspires you the most, and why?
It is both a mathematical challenge and an ethical one. Mathematically, it is very rewarding to use abstract tools and solve difficult problems, contributing to the literature on the topic, and becoming the starting point of someone else’s research. Ethically it does raise a question of sustainability of the current use of space, it is an open question which needs answers and solutions.
What achievements in your career are you most proud of?
I am proud of having taken chances, and not just safe choices. I am proud of the research I have carried out and the recognition from the other researchers in the field.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to enter this field?
There are so many aspects of the field which are to be explored, and not just from an engineering perspective. It’s the diversity in the field which is enriching it and making it progress. As a woman, it initially felt weird to enter a room full of adult men while I was trying to make my first steps in the field. But just like me, there were many other women, and I am very happy to see the representation growing each time I go to a conference. If I can give some advice I did not follow myself: reach out! Ask, be curious, so many options open.
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]]>What are Key considerations in Space Domain Awareness (SDA) in 2026.
Ruth Stilwell, Kevin O’Connell, Ignacio Cires, and Stewart Bain discuss Space Domain Awareness
Day 1 | What topic related to Space Domain Awareness keeps you up at night?
As the orbital environment becomes more congested and contested, the challenges facing SDA are evolving faster than ever. We asked the Executive director at aerospace policy solutions, Ruth Stilwell, to reflect on the issue in her mind that demand the most attention—and the most urgency.
Day 2 | How do you see the space economy evolving over the next five years?
From commercialization and regulation of the space sector, the next phase of the space economy will redefine how we operate in orbit. We asked the CEO of Space Economy Rising, Kevin O’Connell, to share his outlook on what lies ahead.
Day 3 | What is top of mind as we look toward 2026?
With technological acceleration and growing geopolitical and commercial complexity, priorities are shifting. We asked experts Kevin (CEO at Space Economy Rising) and Ruth (Executive Director at Aerospace Policy Solutions) what will matter most in the year ahead.
Day 4 | Why is 24/7 continuous monitoring essential for space safety?
In an environment where seconds can matter, continuous monitoring is no longer optional. We asked industry expert Ignacio, Director of Business development at NorthStar, to explain why persistent, real-time awareness is critical to protecting space assets and ensuring mission success.
Day 5 | What are the biggest roadblocks to making space sustainable for all?
Long-term sustainability requires more than awareness—it requires coordination, accountability, and action. We asked industry leaders Stewart Bain (CEO of NorthStar), Kevin (CEO at Space Economy Rising) and Ruth (Executive Director at Aerospace Policy Solutions) to identify the most significant barriers standing in the way of a safer, more sustainable orbital future.
Table of Contents:
- Day 1-5 Compilation | Important Discussion 2025 Framing 2026 (4:59)
- Clip 1 – Day 1 | What topic related to Space Domain Awareness keeps you up at night? (0:49) (Top of page)
- Clip 2 – Day 2 | The necessity of establishing a Space Council in Canada. (0:21)
- Clip 3 – Day 3 | What is top of mind as we look toward 2026? (0:24)
- Clip 4 – Day 4 | Why is 24/7 continuous monitoring essential for space safety? (0:46)
- Clip 5 – Day 5 | What are the biggest roadblocks to making space sustainable for all? (2:14)
Day 1-5 Compilation | Important Discussion 2025 Framing 2026 (4:59)
Day 1 | What topic related to Space Domain Awareness keeps you up at night? (0:49)
Clip 2 – Day 2 | The necessity of establishing a Space Council in Canada. (0:21)
Clip 3 – Day 3 | What is top of mind as we look toward 2026? (0:24)
Clip 4 – Day 4 | Why is 24/7 continuous monitoring essential for space safety? (0:46)
Clip 5 – Day 5 | What are the biggest roadblocks to making space sustainable for all? (2:14)
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]]>This announcement from NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. was released on Dec 17, 2025
Press Release and Q&A with Beth Michelson
NorthStar Appoints Beth Michelson as President of NorthStar Earth & Space Systems in US
Commercializing Space Domain Awareness in the US Market
New York — 15 December 2025 — NorthStar, a global leader in Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Domain Awareness (SDA), today announced the appointment of Beth Michelson as President of our NorthStar subsidiary in the US. Beth will continue to maintain her role as CFO for the global enterprise. This move reinforces NorthStar’s commitment to U.S. national space defense innovation to establish NorthStar as an active participant in America’s domestic space industrial base.
“I am excited to support NorthStar US as we transition to commercial services across allied nations when space security is central to national defense here and abroad. Our mission is to deliver capabilities that empower the U.S. and its allies to operate safely and effectively in space,” said Beth Michelson.
NorthStar was established in Canada with support of US and European partners to create a global entity capable of leveraging know-how and technology across allied nations. As a select performer in the DARPA’s Space-WATCH program, NorthStar continues to enable clients to accelerate adoption of advanced SDA applications critical for deterrence, threat detection, and operational superiority in a contested space domain.
“NorthStar’s appointment of Beth Michelson as President of our US enterprise comes at a pivotal moment for our company and for U.S. space security,” said Stewart Bain, CEO of NorthStar. “Leveraging experience and skills across our three enterprises give NorthStar a unique perspective to provide services that meet rapidly evolving military requirements.”
About NorthStar
NorthStar’s precise information services identify and anticipate the position of space objects to enhance spaceflight safety. NorthStar is the first commercial service to deliver space-based SSA and SDA capabilities on an international scale. With headquarters in Montreal, Canada, a European headquarters in Luxembourg, and a dedicated US operation in New York, NorthStar addresses the ever-growing threat of space collisions as a major contribution to empower humanity to preserve our planet.
Q&A WITH BETH MICHELSON
In your new role as President of NorthStar US, how do you see current geopolitical movements influencing your business, and how will you use and build capabilities in the United States to meet your objectives?
The evolving geopolitical landscape is reshaping defense strategies across allied nations, and the United States remains a major driver of this transformation. NorthStar is uniquely positioned in the US to leverage the established industrial base by partnering with leading innovators and integrate Space Domain Awareness (SDA) services into target opportunities. Our established DARPA Space-WATCH experience helps validate our space services to establish good pedigree. Our current focus is to accelerate the adoption of next-generation SDA capabilities to implement both deterrence and operational superiority for US government clients.
How does NorthStar’s global presence benefit US clients, and how do you balance international collaboration with national interests?
NorthStar’s global footprint—spanning Canada, Luxembourg, and the US enables us to bring together the best of allied innovation. Each NorthStar entity develops intellectual property locally, ensuring national interests are protected, while sharing expertise across our enterprise. This collaborative approach strengthens the industrial base of every partner country and accelerates innovation. For our US clients, it means access to world-class solutions that are tailored to allied requirements, while maintaining strong ties with our Canadian and European partners. We are committed to supporting US space defense priorities and deepening our relationships with allies.
What are NorthStar US’s plans for growth and partnership within the US market?
We are rapidly expanding our US operations, creating high-value jobs and fostering collaboration with American primes and SMEs. By injecting advanced AI-driven space analytics into the defense ecosystem, we support both economic growth and mission assurance. Our services will continue to roll out to existing clients, and we are excited to demonstrate solutions to new allied government customers. As we grow, our focus remains on building infrastructure that scales to meet the demands of our clients, ensuring NorthStar US is a suitable and autonomous partner for the US government and industry.
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]]>This announcement from NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. was released on Dec 10, 2025
NATO DIANA Selects NorthStar to Advance and Commercialize Space Domain Awareness Services
Luxembourg, December 10th — NorthStar Earth & Space S.à.r.l., a world leader in commercial space situational awareness has been selected from 3680 applicants to join the NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) 2026 cohort. As part of the DIANA program, NorthStar will continue to enhance the automatization of its Space Domain Awareness (SDA) services to increase operational value within the Alliance and accelerate the commercialization of services for the benefit of NATO stakeholders and allied defence organizations.
NorthStar leads numerous support activities for international SDA programs, providing real-time insights that improve space safety, threat detection, and mission resilience. NorthStar’s participation in DIANA will expand the reach and impact of these services through direct engagement with NATO stakeholders and test centres.
“NorthStar’s SDA services are trusted by numerous international partners. It is a privilege to have been selected from among so many talented applicants to support such an important effort. DIANA opens the door to a powerful platform that will showcase how our services can directly contribute to NATO’s objectives,” said Stewart Bain, CEO and Founder of NorthStar. “Our team will use this opportunity to accelerate automation and validate interoperability to bring timely and actionable space intelligence to decision-makers when it matters most.”
NorthStar’s system is interoperable with NATO systems to ensure seamless integration into workflows and reinforce more rapid transatlantic cooperation. NorthStar is pioneering the ability to transform inputs from various sensors to deliver space information & intelligence (Si2). With DIANA, NorthStar will deliver live advanced SDA by automating the fusion of electro-optical (EO) and passive Radio Frequency (RF) signals to continuously track space objects of interest and detect rapid manoeuvres (i.e. anomalies) to produce a complete and more accurate orbital picture. The result is a resilient SDA service with continuous tracking of high‑interest objects that supports tactical responses to emerging threats and increase mission assurance for allied space operations.
About NorthStar
NorthStar Earth & Space S.à.r.l., headquartered in Luxembourg (LU), provides commercial Space Situational Awareness (SSA) services to ensure satellite safety throughout the entire mission lifecycle, from launch to de-orbit. From Luxembourg, the company also delivers Space Domain Awareness (SDA) services in support of sovereign defence organisations in North America, Europe, and the Pacific, contributing to the protection of critical space infrastructure.
The Luxembourg enterprise comprised of European experts in astrodynamics, data science, and software development is focused on dual purpose services suited to European and international clients. NorthStar currently plays a leading role in advancing space safety, security, and sustainability on a global scale.
About NATO DIANA
DIANA, a NATO initiative, was established to identify and accelerate dual‑use technologies that address critical challenges facing Allied defence and security. Acting as NATO’s innovation engine, DIANA engages companies developing solutions in key areas prioritized by the Alliance, helping to bring emerging and disruptive technologies from concept to market and into the hands of end‑users who need them most. Through a transatlantic network of 16 accelerator sites and more than 200 specialized test centres, DIANA provides innovators with the resources, expertise, and partnerships required to refine their technology, ensure interoperability, and grow their businesses, thereby strengthening NATO’s technological edge in a rapidly changing world.
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]]>This announcement from NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. was released on Nov 18, 2025
Canadian Commercially Owned, Commercially Operated (COCO) Space Services Poised to Support Modernized Defence Procurement
Accelerating Defence Modernization with Canadian Commercial Innovation
Ottawa, Canada – Nov 18 – As Canada accelerates efforts to modernize defence capabilities, Commercially Owned, Commercially Operated (COCO) space services are emerging as a strategic enabler for government missions requiring agility, resilience, and rapid technological refresh.
COCO services — designed, owned, and operated by Canadian industry — provide government and defence partners with reliable access to critical space-based capabilities such as space domain awareness, Earth observation, communications, and data analytics. By leveraging private-sector investment and commercial innovation cycles, COCO approaches deliver faster capability delivery, predictable cost structures, and enhanced operational flexibility.
Ongoing updates to federal defence procurement practices emphasize speed, interoperability, and greater collaboration with Canadian industry. Within this context, COCO models align with Canada’s goals to streamline acquisition, reduce lifecycle risk, and ensure mission-readiness in an increasingly contested and congested space environment.
“Canada’s commercial space sector is uniquely positioned to deliver sovereign capabilities at commercial tempo,” says our CEO Stewart Bain, “COCO services give government users persistent access to high-value space data and operations, without requiring long acquisition timelines or significant upfront capital investment.”
By integrating COCO offerings into future procurement strategies, Canada can strengthen its domestic industrial base while ensuring decision-makers, operators, and mission partners have timely, secure, and scalable access to space-derived information.
The NorthStar team is heading to #spacebound2025 to have important conversations on how to advance Canada’s space sovereignty and security.
Our CEO, Stewart Bain, will be joining fellow colleagues Mina Mitry, CEO of KEPLER Communications, Mary Preville, CFN consultants, and Scott McCrady of Magellan Aerospace to participate on the panel moderated by David Perry, Canadian Global Affairs Institute:
“From Commitment to Capability: Reforming Procurement to Deliver on Canada’s NATO Commitments” November 19th at 9AM in Ottawa.
Media Contacts:
NorthStar Earth & Space S.à r.l.
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://northstar-data.com
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]]>This announcement from NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. was released on Nov 12, 2025
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites—Foresight-3; image courtesy of Space42
NorthStar to enhance the safety and sustainability of Space42’s space operations
A commercial collaboration to lead the way for the responsible use of space
Nov 12, 2025, Luxembourg – NorthStar Earth and Space S.à r.l., NorthStar, a world leader in commercial space situational awareness (SSA) will collaborate with Space42, the UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company with global reach, to utilize its newly advanced Collision Avoidance Services within Space42’s satellite fleet management system. The collaboration promotes sustainable space operations and supports the development of a more reliable space traffic management framework.
Space42 strives to ensure satellite safety by performing the Space debris conjunction analysis more efficiently. Hence, Space42 will evaluate NorthStar’s satellite conjunction analysis services, with the aim to enhance space traffic management.
“At Space42, we continue to build on our legacy in Space Situational Awareness. The collaboration with Northstar promotes long-term operational sustainability across both LEO and GEO missions” said Adnan Al Mheiri, Chief Technology Officer of Space Services at Space42.
Space42 is an AI-powered Space-Tech company that provides innovative space services and smart solutions to customers worldwide, integrating satellite communications, geospatial insights, and artificial intelligence capabilities. Its space assets are located from LEO to GEO regimes across multiple orbits.
“NorthStar is very honoured to be working with Space42 as both firms are committed to the advancement of satellite safety services that will lead to a more sustainable space environment,” said Stewart Bain, Founder and CEO of NorthStar. “Luxembourg, through LuxImpulse, has played a pivotal role to realize this commercial service and NorthStar is looking forward to onboarding other forward leaning commercial space operators.”
NorthStar is a provider of Space Information and Intelligence (Si²), providing commercial space-based SSA monitoring and analytic services to enhance the safety and sustainability of near-Earth space operations.
About Space 42
Space42 (ADX: SPACE42) is a UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company that integrates satellite communications, geospatial analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities to enlighten the Earth from space. Formed in 2024 by the successful merger of Bayanat and Yahsat, Space42’s global reach allows it to address the rapidly evolving needs of its customers in governments, enterprises, and communities. Space42 comprises two business units: Space Services and Smart Solutions. Space Services focuses on upstream satellite operations for both fixed and mobility satellite services. Smart Solutions integrates geospatial data acquisition and processing with AI to inform decision-making, enhance situational awareness, and improve operational efficiency. Major shareholders include G42, Mubadala, and IHC.
For more information, visit: www.space42.ai; follow us on X: @space42ai
About NorthStar Earth & Space
NorthStar Earth & Space s.à r.l., headquartered in Luxembourg (LU), provides commercial Space Situational Awareness (SSA) services to ensure satellite safety throughout the entire mission lifecycle, from launch to de-orbit. From Luxembourg, the company also delivers Space Domain Awareness (SDA) services in support of sovereign defence organisations in North America, Europe, and the Pacific, contributing to the protection of critical space infrastructure.
The Luxembourg team, comprised of European experts in astrodynamics, data science, and software development, is focused on addressing both European and international opportunities. NorthStar is positioned to play a leading role in advancing space safety, security, and sustainability on a global scale.
Media Contacts:
NorthStar Earth & Space S.à r.l.
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://northstar-data.com
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]]>This announcement from NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. was released on Oct 21, 2025
NorthStar Earth & Space leads a European consortium to enhance the safety of satellite operations
ESA funded initiative to combine atmospheric models with orbital predictions to reduce space navigation risk arising from solar flares
Luxembourg – October 21, 2025– NorthStar Earth & Space S.à r.l. (“NorthStar”), a leader in Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and space sustainability solutions, has been awarded a contract by the European Space Agency (ESA), through its European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, to head a consortium to develop a new capability to improve the accuracy of satellite orbit predictions by addressing atmospheric drag uncertainty in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
As space becomes increasingly congested, predicting satellite movements with greater precision is critical for safe operations. By developing better drag models, operators improve navigation reliability, making space safer.
Solar and geomagnetic activity heat the upper portion of Earth’s atmosphere. The heating changes the density of the upper atmosphere and the drag experienced by satellites in LEO (between 160km and 2000km altitude), which alters their orbits. Small errors in space weather forecasting may adversely impact collision risk assessments, re-entry predictions, and satellite operations during launch and early orbit phases.
“NorthStar is proud to lead this world class team of scientists and experts to enhance the precision of orbital forecasts, vital to the safety and sustainability of space operations,” said Ignacio Cires, Executive Director of Business Development NorthStar Earth & Space S.à r.l.. “This ESA collaboration brings together some of Europe’s strongest expertise in atmospheric modeling and orbital dynamics and combines this with NorthStar’s leading commercial SSA products to ensure these advances translate directly into operational safety for satellite operators.”
Through this ESA-funded project, NorthStar and its partners will develop advanced methods to improve estimates of variations in density of the thermosphere located at an altitude between 80 and 1000km where most LEO satellites operate. Heating from space weather can cause temperature changes anywhere from 500⁰C to 1500⁰C during strong storms. The air in the upper atmosphere is very thin so one would not “feel” the temperature changes to the same extent as on Earth but the resulting impact on the orbits of satellites in LEO is measurable. To deliver more accurate and reliable orbit navigation predictions the consortium will combine satellite orbital data with space weather information and atmospheric models.
The project consortium includes:
• Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M, Spain) – Provides expertise in uncertainty quantification and propagation for orbital models, with proven experience in orbit determination, re-entry prediction, and collision risk assessment in multiple ESA programs.
• Institutul de Științe Spațiale (ISS, Romania) – Contributes expertise in thermosphere–ionosphere physics, and numerical modelling. ISS operates forecasting services within ESA’s Space Weather Service Network and maintains advanced physics-based models for atmospheric drag estimation.
• NorthStar Earth & Space Europe S.à r.l. (Luxembourg) – Leads the project’s operational integration, applying enhanced atmospheric modeling directly into its SSA services to strengthen collision risk assessment, re-entry prediction, and satellite safety solutions.
The improved capability will be integrated into NorthStar’s Collision Avoidance System, supporting compliance with international space debris mitigation standards. Beyond conjunction analysis, the results will also benefit end-of-life re-entry predictions, launch and early orbit operations, and mission planning for operators of satellites and constellations. With this initiative, NorthStar continues to expand its SSA capabilities from Luxembourg, reinforcing its role in advancing space safety and sustainability in Europe and globally.
About NorthStar
NorthStar Earth & Space s.à r.l., headquartered in Luxembourg (LU), provides commercial Space Situational Awareness (SSA) services to ensure satellite safety throughout the entire mission lifecycle, from launch to de-orbit. From Luxembourg, the company also delivers Space Domain Awareness (SDA) services in support of sovereign defence organisations in North America, Europe, and the Pacific, contributing to the protection of critical space infrastructure.
The Luxembourg team, comprised of European experts in astrodynamics, data science, and software development, is focused on addressing both European and international opportunities. NorthStar Europe is positioned to play a leading role in advancing space safety, security, and sustainability on a global scale.
Media Contacts:
NorthStar Earth & Space S.à r.l.
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://northstar-data.com
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]]>This announcement from NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. was released on Oct 9th, 2025
NorthStar Earth & Space chosen to safeguard Canada’s heritage of biodiversity through CSA SmartEarth program
As part of Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy, NorthStar will improve the conservation of forests through sustainable management of species using hyperspectral imaging data
Montreal, Canada—October 9, 2025—NorthStar Earth & Space, an expert in cutting-edge processing of space-based imagery for environmental sustainability, has been awarded a Canadian Space Agency SmartEarth contract under the newly launched ‘Satellite Mobilization for Biodiversity Action’ SAMBA initiative to advance the development of sophisticated mapping of forest species using state-of-the-art space based hyperspectral imagery.
NorthStar’s novel capability and world class expertise will enable more rapid integration of hyperspectral data generated from space missions into the database of information used to monitor and protect forest ecosystems. With more enhanced information regarding the type, abundance, and distribution of tree species that compose the forests scientists, ecologists, environmental professionals, and policy makers will be equipped with much better insight into the health of the forests to vastly improve the overall management and conservation of forests worldwide.
“NorthStar is proud to partner with the CSA and join other Canadian innovators through the SmartEarth initiative to promote the development of applications using satellite data to solve the most pressing challenges facing our everyday lives,” said Nadia Rochdi Executive Director of NorthStar’s Ei2 Products. “Satellite imagery delivers critical insight that drives science and innovation in various fields that concern us all.”
Link to CSA announcement: Contributions, grants and contracts awarded | Canadian Space Agency
About NorthStar Earth & Space
NorthStar is creating Earth Information and Intelligence (Ei2) services in collaboration with partners in the private, academic, and government sectors to leverage satellite and airborne imagery from multiple sources to find solutions to the biggest environmental challenges in a variety of Earth sectors including Agriculture, Maritime, Forestry and Energy.
NorthStar uses big data in combination with AI based predictive analytics to deliver contextualized information solutions directly to end users in the private and public sectors loaded with critical knowledge about Earth’s environment on and around our planet.
Media Contacts:
NorthStar Earth & Space Inc.
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://northstar-data.com
The post NorthStar Earth & Space chosen to safeguard Canada’s heritage of biodiversity through CSA SmartEarth program appeared first on NorthStar Earth & Space Inc..
]]>This announcement from NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. was released on Sep 16, 2025
NorthStar Earth & Space Europe joins European consortium to advance space debris removal technology
ALBATOR project, funded by the European Commission under grant N° 101223106, will develop new technologies to protect vital space infrastructure and operations
Luxembourg – September 16, 2025 – NorthStar Earth & Space S.à r.l. (“NorthStar”), a leader in Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and space sustainability solutions, is pleased to announce its participation in the ALBATOR project, a European Commission–funded initiative coordinated by OSMOS X (France). The project unites leading European technology partners and universities to develop a novel contactless approach for active space debris removal using Ion Beam Shepherd (IBS) technology.
Funded through the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), ALBATOR will design and test an advanced plasma-based ion beam system capable of transferring momentum to orbital debris without physical contact. By avoiding the risks inherent in capture or docking, the project aims to provide a safer and more versatile solution to one of the greatest challenges facing space sustainability: the proliferation of debris in Earth’s orbit.
NorthStar will contribute its expertise in astrodynamics and SSA to support Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO), enabling safe manoeuvres planning and execution for debris de-orbiting scenarios. These capabilities will complement the project’s experimental and modelling efforts, ensuring that the technology can be effectively integrated into future operational missions.
“Space debris represents a growing threat to the safety and sustainability of global space operations,” said Stewart Bain, Founder & CEO of NorthStar Earth & Space. “ALBATOR demonstrates the power of European collaboration to develop breakthrough technologies, and NorthStar is proud to contribute our SSA expertise to ensure these solutions can be deployed safely and effectively.”
The ALBATOR consortium includes:
OSMOS X (France) – Coordinator and plasma propulsion technology developer
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Spain) – Advanced modelling on plasma discharge and plume diffusion
Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen (Germany) – plasma beam diagnostics and performance testing
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (Germany) – plasma/materials interaction expertise
NorthStar Earth & Space Europe S.à r.l. (Luxembourg) – SSA and astrodynamics for RPO support
With orbital debris increasingly endangering satellites and critical space-based services for communications, navigation, Earth monitoring, and defence, the ALBATOR project represents a vital step in developing innovative remediation strategies. By combining plasma physics research, system development, and advanced SSA tools, the consortium is contributing to a safer and more sustainable future in space.
About NorthStar Earth & Space
NorthStar Earth & Space s.à r.l., headquartered in Luxembourg (LU), provides commercial Space Situational Awareness (SSA) services to ensure satellite safety throughout the entire mission lifecycle, from launch to de-orbit. From Luxembourg, the company also delivers Space Domain Awareness (SDA) services in support of sovereign defence organisations in North America, Europe, and the Pacific, contributing to the protection of critical space infrastructure.
The Luxembourg team, comprised of European experts in astrodynamics, data science, and software development, is focused on addressing both European and international opportunities. NorthStar Europe is positioned to play a leading role in advancing space safety, security, and sustainability on a global scale.
Media Contacts:
NorthStar Earth & Space S.à r.l.
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://northstar-data.com
The post NorthStar Earth & Space Europe joins European consortium to advance space debris removal technology appeared first on NorthStar Earth & Space Inc..
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