ESA Astronaut Sophie Adenot Launches Aboard SpaceX Crew-12 Mission
French Air Force colonel Sophie Adenot became the first member of ESA’s 2022 career astronaut class to launch to the International Space Station, riding SpaceX’s Crew‑12 mission on 13 February 2026. The Falcon 9‑launched Crew Dragon will dock with the ISS after roughly 24 hours, beginning a nine‑month expedition. Adenot will conduct experiments, notably testing the EuroSuit, a European prototype EVA spacesuit. She flies alongside NASA commander Jessica Meir, pilot Jack Hathaway and Roscosmos specialist Andrey Fedyaev, underscoring a highly international crew.
Orbex Fails After Planned Purchase Falls Through
Orbex, the UK‑based small‑sat launch provider, has entered insolvency proceedings after its planned acquisition by European space‑logistics startup The Exploration Company fell apart. The collapse follows a January shutdown of its Danish engine factory and 90 redundancies, leaving roughly 150...
Earth Observation Data Provider Constellr Closes €37 Million Series A
Munich‑based Constellr closed a €37 million Series A round, bringing total capital to €75 million. The funding, led by Alpine Space Ventures and Lakestar, will accelerate its HiVE microsatellite constellation toward defence‑grade thermal imaging. Constellr plans to upgrade resolution from 30 m to sub‑5 m...
Hypersonic Systems Startup Emerges From Stealth with Series A and Test Launch
Munich‑based Hypersonica has emerged from stealth, announcing a €23.3 million Series A round led by Plural and backed by Germany’s Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation, General Catalyst and 201 Ventures. The startup also reported its first successful hypersonic missile test on 3 February from...
ESA Is Preparing to Announce Aeolus-2 Prime Contractor
The European Space Agency has cleared a €70 million award to launch Phase B2 of its Aeolus‑2 weather satellite programme and is set to announce the prime contractor. Aeolus‑2 will consist of two 2.5‑tonne satellites equipped with a Doppler wind lidar, delivering...
OHB Establishes European Moonport Company
German space contractor OHB announced the launch of Luna Europa – the European Moonport Company – to centralise its lunar‑related activities. The subsidiary, founded in May 2025 and disclosed on 4 February 2026, will coordinate work on ESA’s Argonaut lander, the ESPRIT...
The Exploration Company Completes Nyx Splashdown Tests
The Exploration Company announced the completion of a controlled splashdown test campaign for a 1:4‑scale mockup of its Nyx reusable capsule. Conducted at the National Research Council’s Institute of Marine Engineering in Rome, the program executed 20 drops between 13...
Isar Aerospace to Expand Testing Facilities as It Prepares for Next Spectrum Flight
Isar Aerospace announced a purpose‑built acceptance test facility at Sweden’s Esrange Space Center, boosting its capacity to test over 30 Aquila engines per month and conduct full stage acceptance tests. The expansion comes as the company readies the second flight...
CNES to Fill Commercial Launch Facility Vacancy Left by MaiaSpace
The French space agency CNES announced a fresh call for launch operators to occupy the vacancy left by MaiaSpace at its new multi‑user ELM (Ensemble de Lancement Multilanceurs) facility in French Guiana. The site, built on the former Diamant launch...
EU Awards Three Contracts for Mobile Responsive Launch System Studies
The European Commission has awarded three parallel studies to examine a mobile responsive launch system capable of rapid satellite deployment from non‑permanent ground sites. Consortia led by PwC, GMV and Sirius Space Services will conduct the research over a ten‑month...
POLARIS Spaceplanes Wins Contract for Reusable Hypersonic Vehicle
Polaris Spaceplanes has secured a contract from Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In‑Service Support (BAAINBw) to develop and flight‑test a fully reusable, two‑stage hypersonic vehicle dubbed the Hypersonic Test and Experimentation Vehicle (HYTEV). The vehicle, roughly...