ESA Awards Thales Alenia Space €26 Million Contract for LISA Telescopes
The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded Thales Alenia Space a €26.1 million (≈$28.7 million) contract to design, build, and test six high‑precision Zerodur® optical telescopes for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission. LISA, a €1.05 billion (≈$1.16 billion) flagship project, aims to detect low‑frequency gravitational waves by deploying three spacecraft in a triangular formation. Thales’ role expands beyond the telescopes, encompassing avionics, control software, telecommunications, and propulsion subsystems under additional contracts worth over €350 million (≈$385 million). The three spacecraft are targeted for a joint launch on an Ariane 6 rocket no earlier than 2035.
ESA Considers Shifting Harmony From Vega C to Ariane 6
The European Space Agency (ESA) awarded OHB a €280 million (~$300 million) contract to build two Harmony satellites that will track Earth‑surface deformation from earthquakes and volcanoes. Initially slated for a single Vega C Block 2 launch in 2029, ESA has now issued an...
ESA Completes Sterilisation of ExoMars Parachute
The European Space Agency has finished a 79‑hour dry‑heat microbial reduction that sterilised the 74 kg ExoMars parachute at 125 °C, a key step for the Rosalind Franklin rover’s 2028 launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy. The rover will drill beneath Mars’ surface...
Arianespace Launches Another 32 Amazon LEO Satellites Aboard Ariane 6
Arianespace successfully launched 32 Amazon low‑Earth‑orbit satellites on an Ariane 64 rocket, marking the second Amazon mission in 2026. The payload was placed at 450‑470 km altitude over 12 separation events, prompting a SpaceX‑filed FCC complaint over the higher orbit. Amazon responded...
Spaceflux Extends Funding Round, Bringing Total to £9 Million
UK‑based Spaceflux has closed a £3.5 million extension to its seed round, bringing total capital to £9 million (about $11.3 million). The fresh funds, led by existing backer Blackfinch Ventures and new investor SPARX Asset Management, will finance the rollout of additional optical...
CNES Publishes Call for a Space Kitchen
The French space agency CNES has issued a call for a compact, resource‑efficient kitchen prototype to be installed at its Toulouse site for long‑term testing. The onboard kitchen must fit within a 2 m × 2.3 m × 2.3 m envelope, include a 1‑metre entrance, and operate...
ESA Paid €51.65 Million to Launch Sentinel-1C on Vega-C Return to Flight
The European Space Agency disclosed that it paid €51.65 million (about $55 million) to launch the Sentinel‑1C Earth‑observation satellite on a Vega‑C rocket on 5 December 2024, marking Vega‑C’s return to flight after a two‑year hiatus. The total cost includes a €48.62 million launch contract...
Rheinmetall Signs Agreement for New Satellite Testing Facility in Norway
German defence and aerospace group Rheinmetall signed a Letter of Intent with Andøy municipality to develop a dedicated satellite testing facility in northern Norway. The project, called the Rheinmetall Integrated Process Facility, will occupy an exclusive plot of land pending...
ESA Sheds Light on NASA Administrator’s Claims on Gateway Modules
The European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed that the HALO module arrived with corrosion and that the I‑HAB module shows a milder version of the same issue. ESA says the corrosion is technically manageable and not a show‑stopper, countering NASA Administrator...
The Exploration Company Signs Agreement for Nyx Separation System
The Exploration Company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Spain’s OCCAM Space to develop a four‑metre KISS‑XL clampband for separating its Nyx capsule from a launch vehicle. The clampband, already demonstrated in a configuration exceeding four metres in late...
Spain’s Pangea Propulsion Secures €2 Million From the Catalan Government
Pangea Propulsion, a Barcelona‑based deep‑tech firm, received €2 million (about $2.2 million) from the Catalan government to expand its manufacturing and testing capacity. The financing follows a €23 million Series A round and a €7.27 million grant from Spain’s science ministry, underscoring strong public support....
Antitrust Authority Approves Creation of Rheinmetall-OHB Satellite Joint Venture
Germany’s Federal Cartel Office has approved a joint venture between Rheinmetall Digital and satellite maker OHB, clearing the path for the new subsidiary to bid on a German armed forces satellite communications contract. The venture is part of a broader...
CIRA Tests Space Rider Reentry Performance with Damaged Heat Shield
The Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA) successfully tested Space Rider’s thermal protection system after deliberately damaging a body‑flap with a high‑velocity impact and exposing it to 1,200 °C plasma for over 600 seconds. The ISiComp ceramic‑composite material retained its dimensions, proving resilience...
Swedish Space Agency Signs Agreement with FAA on Launch Licensing
The Swedish National Space Agency and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration signed an agreement on April 15, 2026 to coordinate licensing for American rockets launching from Sweden’s Esrange Space Centre. The pact builds on a 2025 technology safeguards accord and...
ESA Publishes New Details on Crew Launch Abort Demonstrator
The European Space Agency (ESA) has opened a call for proposals to develop a Crew Launch Abort Demonstrator, allocating roughly $1.1 million for the System Level Definition phase that will run up to 12 months. The project will use an Ariane 6...
ESA Spent €82 Million to Launch Sentinel-1D Satellite on Ariane 6
The European Space Agency disclosed that the Sentinel‑1D Earth‑observation satellite launched on an Ariane 62 rocket in November 2025 cost €82,070,773, roughly $89 million. The mission was originally slated for a Vega‑C launch, but the rocket’s two‑year grounding forced a switch to...
PLD Space Secures €30 Million European Investment Bank Loan
Spanish launch services firm PLD Space secured a €30 million ($32.5 million) venture‑debt loan from the European Investment Bank to finish development of its two‑stage MIURA 5 rocket. The financing follows a €180 million ($195 million) Series C round and brings total private capital to roughly...
The Exploration Company Completes Nyx Test Model Pressure Tests
The Exploration Company announced on 31 March that it has completed pressure testing of the Nyx Structural Test Model’s pressurised compartment, confirming the structure behaves as expected. The test article, built by France’s CNIM Systèmes Industriels and delivered in mid‑February,...
Avio Delays SMILE Launch After Component Production Issue Identified
Avio has postponed the European Space Agency’s SMILE mission, originally slated for 9 May, after a supplier flagged a technical issue on a subsystem component during production. The launch would have been the first Vega C flight managed directly by Avio...
Italy Signs Agreement with NASA to Cooperate on Moon Base
Italy and NASA have signed a Statement of Intent to jointly develop the U.S.-led lunar surface base, extending a 2022 cooperation that tasked Italy with designing a multi‑purpose habitation module. The agreement covers habitation, communications and scientific payloads, and guarantees...
Spain Approves €325 Million ESCA+ Expansion of Atlantic Constellation
Spain’s Council of Ministers approved a €325 million (≈$354 million) investment to add three Earth‑observation satellites to the Atlantic Constellation, expanding the joint Spain‑Portugal network to 19 spacecraft. The funding will flow through the European Space Agency as part of a broader...
Sweden’s 2026 Spring Budget to Include €36.5 Million More for Space
Sweden's government proposes a SEK 400 million ($40 million) addition to its 2026 spring budget to develop sovereign launch capability at the Esrange Space Centre, with a focus on military space operations. SEK 14 million ($1.4 million) will strengthen the Swedish Space Agency’s licensing...
ESA Seeks Commercial Provider to Transport Payload to the Moon
The European Space Agency (ESA) has issued a call for a commercial provider to deliver its follow‑on NILS2 instrument to the Moon, building on the original NILS payload that gathered 346 minutes of data aboard China’s Chang’e 6 lander. NILS2 is...
ESA Member States Call for Cancellation of Earth Return Orbiter
European Space Agency member states have voted to cancel the Earth Return Orbiter, a €491 million ($535 million) contract awarded to Airbus Defence and Space for NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission. The cancellation follows a US Senate decision in January 2026 to...
CNES Publishes Call for Drone Swarm to Monitor Launch Operations
CNES has launched a call for proposals to create an autonomous drone swarm that will monitor perimeter security and support launch‑operation activities at the Guiana Space Centre. The initiative is funded under the Flexible, Digital and Sustainable (FDS) programme, a...
Norway and Iceland to Join the EU’s GOVSATCOM and IRIS2 Programmes
Norway and Iceland have signed agreements to join the European Union’s GOVSATCOM and IRIS2 secure communications programmes. GOVSATCOM, launched in January, provides interim secure satellite capacity, while the €10.6 billion IRIS2 project will deploy about 290 satellites by 2030. Iceland will...
Switzerland’s PAVE Space Closes $40 Million Seed Funding Round
Swiss startup PAVE Space announced a $40 million seed round led by Visionaries Club and Creandum, accelerating its LYOBA heavy‑lift kick stage development. The company, a 2024 spin‑off from the Gruyère Space Programme, targets rapid satellite transport between orbits and plans...
US-Based Katalyst Selects Ariane 6 to Launch Satellite Servicing Spacecraft
Arizona‑based Katalyst Space Technologies has signed a launch contract with Arianespace to send its NEXUS‑1 satellite‑servicing spacecraft to geostationary orbit on an Ariane 6 rocket in the second half of 2027. NEXUS‑1 will dock with GEO satellites to install new hardware,...
ESA to Purchase SpaceX Crew Dragon Mission to ISS
The European Space Agency announced it will purchase a dedicated SpaceX Crew Dragon flight to the International Space Station, creating the ESA Provided Institutional Crew (EPIC) mission. The EPIC flight is planned as a medium‑duration stay of roughly one month,...
ESA to Incentivise the Use of European Launchers for LEO Cargo Return Initiative
The European Space Agency announced a €50 million incentive to encourage the use of Ariane 6 or other European launchers for its ALADDIN demonstration missions, part of the LEO Cargo Return Services program. Up to €420 million per contract will be awarded, split...
Sirius Space Services Acquires AMM-42 as It Prepares for Inaugural Flight
Sirius Space Services has acquired AMM-42, a high‑precision metal‑component manufacturer employing 35 staff, to bring critical production capabilities in‑house ahead of its Sirius 1B demonstrator flight scheduled for early 2027. The purchase follows a previous acquisition of SERM and expands Sirius's...
European Defence Agency Awards Contract for First VLEO Military Satellite Concept
The European Defence Agency has granted a €15.65 million research contract to a Sener‑led consortium to design the first military satellite optimized for very low Earth orbit (VLEO). VLEO, ranging from 150‑350 km, promises sharper imagery and lower communication latency but requires...
Isar Aerospace to Launch Astroscale ELSA-M Orbital Debris Removal Mission
Tokyo‑based Astroscale has signed a launch contract with Germany’s Isar Aerospace to fly its ELSA‑M orbital‑debris removal demonstrator no earlier than 2028, pushing the mission back two years from the original 2026 target. The launch will use Isar’s two‑stage Spectrum...
Cyprus First to Use EU GOVSATCOM Secure Communications Service
Cyprus has become the first EU member to operationally use the European Union’s GOVSATCOM secure satellite communications service, announced by EUSPA on 10 March. The service, which went live in January 2026, aggregates capacity from eight satellites operated by five countries to...
ESA Calls on European Startups to Design Spaceplane
The European Space Agency (ESA) has issued a call for proposals from European small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises to develop a fully reusable spaceplane‑based launch system. The agency seeks at least two distinct concepts and encourages the integration of novel propulsion...
Avio Lands $65 Million Deal Days After Shareholders Approve New Bylaws
Avio announced a $65 million contract with Defense Systems and Solutions to develop, qualify and initially produce a solid‑rocket motor for air‑defence applications. The three‑year deal leverages Avio’s Italian plant while planning full‑scale production at its new Hurt, Virginia facility from...
ESA Has Lost Contact With One of Its PROBA-3 Spacecraft
The European Space Agency announced on 6 March that it has lost contact with the Coronagraph spacecraft of its PROBA‑3 formation‑flying mission. An anomaly on 14‑15 February caused a loss of attitude, forcing the satellite into survival mode as its solar arrays...
ENPULSION Secures €22.5 Million to Expand US Market Presence
ENPULSION, an Austrian electric propulsion specialist, raised €22.5 million in growth funding led by Nordwind Growth to accelerate its US market expansion. The capital will fund scaling of production capacity and a strategic shift toward integrated, turnkey mobility solutions for satellite...
ESA to Open Call for European-Led Space Station Studies
The European Space Agency (ESA) has issued a call for tenders to conduct two Pre‑Phase A studies assessing the feasibility of a European‑led, modular space station in low‑Earth orbit. The studies will examine architecture, utilization, and technology needs, and will explore...
Infinite Orbits Goes on Spending Spree After Securing €40 Million
Infinite Orbits announced back‑to‑back acquisitions of LMO’s Luxembourg operations and UK‑based Lúnasa Space within a week, leveraging the €40 million financing it raised in November 2025. The deals add advanced space‑situational‑awareness software and autonomous rendezvous capabilities to its Endurance and Orbit...
MaiaSpace Pushes Inaugural Launch of Maia Rocket to 2027
MaiaSpace, an ArianeGroup subsidiary, announced that the inaugural flight of its two‑stage Maia rocket is now slated for 2027, pushing back the original late‑2026 target. The partially reusable vehicle can lift up to 1,500 kg to low‑Earth orbit in an expendable...
Shareholder Advisory Firms Disagree on Avio Bylaw Amendments
Proxy advisers are split on Avio’s proposed bylaw changes ahead of its March 3 extraordinary meeting. Glass Lewis recommends shareholders approve a board size reduction to nine directors, giving the controlling shareholder seven seats, while ISS advises voting against the amendments....
UKAEA to Help Pulsar Fusion with Shielding for Nuclear Propulsion System
Pulsar Fusion announced that the UK Atomic Energy Authority will assist its Sunbird Migratory Transfer Vehicle with neutron shielding and activation modelling. Sunbird’s Dual Direct Fusion Drive generates thrust and onboard electricity, promising to halve Mars transit times and reach...
Avio to Build $500 Million Facility in Hurt, Virginia
Italian rocket builder Avio announced a $500 million solid‑rocket‑motor manufacturing complex in Hurt, Virginia, pending approval by the Virginia General Assembly. The 860,000‑square‑foot facility, financed by a €400 million capital increase, will create more than 1,000 jobs and may receive a $97.7 million...
Telespazio Awarded €20 Million Contract for Canary Islands Constellation
Telespazio Ibérica has secured a €20 million contract to build an Earth‑observation satellite constellation for the Canary Islands. While the original plan called for eight low‑Earth‑orbit satellites, the award covers three operational spacecraft and a technology demonstrator, each 20‑30 kg. The demonstrator...
ESA Awards Contracts for Lunar Remote Camp Studies
The European Space Agency has awarded two contracts to study lunar habitat concepts that could protect robotic equipment and later support short‑duration human missions. Copenhagen‑based SAGA Space Architects, together with The Exploration Company and Space Applications Services, will lead the...
SSC Space Opens Orbital Launch Control Center at Esrange
SSC Space inaugurated the Orbital Launch Control Center (OLCC) at Sweden’s Esrange Space Center, marking a key step toward orbital launch capability. The OLCC will manage vehicle monitoring, countdowns, and coordination with safety and airspace authorities for future missions. Initial...
Shareholder Advisory Firm Urges Vote Against Avio Bylaw Amendments
Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has recommended Avio shareholders reject a set of bylaw amendments slated for a March 3 extraordinary meeting. The proposals would fix the board at nine members, giving the largest shareholder seven seats while reducing minority representation, and...
Sateliot Selects PLD Space to Launch Two 5G Direct-to-Device Satellites
Sateliot has signed a launch services agreement with Spanish launch provider PLD Space to fly its first two high‑capacity 5G Direct‑to‑Device (D2D) Tritó satellites on a dedicated MIURA 5 mission in 2027. Each Tritó payload weighs roughly 160 kg and will enable...
RFA Begins Final Preparations for Inaugural RFA ONE Launch
German launch provider Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) is nearing the inaugural flight of its 30‑metre RFA ONE rocket from SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland. After an August 2024 first‑stage hot‑fire failure, the company has rebuilt the stage, upgraded the upper‑stage Helix...