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Space Intel Report • Peter B. de Selding

PLD Space, Rocket Factory Augsburg and MaiaSpace update inaugural flight plans under ESA’s European Launcher Challenge

PARIS — Three of four startup launch service providers competing in ESA’s European Launcher Challenge—PLD Space, Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) and MaiaSpace—shared progress updates ahead of their inaugural flight campaigns. The latest disclosures map each team’s development status against the competition’s next milestones.

2026-06-22T04:41:34.576116-07:00

Air Data News

F-35A expands Japan’s role in Wild Weasel SEAD—first Japanese-built F-35A joins Misawa mission as wing proves F-35A reach in NAT

2026-06-22T04:09:28.124115-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

OeWF selects six analog astronauts to train for its Mars mission simulation

2026-06-22T00:29:00.404791-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

ESA Council confirms Rome as Dec. 15 ministerial venue and reframes Europe’s exploration strategy after NASA’s Lunar Gateway dow

2026-06-19T04:12:32.196806-07:00

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AeroTime

RAAF hosts USAF Test Pilot School at Williamtown in rare return to allied exchange The Royal Australian Air Force hosted the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School for the first time in many years, welcoming students and instructors to RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales. The visit marks a renewed US-Australia training exchange tied to test and evaluation expertise sharing.

2026-06-22T06:25:10.755818-07:00

RAAF hosts USAF Test Pilot School at Williamtown in rare return to allied exchange

Space Intel Report

PLD Space, Rocket Factory Augsburg and MaiaSpace update inaugural flight plans under ESA’s European Launcher Challenge PARIS — Three of four startup launch service providers competing in ESA’s European Launcher Challenge—PLD Space, Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) and MaiaSpace—shared progress updates ahead of their inaugural flight campaigns. The latest disclosures map each team’s development status against the competition’s next milestones.

2026-06-22T04:41:34.576116-07:00

PLD Space, Rocket Factory Augsburg and MaiaSpace update inaugural flight plans under ESA’s European Launcher Challenge

Air Data News

F-35A expands Japan’s role in Wild Weasel SEAD—first Japanese-built F-35A joins Misawa mission as wing proves F-35A reach in NAT The U.S. Air Force is transferring the historic Wild Weasel air-defense suppression mission to F-35A fighters based at Misawa, replacing F-16s in locating and destroying radar-guided surface-to-air missile systems. Japan also produced its first F-35A and is using the type to demonstrate NATO integration and combat-airpower generation during Exercise Ramstein Flag 26.

2026-06-22T04:09:28.124115-07:00

F-35A expands Japan’s role in Wild Weasel SEAD—first Japanese-built F-35A joins Misawa mission as wing proves F-35A reach in NAT

SpaceWatch Global

OeWF selects six analog astronauts to train for its Mars mission simulation The Austrian Space Forum (OeWF) has introduced six new analog astronauts for a Mars mission simulation training program designed to be globally unique. The cohort expands OeWF’s long-duration, operationally relevant training pipeline for future Mars-analog mission execution and readiness-building.

2026-06-22T00:29:00.404791-07:00

OeWF selects six analog astronauts to train for its Mars mission simulation

Bloomberg

Airports turn architecture and wayfinding into stress-relief infrastructure for passengers Airports are increasingly using design interventions—layout tweaks, process smoothing, and targeted wayfinding—to reduce the “terrible” and frustrating parts of air travel. The approach treats passenger stress as an engineering problem, not just a customer-service issue.

2026-06-19T09:39:24.653643-07:00

Airports turn architecture and wayfinding into stress-relief infrastructure for passengers

AeroTime

Thales pitches Schiebel S-301 armed VTOL helicopter drone as Apache wingman at Eurosatory 2026 Thales used Eurosatory 2026 to showcase Schiebel’s S-301 helicopter drone as an armed, VTOL platform for ISR, strike, and counter-drone missions. The pitch positions the system for a “wingman” role alongside manned rotorcraft, aligning unmanned autonomy and multi-mission payloads with upcoming air-land tactics.

2026-06-19T05:08:37.582776-07:00

Thales pitches Schiebel S-301 armed VTOL helicopter drone as Apache wingman at Eurosatory 2026

SpaceWatch Global

ESA Council confirms Rome as Dec. 15 ministerial venue and reframes Europe’s exploration strategy after NASA’s Lunar Gateway dow ESA’s 347th Council meeting confirmed Rome as the venue for an Intermediate Ministerial Meeting on 15 December and set the agenda for how Europe will proceed after NASA’s Lunar Gateway downsizing. The decision signals a fundamental repositioning of Europe’s exploration approach as roles and priorities shift.

2026-06-19T04:12:32.196806-07:00

ESA Council confirms Rome as Dec. 15 ministerial venue and reframes Europe’s exploration strategy after NASA’s Lunar Gateway dow

New York Times

Flu outbreak at Lackland AFB infects nearly 160 troops weeks after Pentagon ended mandatory flu shots A Texas Air Force base is grappling with a rapidly spreading influenza outbreak, infecting nearly 160 service members at Lackland Air Force Base. Multiple reports link the spike to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision less than two months earlier to make the annual flu vaccine optional.

2026-06-18T11:49:35.903939-07:00

Flu outbreak at Lackland AFB infects nearly 160 troops weeks after Pentagon ended mandatory flu shots

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Event News

PLD Space, Rocket Factory Augsburg and MaiaSpace update inaugural flight plans under ESA’s European Launcher Challenge

F-35A expands Japan’s role in Wild Weasel SEAD—first Japanese-built F-35A joins Misawa mission as wing proves F-35A reach in NAT

OeWF selects six analog astronauts to train for its Mars mission simulation

ESA Council confirms Rome as Dec. 15 ministerial venue and reframes Europe’s exploration strategy after NASA’s Lunar Gateway dow

News Timeline