ESA News

Payload • Douglas Gorman

Orbes unveils Exo-ORB free-flying ~12U “maintenance spacecraft” under an agreement to image Symphony Space station

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.

4 Sources

2026-07-27T06:06:43.755953-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

ESA awards ispace-EUROPE execution contract for MAGPIE lunar polar ice exploration mission phase

1 Source

2026-07-27T01:15:21.065703-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

ESA and UK Space Agency open new ESA InCubed call for EO-based proposals in the UK

1 Source

2026-07-27T01:15:35.112088-07:00

Payload

ESA awards ispace-EUROPE €65M contract to develop and fly MAGPIE, Europe’s first lunar polar-ice rover

6 Sources

2026-07-24T05:49:48.342512-07:00

European Space Agency News Timeline

Payload

4 sources

Orbes unveils Exo-ORB free-flying ~12U “maintenance spacecraft” under an agreement to image Symphony Space station 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.

2026-07-27T06:06:43.755953-07:00

Orbes unveils Exo-ORB free-flying ~12U “maintenance spacecraft” under an agreement to image Symphony Space station

SpaceWatch Global

1 source

ESA and UK Space Agency open new ESA InCubed call for EO-based proposals in the UK 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.

2026-07-27T01:15:35.112088-07:00

ESA and UK Space Agency open new ESA InCubed call for EO-based proposals in the UK

SpaceWatch Global

1 source

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ESA awards ispace-EUROPE execution contract for MAGPIE lunar polar ice exploration mission phase 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.

2026-07-27T01:15:21.065703-07:00

ESA awards ispace-EUROPE execution contract for MAGPIE lunar polar ice exploration mission phase

Bloomberg

None source

European SpaceX Rival in Talks to Raise $300 Million, FT Reports

2026-07-26T11:06:06.308097-07:00

European SpaceX Rival in Talks

Payload

6 sources

❗️

ESA awards ispace-EUROPE €65M contract to develop and fly MAGPIE, Europe’s first lunar polar-ice rover 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.

2026-07-24T05:49:48.342512-07:00

ESA awards ispace-EUROPE €65M contract to develop and fly MAGPIE, Europe’s first lunar polar-ice rover

SpaceWatch Global

1 source

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ESA’s new Chemical Propulsion Laboratory starts testing small propulsion systems 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.

2026-07-22T01:24:39.972570-07:00

ESA’s new Chemical Propulsion Laboratory starts testing small propulsion systems

SpaceWatch Global

None source

ESA's First Chemical Propulsion Laboratory for Testing Small Propulsion Systems is now Operational

2026-07-22T01:24:39.972570-07:00

ESA’s First Chemical Propulsio

Via Satellite

1 source

Arianespace schedules MTG-I2 launch for Aug. 27 using Ariane 62 Arianespace has set Aug. 27 as the date for its fourth Ariane 6 launch of the year, deploying a dedicated Ariane 62 configuration (two boosters). The mission will send the second Meteosat Third Generation Imager satellite, MTG-I2, into orbit.

2026-07-21T14:08:17.374906-07:00

Arianespace schedules MTG-I2 launch for Aug. 27 using Ariane 62

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