Italy Turns to Tall Ship to Simulate Stresses of Long-Duration Spaceflight
The Italian Space Agency (ASI) has launched its ICE‑BLUE program, sending naval academy students aboard the historic tall ship Amerigo Vespucci for a 107‑day isolation study that mimics long‑duration spaceflight. The experiment, coordinated with the Italian Institute of Technology, will collect physiological, microbiological and psychological data to compare with samples from the Axiom‑3 ISS mission. Results aim to inform countermeasures for circadian disruption and operational stress, supporting Europe’s push for sovereign human spaceflight. Italy’s $910 million contribution to ESA’s exploration budget underscores its strategic stake in these capabilities.
ESA Greenlights Two Budget-Friendly Earth Observation Missions
The European Space Agency has approved two new Scout‑class Earth observation missions—HiBiDiS and SOVA‑S—each limited to a €35 million (≈ $38 million) budget and a three‑year development window. HiBiDiS, led by Italy’s SITAEL, will use hyperspectral imaging to map understory biodiversity, while OHB...
Isar Aerospace Signs Agreement to Launch From Future Canadian Spaceport
German launch provider Isar Aerospace announced a letter of intent with Maritime Launch Services to conduct launches from a planned spaceport in Nova Scotia, targeting mid‑ to high‑inclination orbits for commercial and government customers. The deal follows a separate partnership...
SITAEL Accelerates Growth in Space: New Missions, Industrial Capacity and a Trajectory Towards 2031
Italian space firm SITAEL unveiled a growth plan aiming for about $216 million in revenue by 2031, up from roughly $65 million today, backed by a backlog over $162 million. The strategy includes nine scheduled launches through 2030, notably serving as prime contractor...
Italy’s Lunar Habitat Clears NASA System Requirements Review
The Italian Space Agency’s Multi‑Purpose Habitation (MPH) module passed NASA’s combined System Definition and System Requirements Review on 19 May 2026, clearing the way for a Preliminary Design Review in 2027. The first module is slated for launch in 2033, aligning with...
Redwire Delivers Argonaut Robotic Arm Prototype
Redwire has handed over a breadboard model of its MANUS robotic arm to the European Space Agency after a rigorous test campaign. The arm, built by Redwire’s Luxembourg subsidiary, can load and unload cargo, transfer power and collect lunar regolith....
What Does Isar Aerospace Have to Do With Canadian Submarines?
German shipbuilder TKMS has linked its bid to supply Canada with up to 12 Type 212CD submarines to a new partnership with German launch provider Isar Aerospace. The joint effort aims to create a sovereign Canadian space‑launch capability, including a...
The Exploration Company Completes Nyx Test Model Vibration Testing
The Exploration Company finished a four‑week vibration test campaign for its Nyx structural test model at ESA’s ESTEC, completing 69 tests on the Hydra shaker. The tests follow earlier pressure‑testing and will refine launch‑performance models for the modular capsule, which...
“Autonomous Human Spaceflight Is Not a Luxury,” Says ESA Chief
European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher warned that Europe’s reliance on NASA and former Russian Soyuz seats leaves the continent vulnerable in a shifting geopolitical landscape. He argues that autonomous human spaceflight is essential for Europe to secure scientific,...
French Spacesuit Prototype Delivered to the International Space Station
The EuroSuit intravehicular activity prototype, developed under CNES’s Spaceship FR programme, was delivered to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon on May 17. ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot will conduct the first on‑orbit evaluation, focusing on donning speed, ergonomics, and touchscreen interaction. The...
ESA Opens €16 Million Call for Suborbital Launch Campaign
The European Space Agency has opened a €16 million (≈ $17.4 million) call for proposals to design, build, launch and recover up to five sounding‑rocket experiments in 2027‑28. Five experiments—CHIP‑II, LifeACTImm, FERMISE, P‑REX and LAMDA‑g—were selected, covering planetary formation, microgravity immunology, fire safety,...
Italy Completes Air-Launched Rocket Demonstrator Test
Italy’s Aviolancio air‑launched suborbital demonstrator successfully flew on 22 April 2026 from the Houston Spaceport, releasing a T4i HAX25 sounding rocket from a Dornier Alpha Jet over the Gulf of Mexico. The test verified the four‑motor hybrid propulsion system and GMV‑supplied...
ESA Begins Developing Replacements for NASA’s Contributions to LISA
The European Space Agency (ESA) has launched a risk‑mitigation program to replace NASA’s planned contributions to the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission. On 5 May 2026 ESA awarded Thales Alenia Space a €26.1 million contract (about $28.5 million) to develop the mission’s...
The Exploration Company Fires Up Rocket Engine for Moon Lander
The Exploration Company completed a seven‑week hot‑fire campaign for its 15 kN Huracan rocket engine, achieving 26 firings and 375 seconds of total burn time. The test demonstrated full‑power operation, throttling from 50 % to 100 % and a longest single burn of...
LiveEO Secures €28 Million to Accelerate Push Into Defence Applications
German Earth‑observation firm LiveEO closed a €28 million ($30.5 million) funding round, with Helantic as the only new backer. The capital will expand its AI‑driven analytics suite and speed development of dual‑use defence and security products, aiming at Germany’s $38.2 billion space‑defence budget....