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SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

PLD Space closes €180M Series C with €50M from Mitsubishi Electric to accelerate Miura 5 commercial launches

Spain's PLD Space closed a €180 million (≈$209 million) Series C led by a €50 million investment from Mitsubishi Electric. The capital will expand production and test capacity, accelerate Miura 5 toward its inaugural flight and scale dedicated small‑satellite launch services.

2026-03-03T22:12:21.919935-08:00

European Spaceflight

ESA loses contact with one PROBA‑3 spacecraft after anomaly forces survival mode

2026-03-06T04:27:23.383967-08:00

Space.com

ESA orbiters record record‑breaking solar superstorm striking Mars and altering its atmosphere

2026-03-06T11:07:21.750724-08:00

SpaceWatch Global

Europe’s Space Pivot: ESA Shifts from Science‑Led Missions to National‑Security Logic

2026-02-17T03:35:15.449881-08:00

News Timeline

Space.com

ESA orbiters record record‑breaking solar superstorm striking Mars and altering its atmosphere ESA's Mars orbiters logged a rare solar superstorm that struck Mars — producing the largest atmospheric response observed there to date — and confirmed the same event also impacted Earth. Instruments recorded changes in the Red Planet's upper atmosphere, yielding new data on storm interactions with non‑magnetized planets.

2026-03-06T11:07:21.750724-08:00

ESA orbiters record record‑breaking solar superstorm striking Mars and altering its atmosphere

European Spaceflight

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ESA loses contact with one PROBA‑3 spacecraft after anomaly forces survival mode The European Space Agency on May 6 lost contact with one of the two PROBA‑3 satellites — part of a formation‑flying coronagraph demonstration to observe solar eclipses — after an anomaly forced the probe into survival mode. Mission teams are actively working to restore communications and determine the cause.

2026-03-06T04:27:23.383967-08:00

ESA loses contact with one PROBA‑3 spacecraft after anomaly forces survival mode

SpaceNews.com

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PLD Space closes €180M Series C with €50M from Mitsubishi Electric to accelerate Miura 5 commercial launches Spain's PLD Space closed a €180 million (≈$209 million) Series C led by a €50 million investment from Mitsubishi Electric. The capital will expand production and test capacity, accelerate Miura 5 toward its inaugural flight and scale dedicated small‑satellite launch services.

2026-03-03T22:12:21.919935-08:00

PLD Space closes €180M Series C with €50M from Mitsubishi Electric to accelerate Miura 5 commercial launches

Universe Today

ESA JUICE captures close-up of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, revealing coma, tail and jets ESA's Jupiter-bound JUICE mission photographed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, the third confirmed interstellar visitor, producing high-resolution images showing a glowing gas halo, an extended tail and hints of jets erupting from the nucleus. The capture supplements Earth-based spectroscopy and X-ray observations.

2026-03-01T15:26:21.785107-08:00

ESA JUICE captures close-up of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, revealing coma, tail and jets

Aviation Week

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ArianeGroup's 5 kN GRETA completes hot‑fire campaign as ESA funds next development phase ArianeGroup completed a hot‑fire test campaign of its 5 kN GRETA rocket engine at Trauen, demonstrating stable operation, controlled shutdowns and multiple restarts. ESA has awarded a follow‑on contract to advance the hydrogen‑peroxide/ethanol engine for landers and Ariane 6 kick stages.

2026-02-26T01:56:00.902775-08:00

ArianeGroup's 5 kN GRETA completes hot‑fire campaign as ESA funds next development phase

SpaceWatch Global

Vyoma wins ESA contract for space-based statistical data on small debris Vyoma has been awarded an ESA contract to provide space-based statistical data on small orbital debris, supplying bulk traffic datasets that characterise the space environment. The service will give ESA access to population and traffic statistics needed for environment modelling, risk assessment and mission planning.

2026-02-25T05:53:58.795175-08:00

Vyoma wins ESA contract for space-based statistical data on small debris

SpaceWatch Global

European Commission unveils 'European Space Shield' in CWP 2026 to bolster member-state defence The European Commission, via its CWP 2026, unveiled the 'European Space Shield' — an action plan intended to reinforce EU member states' defense capabilities by coordinating space assets, resilience measures and cooperative procurement. The initiative signals a stepped-up EU role in space-based defence planning and capability development.

2026-02-20T02:13:45.611744-08:00

European Commission unveils 'European Space Shield' in CWP 2026 to bolster member-state defence

ESA

JWST produces first 3D map of Uranus’ auroras and upper atmosphere Using JWST's NIRSpec to observe Uranus for almost a full rotation, astronomers produced the first three‑dimensional map of the planet's auroras and upper atmosphere, revealing how temperature and charged particles change with height and offering new clues to the ice giant's unusual magnetic field and energy distribution.

2026-02-19T06:11:15.657559-08:00

JWST produces first 3D map of Uranus’ auroras and upper atmosphere

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ESA News

PLD Space closes €180M Series C with €50M from Mitsubishi Electric to accelerate Miura 5 commercial launches

ESA loses contact with one PROBA‑3 spacecraft after anomaly forces survival mode

ESA orbiters record record‑breaking solar superstorm striking Mars and altering its atmosphere

Europe’s Space Pivot: ESA Shifts from Science‑Led Missions to National‑Security Logic

News Timeline