Tag: European Space Agency
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ESA Seeks Proposals for Studies on European-Led Modular Space Station in Low Earth Orbit
The European Space Agency (ESA) has issued a call for tenders to conduct studies exploring the feasibility of a European-led, modular space station in low Earth orbit as the International Space Station approaches retirement. NASA announced in January 2022 that the ISS is expected to be decommissioned and deorbited in the first quarter of 2031…
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Arianespace Launches Ariane 64 on Inaugural Flight Carrying Amazon Satellites
Europe’s new heavy-lift rocket, Ariane 64, completed its inaugural launch successfully, signaling a major step in the continent’s effort to strengthen independent access to space while entering the global commercial launch market. Operated by Arianespace, the four-booster variant of the Ariane 6 family lifted off from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana, carrying 32 satellites for…
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Skyrora Eyes Orbex Assets Including Scottish Spaceport After Rival’s Financial Troubles
British rocket developer Skyrora said on Thursday it is considering acquiring selected assets from rival Orbex, including a planned spaceport in northern Scotland, after the smaller launch company disclosed financial difficulties. Skyrora, headquartered in Glasgow, said it intends to explore purchasing parts of Orbex’s business, notably the Sutherland Spaceport project on Scotland’s north coast, in…
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ESA Advances Aeolus-2 Weather Satellite with €70 Million Development Award
The European Space Agency (ESA) has approved the selection of a prime contractor for its Aeolus-2 weather satellite program and is preparing to issue an initial €70 million contract to begin the next phase of development, according to project officials. Aeolus-2 is intended as the operational successor to the original Aeolus mission, which was built…
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Latvian Startup Develops Nuclear Power System to Survive Lunar Night
Latvian nuclear power startup Deep Space Energy has secured €930,000 ($1.1 million) in funding to develop a compact radioisotope power generation system designed to keep spacecraft operating through the Moon’s two-week-long lunar night, the company said. The funding package includes a €350,000 pre-seed investment round led by Outlast Fund and NanoAvionics co-founder Linas Sargautis, as…
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Exploration Company Tests Nyx Capsule Splashdown Ahead of ISS Cargo Plans
European space logistics startup The Exploration Company has completed a controlled splashdown test of a scaled prototype of its Nyx reusable spacecraft, marking a key step toward its planned cargo missions to low Earth orbit. Founded in 2021, the company is developing Nyx as a reusable capsule designed initially to transport cargo to and from…
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ESA Awards €81.2 Million Contract for Apophis Asteroid Mission
The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded OHB Italia an €81.2 million contract to build, assemble and test the spacecraft for its Ramses mission, which will study the asteroid Apophis during a rare close flyby of Earth in 2029. The contract signals that the mission has entered full development following approval of funding at ESA’s…
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DLR to Build Human Exploration Control Center for Moon and Mars Missions
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) will establish a new Human Exploration Control Center (HECC) at its Oberpfaffenhofen site near Munich to support future human and robotic missions to the Moon and Mars. The facility will expand the existing German Space Operations Center and is intended to manage complex, long-duration missions beyond low Earth orbit. Officials…
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‘Very lucky day’: NASA, SpaceX ace astronaut launch to the space station on Friday the 13th
A composite shot showing the liftoff of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 and the landing of the Falcon booster, 1101, at the new recovery site, Landing Zone 40, during NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. Image: John Pisani/Spaceflight Now Flying in the face of superstition, NASA and SpaceX conducted…
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SpaceX Crew-12 Launches Four Astronauts To International Space Station
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched NASA’s Crew-12 mission early Friday, sending four astronauts from the United States, Europe and Russia toward the International Space Station for a long-duration scientific expedition. The rocket lifted off at 5:15 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying a Crew Dragon spacecraft…