Argonaut Moon lander to be developed by ESA, Thales Alenia Space
The Moon. This marks a major milestone in Europe’s space ambitions and its role in international lunar exploration efforts.
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BepiColombo made its final flyby of Mercury, it’s closest yet
After six long years, BepiColombo made its final flyby of the little planet Mercury. In 2026, the spacecraft plans to enter orbit around the closest planet to the Sun and begin a one-year-long science mission.
Expand Expanding CloseTerminal Count: 2024 spaceflight in review
It has been a busy year full of rocket launches, broken records, and new developments. While years past have been about the possibilities of what is to come, 2024 was about seeing those renderings come to life. Here are our top developments stories from 2024.
Expand Expanding CloseSpaceX’s third 2024 Falcon 9 grounding strengthens the need for more competition
NASA and ESA that have October launch windows.
Expand Expanding CloseESA returns to sovereign launch capability with Ariane 6
On Tuesday Arianespace and Ariane 6 rocket from its launch site in French Guiana. Delivering several test satellites for multiple customers, the rocket proved it was capable of getting to orbit, however its second stage suffered an anomaly on a highly requested upgrade.
Expand Expanding CloseWatch Ariane 6’s debut mission liftoff from French Guiana
Today ESA is preparing to launch its first Ariane 6 rocket from French Guiana in South America. The continent has been waiting a long time for this moment after several delays to various parts of the rocket.
Expand Expanding CloseThis Week In Launch: Ariane 6 on deck for its maiden launch
Following a double header by SpaceX later today, tomorrow Arianespace and the European Space Agency are ready to attempt its first launch of its Ariane 6 rocket. After years of delays and issues, the rocket has finally made it to the launch pad.
Expand Expanding CloseESA partners with Airbus, OHB, and Thales Alenia Space for ‘Zero Debris’ satellite platforms
The ESA’s ambitious commitment to “significantly limit” the production of space debris by 2030 in hopes of making a significant step forward in space sustainability.
Expand Expanding CloseWatch SpaceX launch ESA’s EarthCARE mission from California
At 2:30 P.M. PT SpaceX plans to launch the ESA and JAXA mission called EarthCARE from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from SLC-4E with the booster making a landing at LZ-4 just a few hundred feet from the launch pad.
EarthCARE will study Earth’s clouds and aerosols to better understand global warming and the changing climate of our planet.
You can watch live coverage from ESA already live on their YouTube channel. SpaceX’s coverage will begin closer to launch over on X.
The global alliance pioneering NASA’s Lunar Gateway
Mars. This program is characterized by its emphasis on international and commercial partnerships, establishing a strategic outpost orbiting Earth’s nearest celestial neighbor to support scientific research, lunar surface expeditions, and deeper space ventures.
Expand Expanding CloseVega rocket maker lost major part of their final vehicle
Avio, the company that builds Vega launcher, lost a pair of tanks for the AVUM fourth stage. While the company eventually found them, they were no longer useable, leading to a scramble to save the final Vega launch.
Expand Expanding CloseESA gives Ariane 6 a launch date after big test
Ariane 6 before launching its first mission. The new heavy lift rocket has two more ground tests on the booster and upper stage before a launch window opens up targeting mid-June to July 2024.
Expand Expanding CloseESA completes hot fire of Ariane 6’s booster engine
On Thanksgiving day here in the US, Ariane 6 first stage booster. Powered by a single Vulcain 2.1 engine, the stage burned through almost 150 tons of fuel over a seven minute burn.
Expand Expanding CloseThis Week in Launches: Post Starship lull and Thanksgiving day engine test
After a rather eventful weekend, ESA are planning a test of its Vulcain 2.1 engine down in French Guiana.
Expand Expanding CloseGMV successfully concludes ground tests for ESA’s MIRROR space robot
Multinational technology company GMV has wrapped up ground validation tests for a cutting-edge space robot. Designed as part of the European Space Agency’s MIRROR project (Multi-arm Installation Robot for Readying ORUs and Reflectors), this innovative robot promises to transform the way structures are assembled in Earth’s orbit.
Expand Expanding CloseThis Week in Launches: SpaceX Crew-7 launch week, along with many other missions
This week has proven to be one of the most eventful in recent memory, featuring a flurry of activities including two launches to the International Space Station, four SpaceX launches, and four distinct rockets. From the Crew-7 rotation mission by SpaceX, a specialized SmallSat mission by Rocket Lab, to a rare Japanese launch, this week is poised to be action-packed.
Expand Expanding CloseWho is flying on SpaceX’s Crew-7 mission later this month?
Next month, SpaceX is set to launch its seventh rotation of crew members to the International Space Station for NASA. The upcoming Crew-7 mission is notable for being the most diverse crew to fly on a Dragon spacecraft, with all four members hailing from different nations and agencies – a first for SpaceX.
Expand Expanding CloseGreater Earth Lunar Power Station, pioneering space energy and tourism synergy
A Swiss company called Astrostrom is working with the European Space Agency to study the possibility of building a solar power satellite using lunar resources.
Expand Expanding CloseEurope finds temporary solution in SpaceX for launching critical spacecraft
Europe is currently grappling with a temporary setback with its ability to launch payloads into space, prompting a heightened reliance on SpaceX for launching vital science and navigation spacecraft.
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Space Explored Podcast 66: What happens to Europe now the Ariane 5 is gone?
This week Seth and Austin DeSisto discuss the week’s top stories and then dive into the main topic concerning Europe. With the retirement of the Ariane 5 and a lack of any other operational launcher, what does the future look like for European spaceflight?
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SpaceX Falcon 9 launches Euclid mission to unlock secrets of the dark universe
In a momentous event in the field of astrophysics, SpaceX successfully launched the Euclid mission in collaboration with the European Space Agency.
Expand Expanding CloseThe latest flyby views of Mercury, from BepiColombo
Just hours ago, the teams operating BepiColombo, Europe and Japan’s mission to travel to and orbit Mercury, released images from the spacecraft’s third flyby of the closest planet to our sun. With each pass, the spacecraft gets closer, takes more images, and reveals never-before-seen views of the elusive rocky surface.
Expand Expanding CloseEurope wants to build a fully reusable heavy-lift rocket
Europe announced a study that would look into building a fully reusable rocket to further compete on the world launch stage — a direct nod to SpaceX’s success developing its Starship rocket and a further move to reusable rockets.
Expand Expanding CloseESA JUICE mission hits a snag on an important component
ESA announced Friday that the radar dish on its Jupiter Icey Moon Explorer (JUICE) mission isn’t deploying as fast as it should be. But have no fear. The mission isn’t in jeopardy yet, and teams have some ideas on how to fix it.
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