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SpaceNews.com • Emma Gatti

Germany commits €78M to establish national human exploration mission control centre

Germany will invest €78 million to create a national mission control centre focused on human exploration. The centre will host mission operations for crewed exploration activities and establish domestic operational infrastructure for future human spaceflight programmes, and strengthen industrial and agency capabilities.

2026-02-10T12:33:34.895265-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Can Europe Build a Sovereign Space‑Intelligence Capability?

2026-02-09T06:12:40.059587-08:00

Space.com

UK proposes 30% cut to astronomy and physics funding; researchers warn of 'massive impact'

2026-02-06T08:08:30.113587-08:00

Space Intel Report

Europe warns national space initiatives risk fragmenting collective launcher and satellite programmes

2026-02-05T06:36:06.720962-08:00

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SpaceNews.com

Germany commits €78M to establish national human exploration mission control centre Germany will invest €78 million to create a national mission control centre focused on human exploration. The centre will host mission operations for crewed exploration activities and establish domestic operational infrastructure for future human spaceflight programmes, and strengthen industrial and agency capabilities.

2026-02-10T12:33:34.895265-08:00

Germany commits €78M to establish national human exploration mission control centre

SpaceNews.com

Can Europe Build a Sovereign Space‑Intelligence Capability? Europe has a technical and programmatic path to a sovereign space‑intelligence capability — from GOVSATCOM and ESA's planned in‑orbit demonstrators to growing national investments — but turning plans into operational systems depends on political will, funding alignment and avoiding programme fragmentation.

2026-02-09T06:12:40.059587-08:00

Can Europe Build a Sovereign Space‑Intelligence Capability?

Space.com

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UK proposes 30% cut to astronomy and physics funding; researchers warn of 'massive impact' UK ministers have proposed a roughly 30% cut to astronomy and physics funding, a move researchers labeled 'pretty disastrous.' Scientists warned, 'You can't have a cut of that scale and not expect to see a massive impact,' expressing deep concern about the future of UK scientific programmes.

2026-02-06T08:08:30.113587-08:00

UK proposes 30% cut to astronomy and physics funding; researchers warn of 'massive impact'

Space Intel Report

Europe warns national space initiatives risk fragmenting collective launcher and satellite programmes European Commission officials are pressing for greater Brussels involvement as multiple member states launch parallel national space and launcher programmes. ESA and EU leaders warn the surge of national initiatives risks fragmenting collective projects — from new launchers to satellite constellations — just as geopolitical tensions demand greater European coherence.

2026-02-05T06:36:06.720962-08:00

Europe warns national space initiatives risk fragmenting collective launcher and satellite programmes

SpaceWatch Global

OHB establishes European Moonport Company in Bavaria to centralize lunar mission capabilities OHB has launched the European Moonport Company in Bavaria to consolidate its lunar-mission and lunar-surface infrastructure activities, moving the company from concept toward plans for a start-and-landing base on the Moon. The step comes as ESA pushes to accelerate European lunar initiatives.

2026-02-04T23:55:58.415854-08:00

OHB establishes European Moonport Company in Bavaria to centralize lunar mission capabilities

ukspace.org

GMV tapped to build UK‑backed TOUCAN two‑way satellite time and frequency transfer to harden national PNT GMV was selected to lead development of a secure two‑way satellite time and frequency transfer system under the ESA TOUCAN project, funded by the UK Space Agency. The system aims to provide nationally assured, continuous PNT services to harden critical infrastructure, defence and the economy.

2026-02-04T15:54:41.667502-08:00

GMV tapped to build UK‑backed TOUCAN two‑way satellite time and frequency transfer to harden national PNT

spaceanddefense.io

ESA appoints Laurent Jaffart to lead new Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity directorate The European Space Agency Council has approved the reassignment of Laurent Jaffart to a newly created Director of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity (D/RNC), effective 1 February 2026. The move, from his role as Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications, signals ESA’s prioritisation of space-based resilience for European security, navigation and connectivity.

2026-02-01T16:34:43.031785-08:00

ESA appoints Laurent Jaffart to lead new Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity directorate

Space.com

ESA seeks to map spacecraft breakup and burn‑up to enable reliable design‑for‑demise The European Space Agency is launching studies to characterise how different spacecraft materials and structures fragment, ablate and vaporise during fiery uncontrolled re‑entries. Improved data on burn‑up behaviour would let engineers design satellites that reliably disintegrate, minimising surviving debris and atmospheric particulate deposition.

2026-01-31T03:08:44.178137-08:00

ESA seeks to map spacecraft breakup and burn‑up to enable reliable design‑for‑demise

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ESA News

Germany commits €78M to establish national human exploration mission control centre

Can Europe Build a Sovereign Space‑Intelligence Capability?

UK proposes 30% cut to astronomy and physics funding; researchers warn of 'massive impact'

Europe warns national space initiatives risk fragmenting collective launcher and satellite programmes

News Timeline