Tag: CNES
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International Space University to Restructure After Strasbourg Campus Liquidation
The International Space University (ISU) is preparing to restructure its operations after the French courts ordered the liquidation of its central campus in Strasbourg, a decision that has disrupted academic programs while prompting the organization to reassess its long-term business model. The liquidation has affected current students enrolled at the Strasbourg campus, with some completing…
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ESA Astronaut Tests EuroSuit Prototype Aboard ISS as Development Program Advances
A prototype of the European-developed EuroSuit intravehicular activity (IVA) spacesuit has undergone testing aboard the International Space Station (ISS), while a parallel water survival campaign has been completed on Earth as part of the suit’s ongoing development program. The EuroSuit initiative was launched by the French space agency CNES in late 2023 and is being…
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Arianespace launches its heaviest payload to date with Amazon Leo flight
An Arianespace Ariane 64 rocket lifts off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana to begin the Leo Europe 03 mission for Amazon Leo. This mission carried 36 broadband satellites onboard, the heaviest payload launched by an Ariane launcher. Image: ESA-CNES-Arianespace-ArianeGroup Optique Vidéo de CSG – T Leduc Update June 17, 11:20 a.m. EDT (1520 UTC):…
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Infinite Orbits Selects Open Cosmos for ‘Tom & Jerry’ Satellite Inspection Mission
European space companies Infinite Orbits and Open Cosmos have partnered on a new satellite mission designed to demonstrate rendezvous, proximity and inspection operations in low-Earth orbit (LEO). The mission, dubbed “Tom & Jerry,” will involve two satellites that will perform a series of maneuvering and inspection activities after launch, which is currently targeted for mid-2027.…
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Venturi Space Raises Toulouse Facility Investment to €250 Million
Venturi Space has increased its planned investment in a new manufacturing and technology facility in Toulouse, France, to €250 million, up from the €100 million originally announced earlier this year. The Monaco-based space technology company said the expanded investment will support the development and production of technologies for lunar and Martian mobility systems, including rover…
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Isar Aerospace Expands Engine Test Facilities Ahead of Second Spectrum Launch
German launch company Isar Aerospace said it will expand its testing infrastructure at Sweden’s Esrange Space Center as it prepares for the second flight of its Spectrum rocket, currently expected no earlier than March 19. Founded in 2018, Isar Aerospace is developing the 28-meter-tall Spectrum launcher, designed to deliver up to 1,000 kilograms to low…
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Astroscale France, Exotrail Partner on LEO Deorbiting Capabilities
Astroscale France, a subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings Inc., has formed a strategic partnership with Exotrail to develop controlled deorbiting capabilities for satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), the companies said on Thursday. The partnership aims to strengthen European end-of-life satellite management as congestion in LEO increases due to growing demand for telecommunications, Earth observation, navigation…
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France Awards €50 Million SAR Demonstrator Contract to Loft Orbital-Led Consortium
CNES has awarded a contract to a consortium led by Loft Orbital to develop a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery demonstrator, a project designed to strengthen France’s sovereign radar imaging capabilities and establish a national radar imaging value chain, the companies said. The project, known as DESIR (Démonstrateur des Éléments Souverains en Imagerie Radar), is…
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French startup Latitude targets 2026 for first launch while following market-driven approach
French small-launch startup Latitude is pushing toward a maiden flight of its Zephyr rocket within the next 18 months, prioritizing speed-to-market and manufacturing efficiency over reusability to capture Europe’s dedicated smallsat launch market. In an interview with NASA Spaceflight’s “Europe’s Future in Space” series, Latitude founder and executive chairman Stanislas Maximin provided an in-depth look…
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CNES, Île-de-France Launch €1 Million AI Challenge for Satellite Data Analysis
The Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES) and the Île-de-France region have launched a €1 million ($1.1 million) challenge aimed at accelerating the use of artificial intelligence to analyse satellite data, as part of France’s broader push to strengthen its space and AI capabilities. The initiative, known as the AI for Space Challenge, was first announced…