ESA
1st ESA Workshop on Satcom in VLEO – Telecommunications in Very Low Earth Orbit
In recent years, there has been a notable increase in interest in constellation initiatives, bringing Satcoms to orbits progressively closer to Earth. Whilst this brings with …
Ariane 6 upper stage testing underway
ArianeGroup has started static-fire tests of the upper stage of the Ariane 6 rocket, a key step in the development of the vehicle whose first launch remains uncertain.
NASA and ESA sign lunar cooperation statement
NASA and the European Space Agency signed an agreement on cooperation on lunar exploration activities that could open the door to additional ESA roles in the NASA-led Artemis effort.
SES considering quantum cryptography satellite system
A technology demonstration satellite for which SES will lead the development could be a prototype of a constellation by the satellite operator providing quantum-encrypted communications.
France to increase space spending by 25%
France will increase spending on national and European space programs as the European Space Agency works to secure commitments for its own significant budget increase.
ESA seeks major funding increase at ministerial
ESA will seek a roughly 25% increase in funding from member states this fall despite economic and geopolitical challenges in Europe.
ESA to request funding for space-based solar power study
The European Space Agency will seek funding this fall for a feasibility study of space-based solar power, the latest sign of support for a concept that still faces significant technical and financial challenges.
ESA ends efforts to recover Sentinel-1B
The European Space Agency is ending efforts to restore operations of the Sentinel-1B radar imaging satellite that malfunctioned more than half a year ago and will instead move up the launch of a replacement.
ESA scaling back design of X-ray astronomy mission
Faced within increasing costs, the European Space Agency is looking for ways to revise the design of a large X-ray space telescope, an effort that could have implications for NASA’s own astrophysics programs.
NASA and ESA remove rover from Mars Sample Return plans
NASA and the European Space Agency have revised their plans to return samples from Mars, removing a rover and its lander from the effort and replacing them with helicopters modeled on Ingenuity.
NASA releases first color image from James Webb Space Telescope
A deep field of distant galaxies, some dating back to the first billion years after the Big Bang, is the first full-color image to come from the James Webb Space Telescope.
ESA and NASA to cooperate on Earth science and lunar mission
NASA and the European Space Agency announced agreements to cooperate on Earth science and a lunar mission June 15, but agency leaders said they’re still discussing more substantial cooperation on the Artemis program and Mars exploration.
ExoMars official says launch unlikely before 2028
A key official for Europe’s ExoMars mission believes that the rover’s launch will be pushed back until at least 2028 to accommodate changes after ending cooperation with Russia.
ESA ends cooperation with Russia on lunar missions
ESA announced April 13 it was further cutting ties with Russia by dropping plans to cooperate on a series of lunar missions, turning instead to NASA and other agencies.
Vega C to launch Sentinel-1C in 2023
The European Space Agency will launch its Sentinel-1C radar imaging satellite on a Vega C rocket in 2023 as the agency continues to study potential impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on that launch vehicle.
ESA continues talks with NASA on ExoMars cooperation
The European Space Agency is continuing discussions with NASA on how the agencies can work together to revive ESA’s ExoMars mission after ending cooperation with Russia.
Rogozin delays decision on space station future
After Western nations refused his demand to end sanctions on Russian companies involved in the International Space Station, the head of Roscosmos said he will make recommendations in the “near future” on Russia’s continued participation in the station, but there are no signs of any near-term changes in station operations.
