Space.com
• Chelsea Gohd
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and NASA astronaut Anil Menon conducted a spacewalk on Aug. 18, 2026, to remove a faulty antenna from the International Space Station. The repair underscores the continuing role of extravehicular activity in maintaining critical ISS systems.
European Spaceflight
European Spaceflight
ESA
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ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and NASA astronaut Anil Menon conducted a spacewalk on Aug. 18, 2026, to remove a faulty antenna from the International Space Station. The repair underscores the continuing role of extravehicular activity in maintaining critical ISS systems.
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The European Space Agency’s Draco reentry mission has completed its Critical Design Review, a major program milestone that authorizes the transition to manufacturing and testing. The mission remains scheduled for launch in 2027, advancing ESA’s work on controlled atmospheric reentry and spacecraft recovery technologies.
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ESA is planning modifications to Ariane 6 to support future Argonaut lunar missions carrying radioisotope power systems. The adaptations would enable the launcher to accommodate missions with nuclear power sources, linking Europe’s heavy-lift launch capability to longer-duration lunar exploration objectives.
France’s CNES is seeking an industrial partner to develop and qualify a compact, low-cost optical telescope designed for mass production. The effort points to a focus on reducing unit costs and industrializing optical payload manufacturing for future satellite and space applications.
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ESA has confirmed that the proposed Ariane 6 Block 3 evolution, including the lightweight ICARUS upper stage, has been shelved. The decision removes a planned pathway for upgrading Europe’s heavy-lift launcher, with implications for future Ariane 6 performance and development priorities.
European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot is scheduled to make history on Aug. 18 as the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk. The event will be broadcast live, offering viewers access to a milestone in France’s human-spaceflight participation.
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The European Commission, ESA, EUSPA and the SpaceRISE consortium have completed seven months of negotiations, clearing IRIS² to enter implementation. Eutelsat will lead the €3.39 billion LEO component, HispaSat will serve as ground-segment prime contractor, and SES will advance the constellation’s MEO strategy.
NASA and the European Space Agency are defining the infrastructure needed to support a sustainable lunar base, while Northrop Grumman and the Canadian Space Agency are adapting work from NASA’s planned Gateway station for future lunar-base applications.
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