SpaceNews.com
• Andrew Parsonson
The European Space Agency has opened a call to examine the feasibility of repurposing Lunar Link—a communications system originally developed for NASA’s now-paused Gateway space station—into a dedicated lunar communications capability. The effort targets a future-focused architecture for lunar connectivity.
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Eutelsat says it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Poland to deepen cooperation in support of Europe’s secure satellite communications infrastructure under the IRIS² programme. The agreement is aimed at enabling Poland’s participation in the IRIS² effort alongside related cooperation commitments.
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The European Space Agency has opened a call to examine the feasibility of repurposing Lunar Link—a communications system originally developed for NASA’s now-paused Gateway space station—into a dedicated lunar communications capability. The effort targets a future-focused architecture for lunar connectivity.
Orbes has announced an agreement (July 27) to send Exo-ORB—an approximately 12U, under-26kg, free-flying satellite—on-board customer infrastructure to gather imagery of an uncrewed Symphony Space station. The company positioned Exo-ORB as a “ready-to-go” inspection platform launched via customer systems.
The European Space Agency has issued a new call for proposals in partnership with the UK Space Agency under ESA InCubed, targeting Earth observation (EO)-based concepts. The funding opportunity is aimed at supporting UK-focused innovation and early-stage development tied to EO applications.
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ESA has awarded ispace-EUROPE an execution contract for the second phase of the MAGPIE (Mission for Advanced Geophysics and Polar Ice Exploration) program. The agreement advances ESA’s lunar polar ice exploration efforts through the next development and delivery step under the broader MAGPIE contract structure.
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ESA has awarded ispace-EUROPE a €65 million contract to complete MAGPIE’s development and deliver the lunar rover to the Moon, targeting a 2029 mission. MAGPIE will fly on ispace’s Mission 4 lander, with ispace serving as mission prime under ESA-JAXA Luxembourg collaboration.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) has begun operations at its new Chemical Propulsion Laboratory, its first facility dedicated to testing small propulsion systems for space missions. The lab is intended to support verification and performance testing for propulsion elements used on ESA spacecraft.
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