Tag: European Union
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Aerospacelab Turns Profitable Before Securing €2.4 Billion IRIS² Satellite Contract
Belgian satellite manufacturer Aerospacelab said September 21 that it had reached profitability in early 2026, before winning a €2.4 billion ($2.75 billion) contract to design, manufacture and deliver 264 low Earth orbit satellites for the European Union’s IRIS² secure communications constellation. The contract, announced September 10, gives Aerospacelab responsibility for approximately 76% of the 348…
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European Commission Targets €65 Billion for Space in 2028–2034 EU Budget
The European Commission wants space activities to receive half of a proposed €131 billion defense, security and space funding envelope for 2028–2034, European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius said in Paris. The proposed split would direct approximately €65.5 billion to space programs over seven years, substantially elevating space within the European Union’s next…
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Europe’s Largest Mobile Operators Explore Joint Bid for EU Direct-to-Device Spectrum
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone are in preliminary talks to form a consortium that would bid for part of the European Union’s 2 GHz mobile satellite spectrum, potentially creating a European-controlled direct-to-device service to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink and other non-European satellite operators. The discussions were reported on September 7 and remain at an…
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SpaceX and Blue Origin Withdraw From Paris Space Summit After White House Warning
SpaceX, Blue Origin, Stoke Space and Starcloud withdrew from French President Emmanuel Macron’s International Space Summit in Paris after the White House warned that participation could be interpreted as support for European Union space policies. France’s government confirmed the four withdrawals on September 3, 2026, ahead of the September 9–10 event. The cancellations remove two…
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OHB Wins $1.16 Billion Contract to Build 18 MEO Satellites for Europe’s IRIS² Network
German satellite manufacturer OHB has secured a contract worth nearly €1 billion ($1.16 billion) from SES to develop and manufacture all 18 medium Earth orbit satellite platforms for the European Union’s IRIS² secure connectivity constellation. Announced on August 31, 2026, the award is the first major industrial contract placed since IRIS² entered full-scale implementation on…
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ESA Chief Calls for Independent European Human Spaceflight Capability
European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher has called for Europe to establish its own independent human spaceflight capability, arguing that the continent has become overly dependent on decisions made by foreign partners. In an opinion article published on May 18, Aschbacher said recent changes to the United States’ Artemis programme architecture and Europe’s reduced…
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Cyprus Becomes First Country To Use EU GOVSATCOM Secure Satellite Communications Service
The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) announced that Cyprus has become the first country to operationally use the European Union’s GOVSATCOM system. The announcement, made on March 10, said the service was deployed for safety and security operations along the EU’s south-eastern borders, marking the first operational use of the platform since…
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FCC Seeks Input on Satellite Market Access Amid Concerns Over EU Space Act
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has opened a public comment period on international satellite market access, as U.S. regulators examine whether American operators face growing barriers overseas. The notice, issued on March 3, invites feedback on the current state of foreign market access for U.S. satellite companies and how regulatory policies abroad could affect future…
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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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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…