NASA Spaceflight
• Chris Bergin, Martijn Luinstra
The European Space Agency has awarded the first contracts under its European Launcher Challenge, committing €543.6 million to three European rocket startups. The initiative is intended to broaden Europe’s launch options beyond Ariane 6 and Vega-C, expanding the region’s commercial launch ecosystem.
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The European Space Agency has awarded the first contracts under its European Launcher Challenge, committing €543.6 million to three European rocket startups. The initiative is intended to broaden Europe’s launch options beyond Ariane 6 and Vega-C, expanding the region’s commercial launch ecosystem.
Airbus is considering selling its U.S. small-satellite manufacturing business as it reorganizes its space activities. The move coincides with plans to shift production of next-generation OneWeb satellites to France, potentially reshaping the group’s industrial footprint and approach to satellite manufacturing in the United States and Europe.
Swedish satellite operator Ovzon is establishing a German partner ecosystem with IABG Teleport and satellite services provider MBS. The companies will conduct an initial test implementation with a German government customer, marking Ovzon’s first reported step into the market and expanding its European presence.
The U.S. is investing in expanded B-52 bomber capacity at Morón Air Base in Spain after Madrid barred the facility’s use for long-range bomber missions against Iran. The move underscores the operational and political constraints shaping U.S. bomber basing in Europe.
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Highlands and Islands Enterprise has acquired the assets of Sutherland Spaceport Ltd following the collapse of launch company Orbex. The Scottish development agency has not yet determined what will happen to the spaceport, leaving the site’s operational and commercial future unresolved.
Helsinki, Electra and Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences have signed an MOU to assess hybrid-electric “direct aviation” connections across the Gulf of Finland. The proposed Helsinki-Tallinn link could reduce door-to-door travel time to under an hour while offering a quieter, more efficient regional alternative.
Wizz Air has offered to assume operation of TAROM’s domestic network, potentially reshaping Romania’s internal air connectivity and the competitive position of its flag carrier. The proposal’s commercial and regulatory terms, as well as its impact on routes and capacity, remain unspecified.
Poland says it will not host nuclear warheads but has secured an opening to participate in NATO’s dual-capable aircraft mission with its F-35A fleet. The position reflects Warsaw’s effort to deepen its role in the alliance’s nuclear-sharing framework without basing nuclear weapons domestically.
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