European Commission
ESA and EU mend relations
After fraying relations in recent years, officials with the European Union and European Space Agency say they’re committed to rebuilding a more cooperative relationship on space programs.
Airbus, Thales win second-generation Galileo satellite contracts
The European Commission announced Jan. 20 it will award contracts to Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space to build an initial set of next-generation Galileo navigation satellites, shutting out incumbent manufacturer OHB.
ESA sets stage for three-way competition to build next-generation Galileo constellation
The ESA-led competition, arranged on behalf of the European Commission, pits rising German manufacturer OHB against European heavyweights Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defense and Space.
European Commission agrees to reduced space budget
The European Commission slashed its space budget for the next seven years, agreeing to a maximum of 13.2 billion ($15.2 billion) focused mainly on continuing the Galileo and Copernicus satellite programs.
Coronavirus could shrink European space industry by 1 billion euros, politicians warn
Seven members of the European Parliament, the legislative branch of the European Union, are pushing for a recovery plan for space companies hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.
Earth science mission named after former NASA official
NASA and its domestic and European partners have renamed an upcoming Earth science satellite after the agency’s former Earth science director.
EU reserves four Ariane 6 rockets for Galileo navigation satellites
The European Commission has “pre-booked” four launches using Europe’s next-generation Ariane 6 rocket.
European Commission, fearing brain drain to US, takes sharper look at space investment strategy
Commissioners speaking this week at the Conference on European Space Policy in Brussels said the continued reservations of European investors about financing space startups is hampering Europe’s ability to keep pace with similar startup activity in the United States.
Arianespace says full Ariane 6 production held up by missing government contracts
With the maiden flight of the Ariane 6 now 18 months away (in July 2020), Arianespace CEO Stéphane Israël said the company had anticipated signing a manufacturing contract with ArianeGroup in the second part of last year to begin production beyond the first rocket.
GMV wins 250 million euro ground control contract for Europe’s Galileo navigation system
The company’s contract with the European Space Agency, signed in September, marks the biggest deal for GMV and the biggest for Spain's space industry.
ESA tasks Airbus with streamlining Copernicus data access
Airbus has signed a contract with the European Space Agency to develop a Copernicus Data and Information Access Services, orDIAS, platform that will make data from the Earth-monitoring constellation more accessible to users from about mid-2018.
European Commission pleased with Copernicus program
The European Commission gave a positive assessment of its Copernicus Earth-observation program, now in its third year, defending the free provision of data and emphasizing a need to make that data more applicable to non-space users.
European Commission commits to annual minimums for Ariane 6, Vega C
The European Commission will commit to buying at least five Ariane 6 and two Vega C launches per year when both rockets are in operation, Elzbieta Bienkowska, the European Commission’s lead space commissioner, said Wednesday.
ESA gives final approval for Ariane 6; Airbus Safran Launchers now in control
The European Space Agency (ESA) on Sept. 13 gave final go-ahead for development of the next-generation Ariane 6 heavy-lift launch vehicle, confirming a rendezvous that many thought impossible when it was set in December 2014.
Inmarsat, citing SpaceX delays, to miss European deadline for aeronautical broadband service
Mobile satellite services provider Inmarsat is all but certain to miss a European regulatory deadline for its satellite-terrestrial aeronautical broadband service, raising the possibility that one or more governments could revoke Inmarsat’s rights to the radio spectrum, industry officials said.
