46 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2025
MIL/AERO007
Orion Spacecraft Achieves Major Stacking
Milestone Before Artemis II Mission ⊲
"Integration of SLS and Orion marks a major
milestone in our progress on Artemis," said Acting
NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. "Soon, we will be
launching four astronauts around the Moon for
the first time in over 50 years."
Raytheon UK Awarded UK Space Agency
Contract to Provide Orbital Analyst
Capabilities ⊲
Under the contract, the UK Space Agency will
access Raytheon UK's NORSSTrack software,
which improves orbital analysis and operational
response by tracking satellites, monitoring poten-
tial collisions and debris, assessing re-entries, and
providing vital data for decision-making
TT Electronics Secures $10.3 Million Multi-
Year Contract with Collins Aerospace for
Classified Military Program ⊲
Prototypes will be delivered early 2026, with
development and manufacturing at TT Electronics'
Kansas City facility, positioning both companies to
provide advanced power electronics for mission-
critical defense programs over the next decade.
Beyond the Board: Why More Defense
Primes Are Moving Toward Rigid-Flex for
Lighter, More Reliable Systems ⊲
This discussion around PCB innovation in aero-
space and defense often focuses on high-density
interconnects, advanced materials, and closer
design-to-fabrication collaboration. The shift
toward rigid-flex is a quieter trend.
European Space Agency and Raymetrics
Select Xairos as Subcontractor for ESA
Project ⊲
Xairos UK, Ltd., was selected by Raymetrics S.A.
and the European Space Agency to deliver a
Quantum Receiver for the Observatories to Optical
Ground Stations project. This upgrade will enable
three Greek astronomical observatories to operate
as optical ground stations (OGS) within the Hel-
lenic quantum communication initiative.
Airbus Ships Fourth European Service
Module for Artemis IV ⊲
The fourth European Service Module (ESM-4) is
ready to depart Airbus' facilities in Bremen, Ger-
many, and be shipped to NASA's Kennedy Space
Center in Florida. Upon arrival, it will undergo test-
ing and integration with the Orion Crew Module for
the next phase of NASA's Artemis program.
Research Spotlight: Direct-to-Device
Technology Set to Redefine Mobile-
Satellite Integration ⊲
As low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite deployments
accelerate and 5G standards evolve, direct-to-
device (D2D) technology is emerging as a key
method for combining mobile and satellite commu-
nications.
Successful Launch of Airbus-Built
Sentinel-6B Climate Satellite ⊲
The Airbus-built Sentinel-6B satellite has success-
fully launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base
in California. This is the second of two identical
satellites tasked with continuing the collection of
crucial sea-surface height data until at least 2030.
VORAGO Launches Radiation-Tolerant
Chips for Next-Generation Satellite
Constellations ⊲
The satellite industry has gained significant cost
savings and easier integration options with VOR-
AGO Technologies' launch of four radiation-toler-
ant microcontrollers designed for low Earth orbit
(LEO) markets, costing much less than traditional
space-grade components.
IonQ and Heven AeroTech Collaborate
to Develop Quantum-Enabled Drones for
National Security ⊲
This partnership will enable Heven AeroTech to
incorporate IonQ's quantum computing, network-
ing, sensing, and security technologies into its
hydrogen-powered autonomous aerial systems,
enhancing mission resilience, stealth, and perfor-
mance in GPS-denied environments.
