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• Jeff Foust
German launch company HyImpulse has secured a license to launch from a Scottish spaceport, marking a regulatory advance for its UK launch plans. The development comes as assets belonging to Orbex, another company that intended to use the site, have been sold.
Europe
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German launch company HyImpulse has secured a license to launch from a Scottish spaceport, marking a regulatory advance for its UK launch plans. The development comes as assets belonging to Orbex, another company that intended to use the site, have been sold.
French single-engine trainer manufacturer Elixir Aircraft has grounded its entire fleet following a fatal accident. An emergency directive formalizes the grounding while investigators work to determine the cause of the crash, creating an immediate operational and safety review for operators of the company’s aircraft.
Rheinmetall and Argotec have placed their first jointly developed satellite into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The spacecraft is designed for military air-defense intelligence and early warning, establishing the foundation for a broader surveillance constellation.
The chairman of the EU Military Committee is urging the European Union to integrate NATO into its expanding military space efforts, arguing that closer coordination would help the 27-nation bloc and the 32-member alliance reinforce one another on space security and military strategy.
The U.S. ambassador to the European Union warned that proposed rules favoring non-EU content in military programs and requiring European design authority could undermine trans-Atlantic space cooperation. The criticism argues that prioritizing geographic origin over product quality may weaken European security.
High activity
KLM has received its first Airbus A350-900, PH-ZNA, named De Nachtwacht after Rembrandt’s painting, following handover in Toulouse and delivery to Amsterdam-Schiphol. The aircraft is the first of 22 assigned to KLM and is scheduled to enter passenger service on October 30 on flights to Toronto.
High activity
Sweden’s Esrange Space Center is preparing for increased launch activity after securing an orbital launch targeted for 2028. The development comes as political scrutiny grows around efforts to establish orbital launch capability at the site and strengthens the emerging Nordic launch race.
EASA has issued an operational risk warning covering airline activity in Saudi Arabia, Mali and Somalia. The advisory places the three markets under renewed scrutiny for carriers assessing flight planning, route exposure and applicable safety and security procedures.
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