As Earth's orbit becomes filled with thousands of satellites and rocket debris, space junk is becoming both an environmental and business problem. The number of companies betting on the new market for debris removal and in-orbit satellite servicing is growing, although this industry is still nascent and relies on government contracts and funding.
While the issue of food waste is discussed as a climate threat, there is another problem hidden in compost heaps: plastic. A new study shows that while diverting food waste from landfills can significantly reduce emissions and nutrient pollution, it can also lead to thousands of tons of microplastics entering agricultural soils.
Since one-third of all global food production is wasted, researchers argue that solving the food waste problem also requires combating associated plastics.
In parallel, Amazon plans to build a gas power plant for its data center in Texas, which could become the largest permitted source of climate pollution in the US, emitting up to 33 million tons of CO2 annually. This move comes against the backdrop of Amazon's carbon emissions rising by 16% last year, despite their commitment to achieving net zero by 2040.
Furthermore, the social networking platform Myspace is considering a return nearly two decades after Facebook ousted it as the king of social networks. Its owners intend to relaunch the platform, focusing on nostalgia for a more personal, less algorithmically controlled internet. However, analysts believe success will depend on balancing retro appeal with modern user expectations while competing with Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
What is the most expensive domain name in internet history?
What if satellites could get a second life instead of being decommissioned when fuel runs out?
Indian startup Aule Space, based in Bengaluru, is creating a 'satellite backpack' capable of docking with fuel-depleted geostationary satellites and extending their operational life by up to five years. The startup, founded by former Pixxel engineer Jay Panchal, targets a market where replacing a satellite can cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Key takeaways:
August started for the Indian startup ecosystem on a stronger note, as venture funding recovered after a weak July. Capital flowed into startups in the EV, insurtech, fintech, D2C, quick commerce, and deeptech sectors, indicating broad investor interest across all sectors. Nevertheless, large deals remain limited: only ten transactions exceeding $100 million were registered this year.
Cape Winelands Airport, a former military airfield outside Durbanville slated for reconstruction with initial investments up to 10 billion rand, is being positioned as more than just a new passenger hub for Cape Town.
Airport developers and partner Stellenbosch University have presented plans to create an 'Aviation Village' for aerospace and aviation companies, a dedicated drone corridor, an expanded satellite engineering center, and a complex of new aviation qualifications. Several companies have already signed letters of intent to locate their facilities in this Aviation Village.
Previously known as Phisantecraal Airfield, the airport was built in 1943 as a South African Air Force base for Lockheed Ventura bombers and is currently used for general aviation and flight training.
The consortium RSA Aero, the project owner, plans to construct a new terminal, runway infrastructure, and 450 hectares of developable land. The airport director is Dion Kloete, who previously served as CEO of Cape Town International Airport. Strategic partnerships with WBHO Construction and Growthpoint Properties were announced at the end of 2025, and in March, architects Boogertman + Partners were appointed as design leads alongside airport specialist amd.sigma from Berlin, a subsidiary of Munich Airport International.
Despite all the plans, nothing has been implemented yet. The area remains an active airfield for general aviation, surrounded by agricultural land; the first site preparation work is expected only in the last quarter of 2026, with commissioning planned for the end of 2028.
Environmental approval was granted on October 27, 2025, following six appeals—one was withdrawn, and the remaining five were rejected by the Western Cape Minister of Environment, Anton Bredell, at the end of May. However, zoning approved by the Cape Town municipal tribunal is undergoing a separate appeal, and the airfield licensing still needs to be obtained. The project has been recognized as a 'strategic integrated project' by Infrastructure South Africa, obligating all government bodies to prioritize its approvals, licenses, and permits.
The technological aspirations became evident in early July when the airport and Stellenbosch University announced a cooperation agreement covering 'smart' and 'green' development, including research in space and aviation. Professor Corne Schutte, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Stellenbosch University for Research and Industry Liaison, noted that one must be frank: 'it is more of an intention than a prospectus.'
Company representative Deidre Davies stated that the goal of creating the Aviation Village near the airport is to strengthen the sector. She added that an Aviation Village Working Group has been formed, comprising representatives from academia, local and international private sectors, government, and the community. Although details of the companies that have signed intentions are not yet disclosed, Davies confirmed their existence.
The university confirmed that the vision of the airport as an aerospace center is accurate, referencing a heritage that 'runs from South Africa's first satellite through the local satellite engineering industry that originated at the university.' According to Wesgro, in 2024, the Western Cape accounted for over 55% of South Africa's space navigation systems exports and nearly 94% of spacecraft and launch vehicle exports to markets including the USA, UK, Japan, France, and Thailand. The agency names the Somerset West–Stellenbosch corridor a key node in Africa's space economy.
The university provided a striking figure: its faculty of engineering 'currently has 226 people employed in its space-related spin-off companies, with a combined turnover exceeding 205 million rand.' The program in question is the Electronic Systems Laboratory, founded in 1991. From it emerged Sunsat, South Africa's first satellite, which was designed and assembled almost entirely by postgraduate engineers and launched on a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg, California, in February 1999.
SunSpace and Information Systems were spun out from the laboratory in 2000 and later built SumbandilaSat with the university, launched in 2009 and used for disaster monitoring, including fire suppression campaigns in Kruger National Park. The company CubeSpace, which spun out of the same laboratory under the leadership of Professor Herman Steyn, deals with attitude determination and control systems that 'are now used on hundreds of satellites for clients in over 30 countries and are NASA-approved.'
The cooperation agreement includes a modernized centre of excellence at Stellenbosch University. Professor Schutte emphasized that 'this is not starting from scratch'; opportunities existed for over 30 years, and the question is how to develop them further.
Planned research is divided into three interconnected areas: first, satellite technology itself (compact optical payloads, imaging sensors, radiation-hardened onboard electronics); second, mission engineering (integrating these technologies into complete missions for crop monitoring or disaster response); and third, autonomy and situational awareness in space (self-deciding satellites and space debris tracking).
Regarding rockets and launches, such as from the Denel Overberg test range in the Southern Cape, the university directed questions about the rocket development and testing program to the University of KwaZulu-Natal Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI). However, it confirmed that both capabilities interact, stating that it 'is actively engaging with ASRI to understand how their work and our own satellite activities can align.'
Deidre Davies reported that the airport also plans a drone corridor. She noted that the integration of manned and unmanned aviation will become necessary as the industry develops, and the airport wants to play a leading role in this. The corridor will integrate with the Western Cape drone strategy, allowing systems to be tested in real conditions alongside existing aviation.
The airport is also committed to being 'green' from the outset, concerning construction, energy supply, and operation. Renewable energy sources will include solar panels and biodigesters, as well as on-site water harvesting and wastewater treatment. The architects aim to make it one of the most environmentally friendly airports in the world.
For Stellenbosch University, the educational component is the core of the partnership, as this is where the airport ceases to be merely infrastructure and begins to produce people. The learning structure is designed as a 'ladder, not a single qualification': ranging from short courses and micro-credentials to structured master's degrees with a research project. Proposed programs include air and airport management, aerospace systems, aviation and logistics, unmanned aerial vehicles, and sustainable aviation.
The area will also include an 'Agri-zone,' which will not be purely commercial or industrial. The plan involves developing 'integrated, clean, and healthy spaces,' including staff accommodation. This zone focuses on research and development to improve crop yields and crop rotation.
