Space.com
• Robert Z. Pearlman
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and French astronaut Sophie Adenot removed a failed antenna during an Aug. 18 spacewalk at the International Space Station, but ran out of time before installing its replacement. The antenna repair will therefore require a subsequent spacewalk or other planned intervention.
Europe
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NASA astronaut Anil Menon and French astronaut Sophie Adenot removed a failed antenna during an Aug. 18 spacewalk at the International Space Station, but ran out of time before installing its replacement. The antenna repair will therefore require a subsequent spacewalk or other planned intervention.
Spire Global reported a 16% year-over-year revenue increase for the quarter ended June 30 and expects full-year revenue to rise 50% compared with 2025. The multi-mission satellite operator said 85% of second-half revenue is already backed by firm orders, while expanding German manufacturing and partnerships with Schaeffler and Diehl.
Wizz Air plans to establish a new operating base at Brașov Airport in Romania in late fourth quarter 2026. The move signals a future expansion of the carrier’s presence in the Romanian market, although the available report does not specify aircraft allocation, routes or capacity.
High activity
Globalstar deployed all eight replacement satellites built by Rocket Lab and MDA Space, while Eutelsat completed the first rendez-vous for Europe’s IRIS² programme. Separately, Viasat selected Rocket Lab for a U.S. Space Force GEO satellite, and Finland’s ReOrbit launched a €4.6 million connectivity R&D programme.
SWISS will move two 180-seat Airbus A320neos to Geneva for summer 2027, replacing two A220-300s and adding capacity on its London Heathrow route. The fleet change responds to strong demand on one of the airline’s busiest Geneva services while preserving the base’s overall aircraft count.
SPRIND and SWE 2040 present competing visions for Europe’s orbital future: one prioritizes technological sovereignty and independent capabilities, while the other emphasizes interoperability with military partners. The divide highlights a strategic choice that could shape Europe’s space policy, industrial priorities and approach to security cooperation.
France conducted its first nighttime waterbombing drops from Aug. 17 to 18, 2026, using an Australian CH-47D Chinook stationed at Mont-de-Marsan since early August. The borrowed helicopter provides a capability unavailable from any aircraft in France’s current inventory, extending wildfire response beyond daylight operations.
SpaceX has reversed its decision to restrict Starlink roaming for customers in Poland, resolving a dispute that included an official threatening to reconsider $50 million in annual payments. The reversal underscores the commercial and policy sensitivities surrounding satellite broadband service access in national markets.
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