Airbus Defence and Space

Airbus joins Starlab commercial space station project
Airbus Defence and Space is joining a commercial space station project led by Voyager Space, a move that could potentially make it easier for European governments to use the station after the retirement of the International Space Station.

Vega C fails on second launch
The second flight of Arianespace’s Vega C failed to reach orbit Dec. 20 after its second stage malfunctioned, destroying two Pléiades Neo imaging satellites.

Europe celebrates performance of Orion service module
As the Artemis 1 mission nears its conclusion, European Space Agency and industry officials praised the performance of the Orion spacecraft’s service module, which some see as a step towards a European crewed spacecraft.

Europe looks to commercialize lunar exploration efforts
The European Space Agency is looking to create a more sustainable path for space, starting with growing commercial partnerships in lunar exploration.

Northrop Grumman selects Airbus to supply satellite buses for U.S. military constellation
Airbus U.S. Space and Defense will produce 42 satellite buses for the Space Development Agency's Transport Layer Tranche 1

Pléiades Neo 4 satellite enters service without a hitch
Pléiades Neo 4, the second of four planned high-resolution image satellites built and operated by Airbus Defense and Space, entered service Dec. 15 free from an issue that prompted an insurance claim for Pléiades Neo 3.

Microsoft expands Azure Space ecosystem
Microsoft offered further proof of its intent to play a growing role in the space sector by unveiling new Azure Space products and announcing partnerships with Airbus, Kongsberg Satellite Services, STE iDirect, Orbital Insight, ESRI and Blackshark.ai.

Fostering diversity and inclusion takes work
Attracting and retaining a diverse workforce requires organizations to adopt a proactive approach, according to panelists at the Satellite 2021 conference.

Pandemic, changing industry affecting satellite manufacturer supply chains
The pandemic and resulting supply chain issues have forced satellite manufacturers to adopt new approaches, some of which they plan to maintain in a post-pandemic world.

Vega launches second Pléiades Neo imaging satellite
Arianespace launched a second satellite for the Pléiades Neo imaging constellation Aug. 16 on a Vega rocket.