Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Space
  • /
  • Celestia acquires Antwerp Space NV Ground Segment Division

Space

Celestia acquires Antwerp Space NV Ground Segment Division

Celestia Technologies Group has acquired the satellite ground systems division of Antwerp Space, part of the Bremen-based OHB SE Group, in a deal that will boost Celestia’s existing expertise in EGSE and ground systems.

Above: Celestia group chairman José Alonso.
Courtesy Celestia Technologies Group

The Celestia Technologies Group is a pan-European network of SME’s based on innovation and development of high technology products for the space, defence, telecom and scientific markets.  The addition of the Belgian business adds further capability to the group, enabling Celestia to offer customers a wider product portfolio of EGSE products alongside complete turnkey solutions. It also boosts annual group turnover by 4M€.

Advertisement
ODU RT

In welcoming the 17-strong team of Antwerp Space engineers to the business, Celestia group chairman José Alonso said: "We are delighted to announce today that we are bringing one of Belgium’s most well-established and experienced ground station specialists into the Celestia fold.

"This strategic move brings together the best of two formerly competing companies, allowing us to exploit synergies and knowledge whilst providing greater integration capabilities and expertise to our customers."

All the ground segment activities previously carried out by Antwerp Space will continue in a newly created Belgian entity Celestia Antwerp BV, a fully owned subsidiary focussing on the EGSE and ground segment activities that have been the cornerstone of the Antwerp Space business for the last 50 years.

Celestia already owns C-STS, formerly part of the SSBV group, also with a strong market position in satellite EGSE and modems for ground stations.  This latest move therefore reinforces Celestia’s overall standing in the ground systems market, opening up a more extensive product portfolio alongside important technology and cost synergies.

Advertisement
ODU RT

The combined yearly turnover for both companies will be 8M€, representing 25% of the Celestia group turnover.#

 

Advertisement
Cranfield University
Dark matter debate narrows

Space

Dark matter debate narrows

27 October 2025

An international team of researchers, including astronomers at the University of Surrey, has shed light on a decades-long debate about why galaxies rotate faster than expected and whether this behaviour is caused by unseen dark matter or a breakdown of gravity on cosmic scales.

Airbus-built SpainSat NG-II launched

Space

Airbus-built SpainSat NG-II launched

24 October 2025

SpainSat NG-II, the second Airbus-built new generation secure communications satellite for Spain, has been successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center, in the US.

Sir Jeremy Quin appointed President of Boeing UK & Ireland

Aerospace Defence Space

Sir Jeremy Quin appointed President of Boeing UK & Ireland

24 October 2025

Boeing has named the Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Quin as the new President of Boeing UK & Ireland.

Airbus, Leonardo and Thales to combine space activities

Space

Airbus, Leonardo and Thales to combine space activities

23 October 2025

Airbus, Leonardo and Thales, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at combining their respective space activities into a new company.

Advertisement
ODU RT
ALL.SPACE to develop alternative PNT for ESA

Space

ALL.SPACE to develop alternative PNT for ESA

22 October 2025

ALL.SPACE has been awarded €950,000 by the European Space Agency’s Navigation Innovation and Support Programme (NAVISP), to develop an alternative Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capability designed to operate in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-denied environments.

SatVu strengthens NATO’s space-based intelligence

Defence Space

SatVu strengthens NATO’s space-based intelligence

20 October 2025

Provider of high-resolution thermal imaging from space, SatVu, has announced its participation in NATO’s Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space (APSS) initiative.

Advertisement
ODU RT