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SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

ESA contracts Vast to fly Czech reserve astronaut Aleš Svoboda to the ISS in 2027

The European Space Agency has signed an agreement with Vast for an ISS mission that will carry Czech reserve astronaut Aleš Svoboda, a military pilot, aiming to make him the first Czech in ISS orbit in 2027. The flight is part of NASA’s first PAM to the ISS awarded to Vast.

2026-06-10T00:41:51.395221-07:00

Space Intel Report

Canada and ESA weigh industrial and program-response moves after NASA shelves Lunar Gateway

2026-06-04T08:56:15.588429-07:00

European Spaceflight

ESA greenlights HiBiDiS and SOVA-S Scout Earth-observation missions led by Sitael and OHB Czechspace

2026-05-29T00:40:05.728900-07:00

Textron

Platoon Aviation locks in multi-aircraft Cessna Citation Longitude order with Textron Aviation, targeting 2027 deliveries

2026-05-27T03:23:09.462029-07:00

News Timeline

European Spaceflight

ESA Awards Initial €700M Contract for Next-Gen Sentinel-1 Satellites

2026-06-10T08:42:13.297629-07:00

ESA Awards Initial €700M Contr

SpaceWatch Global

ESA contracts Vast to fly Czech reserve astronaut Aleš Svoboda to the ISS in 2027 The European Space Agency has signed an agreement with Vast for an ISS mission that will carry Czech reserve astronaut Aleš Svoboda, a military pilot, aiming to make him the first Czech in ISS orbit in 2027. The flight is part of NASA’s first PAM to the ISS awarded to Vast.

2026-06-10T00:41:51.395221-07:00

ESA contracts Vast to fly Czech reserve astronaut Aleš Svoboda to the ISS in 2027

Space Intel Report

Canada and ESA weigh industrial and program-response moves after NASA shelves Lunar Gateway Canadian Space Agency President Lisa Campbell and former NASA Chief Economist Alexander MacDonald say Canada is positioned to benefit from NASA’s abrupt shift away from the Lunar Gateway—prompting ESA and Canadian stakeholders to decide how to respond to the cancellation and realign work and roles.

2026-06-04T08:56:15.588429-07:00

Canada and ESA weigh industrial and program-response moves after NASA shelves Lunar Gateway

SpaceNews.com

ESA’s SMILE solar-wind mission sets May 19 launch on Vega-C to probe how space weather drives magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling ESA’s SMILE spacecraft is scheduled to launch May 19, 2026, on a Vega-C rocket, aiming to advance understanding of solar wind interactions with Earth’s magnetosphere and improve space-weather prediction. The mission underscores Europe’s push to operationalize heliophysics observations through targeted instrumentation.

2026-06-03T11:41:30.326016-07:00

ESA’s SMILE solar-wind mission sets May 19 launch on Vega-C to probe how space weather drives magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling

Via Satellite

Poland’s Space Agency executive charts a shift from early ESA contributor to growing national space power The Polish Space Agency, created in 2014, is laying out how it has helped expand Poland’s commercial space footprint and deepen ties to European programs. Poland’s trajectory has already positioned it among the seven largest contributors to the European Space Agency, setting the stage for further ambition.

2026-06-01T12:57:51.751364-07:00

Poland’s Space Agency executive charts a shift from early ESA contributor to growing national space power

European Spaceflight

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ESA greenlights HiBiDiS and SOVA-S Scout Earth-observation missions led by Sitael and OHB Czechspace The European Space Agency has approved development of its HiBiDiS and SOVA-S Scout Earth-observation missions. Development is led by Sitael for HiBiDiS and by OHB Czechspace for SOVA-S Scout, advancing ESA’s push for lower-cost, scalable Earth observation capabilities.

2026-05-29T00:40:05.728900-07:00

ESA greenlights HiBiDiS and SOVA-S Scout Earth-observation missions led by Sitael and OHB Czechspace

SpaceNews.com

Europe’s next sovereignty play: shift from symbolic “presence” to post-launch execution Europe’s space sovereignty debate has often been dominated by talk of launchers and constellations, but decision momentum may now hinge on what happens after liftoff—how quickly Europe can turn deployed systems into usable services and capability.

2026-05-28T03:16:16.979717-07:00

Europe’s next sovereignty play: shift from symbolic “presence” to post-launch execution

Textron

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Platoon Aviation locks in multi-aircraft Cessna Citation Longitude order with Textron Aviation, targeting 2027 deliveries Hamburg charter operator Platoon Aviation has signed a multi-aircraft purchase agreement with Textron Aviation for the Cessna Citation Longitude, with deliveries slated to begin in 2027. The deal is positioned to make Platoon the largest Longitude fleet operator in Europe.

2026-05-27T03:23:09.462029-07:00

Platoon Aviation locks in multi-aircraft Cessna Citation Longitude order with Textron Aviation, targeting 2027 deliveries

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ESA News

ESA contracts Vast to fly Czech reserve astronaut Aleš Svoboda to the ISS in 2027

Canada and ESA weigh industrial and program-response moves after NASA shelves Lunar Gateway

ESA greenlights HiBiDiS and SOVA-S Scout Earth-observation missions led by Sitael and OHB Czechspace

Platoon Aviation locks in multi-aircraft Cessna Citation Longitude order with Textron Aviation, targeting 2027 deliveries

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