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European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

ESA approves development of Denmark’s first lunar mission; launch targeted for 2029

The European Space Agency has approved development of Denmark’s first mission to the Moon, allowing the programme to proceed under ESA oversight and enter initial development activities. ESA and Danish authorities currently target the mission’s launch for 2029, marking Denmark’s first planned lunar flight.

2026-01-02T00:25:51.299307-08:00

Universe Today

Gaia detects planets in the act of forming — astrometric hints in 31 of 98 young systems

2025-12-31T18:27:07.405407-08:00

European Spaceflight

ESA confirms data breach; says incident limited to external science servers as forensic probe continues

2025-12-30T01:43:49.776238-08:00

CBS News

Blue Origin’s New Shepard completes 16th passenger flight, carries first wheelchair user Michi Benthaus

2025-12-20T08:24:57.734726-08:00

News Timeline

European Spaceflight

ESA approves development of Denmark’s first lunar mission; launch targeted for 2029 The European Space Agency has approved development of Denmark’s first mission to the Moon, allowing the programme to proceed under ESA oversight and enter initial development activities. ESA and Danish authorities currently target the mission’s launch for 2029, marking Denmark’s first planned lunar flight.

2026-01-02T00:25:51.299307-08:00

ESA approves development of Denmark’s first lunar mission; launch targeted for 2029

Universe Today

Gaia detects planets in the act of forming — astrometric hints in 31 of 98 young systems ESA's Gaia has measured the tiny gravitational wobbles of unseen companions inside protoplanetary disks, revealing candidate planets, brown dwarfs and stellar companions in 31 of 98 young systems surveyed. The result shows astrometry can probe dust‑shrouded, embedded formation stages previously considered nearly unobservable.

2025-12-31T18:27:07.405407-08:00

Gaia detects planets in the act of forming — astrometric hints in 31 of 98 young systems

tech.eu

ESA at 50: How Europe’s Space Agency Is Reshaping Startups Amid Commercial Competition and Geopolitics As ESA marks its 50th year, commercial competition, geopolitical tensions and growing demand for Earth-observation services are reshaping how the agency engages with founders and operators — driving shifts in funding priorities, programme design and partnership models between public and private actors.

2025-12-30T02:27:46.401411-08:00

ESA at 50: How Europe’s Space Agency Is Reshaping Startups Amid Commercial Competition and Geopolitics

European Spaceflight

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ESA confirms data breach; says incident limited to external science servers as forensic probe continues The European Space Agency has confirmed a data breach and launched an internal forensic investigation, saying the incident affected a limited number of external science servers that held unclassified documents. ESA denies a leak of critical internal or classified data, but it has not ruled out possible exfiltration.

2025-12-30T01:43:49.776238-08:00

ESA confirms data breach; says incident limited to external science servers as forensic probe continues

European Spaceflight

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Avio Vega C launch deals cast doubt on Vega E and Vega Next timeline Avio's recent Vega C launch agreements prompt fresh scrutiny of the firm's planned launch roadmap, calling into question the timeline, operational role and commercial value of the Vega E and the proposed Vega Next. The deals may reshape Avio's product strategy and investor roadmap for mid‑small payload markets.

2025-12-23T22:03:57.991566-08:00

Avio Vega C launch deals cast doubt on Vega E and Vega Next timeline

SpaceWatch Global

NASA confirms multinational crew for SpaceX Crew-12; Sophie Adenot to make first orbital flight, launch targeted Feb. 15, 2026 NASA confirmed the four-person crew for SpaceX Crew-12: a multinational team from NASA, ESA and Roscosmos set to launch to the International Space Station on a long-duration science expedition with liftoff targeted as early as Feb. 15, 2026. French ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot will make her first orbital flight.

2025-12-21T23:50:01.079496-08:00

NASA confirms multinational crew for SpaceX Crew-12; Sophie Adenot to make first orbital flight, launch targeted Feb. 15, 2026

Universe Today

ESA's JUICE uses five instruments to probe activity and composition of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS In November 2025 ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) targeted interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS with five science instruments, collecting remote‑sensing data on the object’s activity, coma chemistry and dust to characterise its behaviour and composition during the visitor’s inner‑solar‑system passage.

2025-12-21T12:07:40.370229-08:00

ESA's JUICE uses five instruments to probe activity and composition of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS

CBS News

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Blue Origin’s New Shepard completes 16th passenger flight, carries first wheelchair user Michi Benthaus Blue Origin’s New Shepard completed its 16th passenger flight, carrying 33‑year‑old European Space Agency engineer Michaela “Michi” Benthaus — the first wheelchair user to fly on the suborbital tourism vehicle. Benthaus, paralyzed in a mountain‑bike accident seven years ago, described the flight as a long‑held dream realized.

2025-12-20T08:24:57.734726-08:00

Blue Origin’s New Shepard completes 16th passenger flight, carries first wheelchair user Michi Benthaus

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ESA News

ESA approves development of Denmark’s first lunar mission; launch targeted for 2029

Gaia detects planets in the act of forming — astrometric hints in 31 of 98 young systems

ESA confirms data breach; says incident limited to external science servers as forensic probe continues

Blue Origin’s New Shepard completes 16th passenger flight, carries first wheelchair user Michi Benthaus

News Timeline