Tag: Europe
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EU Awards Ariane 6 Contract to Launch Next-Generation Galileo Satellites
The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) has signed a new contract to launch second-generation Galileo navigation satellites using Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket, reinforcing the bloc’s push for independent access to space, the agency said on Tuesday. Under the agreement, the Ariane 6 launcher will deploy two Galileo L18 satellites. Ariane 6, developed…
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Germany Awards Hypersonic Test Vehicle Contract to POLARIS Spaceplanes
Germany’s military procurement agency has awarded a contract to POLARIS Spaceplanes to develop and flight-test a reusable hypersonic vehicle, marking a further step in the Bundeswehr’s efforts to advance next-generation aerospace capabilities. The company said on Jan. 27 that the contract was granted by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support…
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EU Launches Secure GOVSATCOM Network to Bolster Space Sovereignty
The European Union has launched its own secure and encrypted satellite communications system, a move aimed at strengthening Europe’s space sovereignty and defence capabilities, EU officials said on Tuesday. Speaking at the 18th European Space Conference in Brussels, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius announced the start of operations under GOVSATCOM, an initiative…
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Planet Signs Satellite Data Agreement With Slovenia’s Mapping Authority
Planet Labs has signed an enterprise-scale agreement with the Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia (GURS) to provide satellite imagery and services to support public sector activities including agriculture monitoring, urban planning and disaster management. Under the agreement, Slovenian state and municipal authorities will gain access to PlanetScope satellite imagery as well…
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Planet Signs Satellite Data Agreement With Slovenia’s Mapping Authority
Planet Labs has signed an enterprise-scale agreement with the Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia (GURS) to provide satellite imagery and services to support public sector activities including agriculture monitoring, urban planning and disaster management. Under the agreement, Slovenian state and municipal authorities will gain access to PlanetScope satellite imagery as well…
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Rocket Factory Augsburg Wins Two ESA-EU Launch Contracts Under Flight Ticket Initiative
German rocket manufacturer Rocket Factory Augsburg has been awarded launch service contracts for two missions under Europe’s Flight Ticket Initiative, strengthening its position in the continent’s emerging small-launch market, the European Space Agency said. The contracts, announced on Jan. 22, cover two missions comprising a total of three satellites and were awarded through the Flight…
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ESA Seeks Study on Uncontrolled Falcon 9 Re-Entry Over Poland
The European Space Agency has issued a call to tender for a study into the uncontrolled atmospheric re-entry and breakup of a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage that scattered debris across Poland in February last year, highlighting growing concerns over re-entry risks as global launch activity accelerates. In the early hours of Feb. 19, 2025,…
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Azimut Finalises €110 Million Club Deal to Invest in Space Logistics Firm D-Orbit
Italian asset manager Azimut Group has completed a €110 million club deal to invest in D-Orbit, a provider of orbital logistics services and infrastructure for space operations, the company said on Thursday. The fundraising reached its target in less than two weeks, highlighting strong investor appetite for exposure to the space infrastructure sector, which is…
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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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Rocket Lab Marks 80th Electron Launch With Open Cosmos Mission
Rocket Lab has completed its 80th Electron launch and its first mission of 2026, successfully deploying two spacecraft for European space technology company Open Cosmos, the company said. The mission, titled The Cosmos Will See You Now, lifted off at 11:52 p.m. NZDT on Jan. 22 from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.…