European Space Agency

The commercial space stations that NASA plans to establish as successors to the ISS may play a crucial role in simulating a human mission to Mars.

Astrolight plans to demonstrate its new laser communications terminals in space for the first time following the launch of SpaceX’s Transporter-16 mission.

More Ariane Heavy missions loom as Amazon pushes to gets its broadband low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation going.

The head of the European Space Agency has framed Europe’s need to pursue lunar missions in unusually security-focused terms for the civilian organization.

A multinational, four-member replacement team lifted off onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Feb. 13 to begin a 34-hr. ride to the International Space Station.

The demise of British launch startup Orbex has reduced ESA flagship European Launcher Challenge to four candidates.

Leonardo has provided additional granularity regarding its future low-Earth-orbit-based satellite constellation.

Rising security concerns and the drive for space autonomy may ward off the expected consolidation among launch service providers.

Fear of fragmentation grips European space leaders as national initiatives ramp up in parallel with collective programs.

ESA's head says a space summit French President Emmannuel Macron plans to host could provide direction on efforts to independently launch astronauts into space.

NASA plans to move up the four-person SpaceX Crew-12 Dragon mission to the International Space Station.

The European Union is looking to take an incremental capability approach to field its IRIS2 secure satellite constellation will provide.

ESA is moving forward on preparing contracts under its European Launcher Challenge as it waits for the UK to decide on how to allocate its budgetary commitment.

Space maneuvers to avoid collisions are becoming more frequent.

French startup Alpha Impulsion was awarded a $1.1 million EU prize for its self-consuming propulsion system on future launchers and satellites.

Europe needs to increase its level of spending on space to avoid falling further behind rivals, the European Space Agency argues.

German space launch startup Rocket Factory Augsburg has secured two further ESA launches, while still working toward the inaugural liftoff of RFA One.

Isar Aerospace has set Jan. 21 as the “not before” launch date for its Spectrum rocket as the German startup also aims to reach orbit as part of the effort to recover from last year’s failed test mission.

Airbus plans to test a software-defined satellite to underpin efforts to develop non-terrestrial 5G connectivity infrastructure.

Open Cosmos received Ka-band spectrum rights through Liechtenstein as the European space tech company prepares to deploy an LEO broadband satellite system.

Europe’s meteorological agency Eumetsat gave the formal go-ahead to the EPS-Sterna program, which aims to grow a system of 20 weather monitoring satellites.

A Jan. 11 SpaceX rideshare launch carried 40 payloads to orbit, including 10 satellites from Kepler Communications.

MaiaSpace, an ArianeGroup subsidiary developing a small, reusable launcher, has plans for a larger version with twice the payload, CEO Yohann Leroy said.

The European Space Agency plans 65 satellite launches and other missions throughout the year, a roughly 30% jump from last year’s record figure.

ESA is looking into an alleged cyber breach of some of its data, saying initial indications are that limited and unclassified data may have been affected.