The Exploration Company has completed hypervelocity impact testing of the shielding that will protect its Nyx spacecraft against micrometeoroids and orbital debris. europeanspaceflight.com/the-explorat...

Isar Aerospace has delivered the stages for the second flight of its Spectrum to its launch facilities in Norway and is gearing up for pre-flight testing. europeanspaceflight.com/spectrum-roc...

The ESA Ministerial Council meeting at the end of this month is shaping up to be one of the most important in recent memory. As a result, I'll be on the ground in Bremen to report on as much as possible.

France has unveiled a new national space strategy along with increases in spending for both its military and civil space programmes. europeanspaceflight.com/france-revea...

The MAPHEUS-16 flight was successfully launched from Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden. The 13.4-metre rocket, carrying 21 experiments with a combined mass of 506 kilograms, reached an altitude of 267 kilometers. Video credit: DLR/SSC/MORABA

Another European satellite manufacturer joins the recent funding wave. This time, France’s U-Space has secured €24 million to ramp up production and expand into international markets. europeanspaceflight.com/french-satel...

OHB Digital Connect has secured a €10.7 million contract to supply 86 receivers for the Square Kilometre Array Observatory in South Africa. europeanspaceflight.com/ohb-awarded-...

OHB has established the European Spaceport Company to consolidate its launch infrastructure projects, including its participation in the German Offshore Spaceport project. europeanspaceflight.com/ohb-establis...

The US Government has criticised the proposed EU Space Act, calling its regulations “unfair and unwarranted” and warning they could harm transatlantic cooperation. europeanspaceflight.com/us-governmen...

The next European launch on the pad is the suborbital MAPHEUS-16 mission, scheduled to be launched from the Esrange Space Center in Sweden in the coming days. Video credit: DLR/MORABA/SSC

Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile plan to establish a European Satellite Operations Centre in Germany to manage a new direct-to-smartphone satellite communications constellation. europeanspaceflight.com/vodafone-and...

Germany's ATMOS Space Cargo intends to launch a technology demonstration mission aboard HyPrSpace’s Baguette One test flight in 2026. europeanspaceflight.com/atmos-to-lau...

Germany's Rheinmetall and Finland's ICEYE have established a joint venture to build satellites in a repurposed automotive facility in Neuss, Germany. europeanspaceflight.com/rheinmetall-...

Arianespace aims to launch as many as eight Ariane 6 flights in 2026, including the debut of the more powerful, four-booster version of the rocket. europeanspaceflight.com/arianespace-...

Poland’s Astronika has successfully tested the ramp system that will allow ESA’s Rosalind Franklin rover to descend from its landing platform onto the surface of Mars. europeanspaceflight.com/exomars-rove...

Germany's Reflex Aerospace has raised €50 million in new funding to accelerate the development of its satellite platform and expand its manufacturing capacity. europeanspaceflight.com/german-satel...

Arianespace has successfully launched the Sentinel-1D Earth observation satellite aboard an Ariane 62 rocket for the European Commission. europeanspaceflight.com/arianespace-...

Sentinel-1D has been successfully deployed!

Ariane 6 upper stage separation confirmed. Everything is still going according to plan.

Booster separation. Ariane 6 nominal. Looking good!

Liftoff of Ariane 6 carrying Sentinel-1D!

The board is green for this evening's Ariane 6 launch.

Launch day! Liftoff of the Ariane 62 rocket carrying the Sentinel-1D Earth observation satellite is expected at 22:03 CET from the Guiana Space Centre. Video credit: ESA / ArianeGroup / Arianespace / CNES

OHB has completed a full takeover of MT Aerospace, acquiring the remaining 30% stake from Apollo Capital Partners to become the company’s sole shareholder. europeanspaceflight.com/ohb-purchase...

The Sentinel-1D payload stack has been stacked on the Ariane 6 upper stage ahead of tomorrow's launch. The rocket is expected to be launched at 22:02 CET.

OHB will acquire the TechniSat plant in Schöneck to expand its capacity to produce electronic components for its satellites amid growing demand. europeanspaceflight.com/ohb-to-acqui...

EnduroSat has raised $104 million in new funding to boost production at its new 17,500-square-metre Sofia facility, enabling it to build up to two 200–500 kg satellites per day. europeanspaceflight.com/endurosat-se...

The Exploration Company has opened its new 5,000-square-metre headquarters in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, where it will assemble and test its Nyx spacecraft. europeanspaceflight.com/the-explorat...

Avio has shared images of more flight hardware for its FD1 rocket demonstrator, including the fairing, interstage, and propellant tank. europeanspaceflight.com/avio-reveals...

ESA has proposed a €1 billion European Resilience from Space programme to strengthen Europe’s space capabilities for defence. europeanspaceflight.com/esa-proposes...

ArianeGroup to transfer responsibility for Vinci engine assembly and testing from France to Germany, with a new Lampoldshausen facility set to be built. europeanspaceflight.com/arianegroup-...

Trade unions in France and Italy have given mixed reactions to the proposed merger of Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo’s space businesses, citing concerns over potential job cuts. europeanspaceflight.com/unions-react...

Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo have signed a memorandum of understanding to merge their space businesses into a new company expected to begin operations in 2027. europeanspaceflight.com/airbus-thale...

Avio shareholders have approved a €400 million capital increase and granted its board the power to pursue a future raise without further shareholder approval. europeanspaceflight.com/avio-shareho...

Dublin-based Réaltra Space Systems Engineering has secured a €1.5 million contract to supply seven video telemetry systems for future Ariane 6 rocket launches. europeanspaceflight.com/arianegroup-...

Eutelsat’s LEO connectivity revenues surged 61% in Q1 2025–26 as its GEO and video segments declined, leaving overall revenue down 2.2% year-on-year as the company looks to reduce a €2.62 billion debt burden. europeanspaceflight.com/eutelsats-le...

Eutelsat’s LEO connectivity revenues surged 61% in Q1 2025–26 as its GEO and video segments declined, leaving overall revenue down 2.2% year-on-year as the company looks to reduce a €2.62 billion debt burden. europeanspaceflight.com/eutelsats-le...

The European Commission will launch the European Space Shield initiative in 2026 to develop and protect critical European dual-use space assets. europeanspaceflight.com/eu-to-roll-o...

Avio has completed a hot-fire test of its MR10 methalox engine, marking a key milestone in the development of its FD1 rocket demonstrator. europeanspaceflight.com/avio-reaches...

Arianespace has delayed the first flight of the more powerful, four-booster variant of the Ariane 6 rocket until 2026. europeanspaceflight.com/arianespace-...

France and Germany have signed an agreement to implement the ODIN’S EYE space-based missile early warning system. europeanspaceflight.com/france-and-g...

Open Cosmos has been selected over Deimos to build Spain’s eight-satellite contribution to the Atlantic Constellation, with delivery expected by 2027. europeanspaceflight.com/open-cosmos-...

Some slow-motion footage of the recent ATHEAt launch from Andøya Space in Norway. The rocket's first stage was powered by the Red Kite booster, which DLR developed in partnership with Bayern-Chemie. Video credit: DLR MORABA

HyImpulse has secured €45 million in funding to develop its SL-1 rocket, with an inaugural flight expected in 2027. europeanspaceflight.com/hyimpulse-pr...

ESA has awarded a contract to Ingegneria Dei Sistemi to design a reusable rocket stage recovery vessel as part of Avio’s €40 million reusable upper stage project. europeanspaceflight.com/esa-awards-c...

Romania’s National Institute for Aerospace Research has delivered the Space Rider Descent and Landing Test Model to Italy for upcoming drop tests in Sardinia. europeanspaceflight.com/romanias-inc...

ESA’s new Exploration Biobank in Lisbon has received its first 1,422 human samples collected during the agency's Vivaldi III study. europeanspaceflight.com/esa-explorat...

PLD Space aims to build one rocket engine every two weeks by the end of 2025, as it prepares for the inaugural flight of its MIURA 5 rocket in 2026. europeanspaceflight.com/pld-aims-to-...

The DLR Institute of Structures and Design has delivered the qualification model of the Callisto reusable rocket demonstrator’s landing leg to Bremen for testing. europeanspaceflight.com/dlr-delivers...

In the latest edition of the newsletter, I took a look at the confluence of factors that led to the cancellation of the European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) programme. europeanspaceflight.substack.com/p/wherefore-...