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SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

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

ukspace.org

GMV to build secure two‑way satellite time & frequency transfer under ESA TOUCAN as UK backs PNT resilience

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

Bloomberg

EU activates GOVSATCOM's first secure service in €10.6bn push to reduce reliance on Starlink/US

2026-01-28T03:09:32.750566-08:00

Space.com

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

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

News Timeline

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 to build secure two‑way satellite time & frequency transfer under ESA TOUCAN as UK backs PNT resilience GMV has been selected to lead development of a secure two‑way satellite time and frequency transfer system under ESA's TOUCAN project, funded by the UK Space Agency through ESA's Navigation Innovation and Support Programme. The system will deliver nationally assured, continuous PNT for critical infrastructure, defence and the economy.

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

GMV to build secure two‑way satellite time & frequency transfer under ESA TOUCAN as UK backs PNT resilience

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

SpaceNews.com

Making the unprecedented EU Space Act effective for all The EU is preparing measures to put its unprecedented Space Act into force across stakeholders, clarifying obligations, enforcement and practical application for industry, governments and operators. The initiative aims to translate a consolidated legal framework into uniform, enforceable rules to govern civilian and dual‑use space activities.

2026-01-30T04:14:20.684646-08:00

Making the unprecedented EU Space Act effective for all

Space.com

Hubble and NASA probe track interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, revealing jets, an anti‑tail and spin On Jan. 22, 2026 Hubble observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS nearly aligned with the Sun–Earth line, exposing unprecedented jet structures and an extended anti‑tail. Simultaneously a NASA exoplanet probe tracked the visitor to measure its spin and activity as it departs the inner solar system.

2026-01-28T14:06:17.868783-08:00

Hubble and NASA probe track interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, revealing jets, an anti‑tail and spin

Bloomberg

❗️

EU activates GOVSATCOM's first secure service in €10.6bn push to reduce reliance on Starlink/US The EU has activated initial elements of GOVSATCOM, switching on eight satellites contributed by five member states as part of a €10.6bn programme to field a homegrown secure satellite‑communications service — positioned as an alternative to Starlink and US systems amid rising geopolitical tension.

2026-01-28T03:09:32.750566-08:00

EU activates GOVSATCOM's first secure service in €10.6bn push to reduce reliance on Starlink/US

Space Intel Report

EU moves to accelerate IRIS2 secure satcom; 290‑satellite multi‑orbit network to start services in 2029 The EU defence and space commissioner said the 290‑satellite, multi‑orbit IRIS2 secure communications constellation should begin initial services in 2029 as the bloc seeks to accelerate fielding ahead of a 2030 target. ESA is expanding the low‑LEO segment and will reimburse industry non‑recurring scaling costs to speed deployment.

2026-01-26T06:31:38.876968-08:00

EU moves to accelerate IRIS2 secure satcom; 290‑satellite multi‑orbit network to start services in 2029

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ESA News

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

GMV to build secure two‑way satellite time & frequency transfer under ESA TOUCAN as UK backs PNT resilience

EU activates GOVSATCOM's first secure service in €10.6bn push to reduce reliance on Starlink/US

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

News Timeline