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Space.com • Leonard David

ESA seeks to map spacecraft breakup and burn‑up to enable reliable design‑for‑demise

The European Space Agency is launching studies to characterise how different spacecraft materials and structures fragment, ablate and vaporise during fiery uncontrolled re‑entries. Improved data on burn‑up behaviour would let engineers design satellites that reliably disintegrate, minimising surviving debris and atmospheric particulate deposition.

2026-01-31T03:08:44.178137-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Making the unprecedented EU Space Act effective for all

2026-01-30T04:14:20.684646-08:00

Bloomberg

EU activates GOVSATCOM's first secure service in €10.6bn push to reduce reliance on Starlink/US

2026-01-28T03:09:32.750566-08:00

Space Intel Report

ESA and European Commission to fly four in‑orbit demonstrators for future intel/reconnaissance network

2026-01-26T01:35:46.186861-08:00

News Timeline

Space.com

ESA seeks to map spacecraft breakup and burn‑up to enable reliable design‑for‑demise The European Space Agency is launching studies to characterise how different spacecraft materials and structures fragment, ablate and vaporise during fiery uncontrolled re‑entries. Improved data on burn‑up behaviour would let engineers design satellites that reliably disintegrate, minimising surviving debris and atmospheric particulate deposition.

2026-01-31T03:08:44.178137-08:00

ESA seeks to map spacecraft breakup and burn‑up to enable reliable design‑for‑demise

SpaceNews.com

Making the unprecedented EU Space Act effective for all The EU is preparing measures to put its unprecedented Space Act into force across stakeholders, clarifying obligations, enforcement and practical application for industry, governments and operators. The initiative aims to translate a consolidated legal framework into uniform, enforceable rules to govern civilian and dual‑use space activities.

2026-01-30T04:14:20.684646-08:00

Making the unprecedented EU Space Act effective for all

Space.com

Hubble and NASA probe track interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, revealing jets, an anti‑tail and spin On Jan. 22, 2026 Hubble observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS nearly aligned with the Sun–Earth line, exposing unprecedented jet structures and an extended anti‑tail. Simultaneously a NASA exoplanet probe tracked the visitor to measure its spin and activity as it departs the inner solar system.

2026-01-28T14:06:17.868783-08:00

Hubble and NASA probe track interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, revealing jets, an anti‑tail and spin

Bloomberg

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EU activates GOVSATCOM's first secure service in €10.6bn push to reduce reliance on Starlink/US The EU has activated initial elements of GOVSATCOM, switching on eight satellites contributed by five member states as part of a €10.6bn programme to field a homegrown secure satellite‑communications service — positioned as an alternative to Starlink and US systems amid rising geopolitical tension.

2026-01-28T03:09:32.750566-08:00

EU activates GOVSATCOM's first secure service in €10.6bn push to reduce reliance on Starlink/US

Space Intel Report

EU moves to accelerate IRIS2 secure satcom; 290‑satellite multi‑orbit network to start services in 2029 The EU defence and space commissioner said the 290‑satellite, multi‑orbit IRIS2 secure communications constellation should begin initial services in 2029 as the bloc seeks to accelerate fielding ahead of a 2030 target. ESA is expanding the low‑LEO segment and will reimburse industry non‑recurring scaling costs to speed deployment.

2026-01-26T06:31:38.876968-08:00

EU moves to accelerate IRIS2 secure satcom; 290‑satellite multi‑orbit network to start services in 2029

Space Intel Report

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ESA and European Commission to fly four in‑orbit demonstrators for future intel/reconnaissance network The European Space Agency and the European Commission are preparing four in‑orbit demonstrator missions to prototype a future intelligence and reconnaissance network, leveraging newly granted defence‑oriented mandates from member governments. The demonstrators are intended to accelerate capability development and interoperability for Europe’s military space architecture.

2026-01-26T01:35:46.186861-08:00

ESA and European Commission to fly four in‑orbit demonstrators for future intel/reconnaissance network

European Spaceflight

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ESA awards Rocket Factory Augsburg two RFA One launches under Flight Ticket Initiative The European Space Agency has awarded Rocket Factory Augsburg a Flight Ticket Initiative contract to launch two missions aboard its RFA One rocket. The deal secures two dedicated flights for the German small-launch developer under ESA's commercial procurement scheme, supporting future orbital missions.

2026-01-23T21:11:29.526862-08:00

ESA awards Rocket Factory Augsburg two RFA One launches under Flight Ticket Initiative

European Spaceflight

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ESA issues tender to study Falcon 9 upper-stage breakup and re-entry over Poland in early 2025 The European Space Agency has issued a call for tender for a technical study into the breakup and uncontrolled re-entry of a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage forecast to descend over Poland in early 2025. The work will model fragmentation, debris footprint and re-entry risks to inform mitigation and response planning.

2026-01-23T00:32:40.903556-08:00

ESA issues tender to study Falcon 9 upper-stage breakup and re-entry over Poland in early 2025

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ESA News

ESA seeks to map spacecraft breakup and burn‑up to enable reliable design‑for‑demise

Making the unprecedented EU Space Act effective for all

EU activates GOVSATCOM's first secure service in €10.6bn push to reduce reliance on Starlink/US

ESA and European Commission to fly four in‑orbit demonstrators for future intel/reconnaissance network

News Timeline