European Spaceflight
• Andrew Parsonson
The Exploration Company has reserved an Ariane 6 flight for the Nyx demonstration mission through the European Space Agency’s ALADDIN cargo program. The booking links the company’s in-space transportation vehicle to Europe’s institutional launch framework and adds a commercial cargo mission to Ariane 6’s manifest.
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The Exploration Company has reserved an Ariane 6 flight for the Nyx demonstration mission through the European Space Agency’s ALADDIN cargo program. The booking links the company’s in-space transportation vehicle to Europe’s institutional launch framework and adds a commercial cargo mission to Ariane 6’s manifest.
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Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover will move to emeritus status after their planned April 2026 lunar mission, ending their eligibility for future NASA flights. Separately, Greece’s first astronaut, physician Adrianos Golemis, is set to fly to the ISS on a private ESA-Vast mission in 2027.
After an eight-year journey to the innermost planet, the BepiColombo spacecraft has separated from its propulsion stage and entered the final phase of its mission. The European-Japanese probe will now prepare for orbital insertion at Mercury, a critical milestone in its long-delayed arrival sequence.
The European Space Agency has opened a call to establish a pilot plant producing European-manufactured americium-241 radioisotope heater units. The devices convert radioactive decay into heat, enabling spacecraft components to remain operational in cold environments during future exploration missions.
The International Space Summit in Paris on 9–10 September will bring together governments, industry leaders and astronauts to debate Europe’s position in the next phase of space exploration. The absence of SpaceX and Blue Origin highlights the summit’s focus on Europe’s industrial ambitions and geopolitical challenges.
ST Engineering iDirect demonstrated a pilot version of its INT3000 user equipment modem at the European Space Agency’s 5G NTN Forum. The multi-waveform 5G New Radio Non-Terrestrial Network device is intended to extend iDirect’s satellite networking technology into the broader 5G ecosystem, including aircraft connectivity applications.
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ESA’s BepiColombo mission has entered its arrival phase at Mercury, separating its transfer module from two scientific orbiters after an eight-year, 10-billion-kilometer voyage. The spacecraft now faces a high-risk final approach before beginning orbital operations to study one of the least-explored planets in the inner solar system.
The European-Japanese BepiColombo mission is set to begin its extended arrival phase at Mercury on Sept. 3, marking a major milestone in the spacecraft’s journey to the innermost planet. The event will be broadcast live, offering visibility into the mission’s next critical stage.
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