NASA Spaceflight
• Martijn Luinstra
The European Space Agency is investigating options for a European-led space station and pursuing crew-transport capabilities as new European launchers come online. The effort follows member states’ endorsement of a “Call to Boost European Space Exploration,” signaling a broader push to strengthen Europe’s independent role in human spaceflight.
ESA
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The European Space Agency is investigating options for a European-led space station and pursuing crew-transport capabilities as new European launchers come online. The effort follows member states’ endorsement of a “Call to Boost European Space Exploration,” signaling a broader push to strengthen Europe’s independent role in human spaceflight.
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A SpaceX Crew Dragon carrying four astronauts from the United States, Canada and Russia docked with the International Space Station less than eight hours after launching from Florida. The rapid transit marked the fastest journey to the ISS by a U.S. spacecraft, according to the reports.
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The European Space Agency has selected consortia led by Airbus Defence and Space and OHB to conduct parallel studies of a future European-led space station in low Earth orbit. The effort marks an early step toward defining Europe’s potential post-ISS human-spaceflight architecture and industrial roles.
The ESA-JAXA planetary defense mission is advancing ahead of a rare astronomical opportunity expected in roughly three years. Space agencies are accelerating preparations to ensure they can take advantage of the event, which could provide an important opportunity for planetary-defense research and mission operations.
The European Space Agency’s JUICE spacecraft is using Earth flybys as it continues its journey toward the outer solar system. The mission will investigate conditions on Jupiter’s moons, where environments may be capable of supporting life, after completing two additional passes of Earth.
The nose cone for the Callisto reusable rocket demonstrator has been shipped to CNES for integration, marking another step toward the vehicle’s initial hop tests in 2027. The milestone indicates that the demonstrator is moving from component production into vehicle-level integration ahead of its flight campaign.
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The European Space Agency has awarded Rocket Factory Augsburg a €2.7 million contract extension to expand launch and testing infrastructure at SaxaVord, the UK spaceport. The funding supports RFA’s preparations to increase operational capability at the site.
The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer will pass close to Earth on September 28, using the encounter to change its speed and trajectory as it continues toward Jupiter. The maneuver is a key step in the spacecraft’s ongoing interplanetary journey.
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