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European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

ESA to purchase dedicated SpaceX Crew Dragon mission to the ISS

At its 345th Council in Interlaken, ESA approved buying a dedicated SpaceX Crew Dragon mission to the International Space Station, creating a medium‑duration flight opportunity for European astronauts. The move increases ESA’s crewed‑flight options and signals deeper use of commercial crew services for ISS access.

2026-03-20T01:50:20.726515-07:00

ESA

ESA awards €248m to OHB Sweden for 20 satellites in EUMETSAT's EPS‑Sterna Arctic weather constellation

2026-03-18T05:40:59.210681-07:00

Space.com

PROBA‑3 coronagraph regains contact after month‑long outage

2026-03-19T13:09:43.220567-07:00

Space Intel Report

NASA to convene Artemis international partners in Washington as ESA updates cooperation and ISS plans

2026-03-19T11:38:52.482394-07:00

News Timeline

European Spaceflight

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ESA to purchase dedicated SpaceX Crew Dragon mission to the ISS At its 345th Council in Interlaken, ESA approved buying a dedicated SpaceX Crew Dragon mission to the International Space Station, creating a medium‑duration flight opportunity for European astronauts. The move increases ESA’s crewed‑flight options and signals deeper use of commercial crew services for ISS access.

2026-03-20T01:50:20.726515-07:00

ESA to purchase dedicated SpaceX Crew Dragon mission to the ISS

Space.com

PROBA‑3 coronagraph regains contact after month‑long outage A month after an anomaly forced the PROBA‑3 Coronagraph into survival mode and cut ground contact, mission teams report the spacecraft has phoned home, re‑establishing communications. The recovery restores telemetry from the formation‑flying coronagraph used to create eclipse‑style observations of the Sun.

2026-03-19T13:09:43.220567-07:00

PROBA‑3 coronagraph regains contact after month‑long outage

Space Intel Report

NASA to convene Artemis international partners in Washington as ESA updates cooperation and ISS plans NASA will convene international Artemis partners in Washington next week to discuss the agency's new Artemis plan, ESA Director General Josef Aschacher said. The meeting follows ESA Council endorsements of a new crewed ISS mission concept and intensified NASA–ESA coordination after the Mars Earth Return Orbiter shutdown.

2026-03-19T11:38:52.482394-07:00

NASA to convene Artemis international partners in Washington as ESA updates cooperation and ISS plans

Universe Today

ESA's JUICE to study Jupiter's 94 'minor' moons alongside Ganymede, Europa and Callisto; arrives 2031 ESA’s JUICE, arriving at Jupiter in 2031, will focus on Ganymede, Europa and Callisto — mapping Ganymede’s magnetic field — but a Space Science Reviews paper by Tilmann Denk shows the probe will also gather significant 'bonus' science from Jupiter’s other 94 moons.

2026-03-19T06:58:25.082231-07:00

ESA's JUICE to study Jupiter's 94 'minor' moons alongside Ganymede, Europa and Callisto; arrives 2031

SpaceWatch Global

Europe’s space strategy at a crossroads: is there a Plan B? Europe's space sector is moving beyond the familiar rhythm of conferences and announcements as policymakers confront capability shortfalls, industrial fragility and mounting geopolitical pressure. The piece argues Brussels and national capitals must define a practical 'Plan B'—covering sovereign launch, resilient satcoms, funding models and industrial reform.

2026-03-19T02:18:21.094132-07:00

Europe’s space strategy at a crossroads: is there a Plan B?

European Spaceflight

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ESA offers €50m to steer LEO cargo-return demos onto European launchers The European Space Agency will offer a €50 million incentive to support demonstration missions for its LEO Cargo Return Services initiative, contingent on using European rockets. The funding aims to attract commercial demonstrators and direct early demand to domestic launch providers.

2026-03-18T07:14:59.594116-07:00

ESA offers €50m to steer LEO cargo-return demos onto European launchers

ESA

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ESA awards €248m to OHB Sweden for 20 satellites in EUMETSAT's EPS‑Sterna Arctic weather constellation ESA has contracted OHB Sweden for €248 million to design and build 20 small satellites for EUMETSAT's EPS‑Sterna constellation, closing critical data gaps over the Arctic. The constellation will complement geostationary and polar assets to sharpen forecasts of severe weather across Europe and the Mediterranean.

2026-03-18T05:40:59.210681-07:00

ESA awards €248m to OHB Sweden for 20 satellites in EUMETSAT's EPS‑Sterna Arctic weather constellation

SpaceWatch Global

Rocket Factory Augsburg delivers RFA ONE first and second stages to SaxaVord Spaceport Rocket Factory Augsburg has delivered the first and second stages of its RFA ONE launch vehicle to the SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland, a critical hardware milestone that initiates ground integration and pad preparations at the island spaceport ahead of the company's planned UK launch campaign.

2026-03-18T01:59:53.729927-07:00

Rocket Factory Augsburg delivers RFA ONE first and second stages to SaxaVord Spaceport

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ESA News

ESA to purchase dedicated SpaceX Crew Dragon mission to the ISS

ESA awards €248m to OHB Sweden for 20 satellites in EUMETSAT's EPS‑Sterna Arctic weather constellation

PROBA‑3 coronagraph regains contact after month‑long outage

NASA to convene Artemis international partners in Washington as ESA updates cooperation and ISS plans

News Timeline