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European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

Artemis III: ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano’s test-pilot background helps Italy leap the crew allocation queue

Italy’s Artemis III crew allocation moved out of the standard queue after ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano’s prior experience as a test pilot was cited as a decisive factor in his selection. The development underscores how specific aviation skill sets are being valued for next-step lunar missions.

2026-06-11T08:03:36.153452-07:00

Bloomberg

Voyager CEO says NASA review of commercial space-station plan will back Voyager Technology-backed project

2026-06-11T02:30:05.126671-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

ESA contracts Vast to fly Czech reserve astronaut Aleš Svoboda to the ISS in 2027

2026-06-10T00:41:51.395221-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Prada and Axiom Space unveil Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) for NASA’s Artemis III lunar spacesuits

2026-06-08T04:48:23.347767-07:00

News Timeline

European Spaceflight

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Artemis III: ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano’s test-pilot background helps Italy leap the crew allocation queue Italy’s Artemis III crew allocation moved out of the standard queue after ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano’s prior experience as a test pilot was cited as a decisive factor in his selection. The development underscores how specific aviation skill sets are being valued for next-step lunar missions.

2026-06-11T08:03:36.153452-07:00

Artemis III: ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano’s test-pilot background helps Italy leap the crew allocation queue

Bloomberg

Voyager CEO says NASA review of commercial space-station plan will back Voyager Technology-backed project Voyager Technologies’ CEO says a NASA review of the agency’s commercial space-stations plan is likely to result in support for the company’s project. The comment frames Voyager’s position within NASA’s evolving Commercial LEO Destinations approach amid shifting program guidance.

2026-06-11T02:30:05.126671-07:00

Voyager CEO says NASA review of commercial space-station plan will back Voyager Technology-backed project

global.jaxa.jp

JAXA selects El Salvador and Thailand for the 9th round of KiboCUBE nanosatellite deployments from the ISS JAXA, together with UNOOSA, has selected teams from the Republic of El Salvador and the Kingdom of Thailand as winners of the ninth round of the KiboCUBE program. The initiative supports small satellite deployment from the International Space Station through student/research team payloads.

2026-06-10T19:41:54.220187-07:00

JAXA selects El Salvador and Thailand for the 9th round of KiboCUBE nanosatellite deployments from the ISS

The War Zone

NASA seeks contractor to evaluate use of a classified Air Force 737 as low-gravity testbed NASA is looking to hire a highly specialized company to assess whether a “classified” Air Force 737 can serve as a testbed for low-gravity research. The effort would determine the aircraft’s suitability for “vomit comet”-style operations without revealing the platform’s sensitive details.

2026-06-10T11:56:30.378668-07:00

NASA seeks contractor to evaluate use of a classified Air Force 737 as low-gravity testbed

SpaceWatch Global

ESA contracts Vast to fly Czech reserve astronaut Aleš Svoboda to the ISS in 2027 The European Space Agency has signed an agreement with Vast for an ISS mission that will carry Czech reserve astronaut Aleš Svoboda, a military pilot, aiming to make him the first Czech in ISS orbit in 2027. The flight is part of NASA’s first PAM to the ISS awarded to Vast.

2026-06-10T00:41:51.395221-07:00

ESA contracts Vast to fly Czech reserve astronaut Aleš Svoboda to the ISS in 2027

SpaceNews.com

Blue Origin’s New Glenn explosion forces NASA to rewrite lunar base sequencing under ‘Ignition’ NASA’s March “Ignition” initiative to develop a lunar base is colliding with execution risk after Blue Origin’s New Glenn exploded during a Florida static hot-fire, destroying the booster and upper stage and damaging the LC-36 pad. The anomaly is now forcing an “explosive” rewrite to NASA’s moon-base plans.

2026-06-09T05:18:22.989296-07:00

Blue Origin’s New Glenn explosion forces NASA to rewrite lunar base sequencing under ‘Ignition’

SpaceNews.com

China shortlists commercial launchers for low-cost cargo spacecraft to its next space station China is expanding the role of its commercial rocket providers by shortlisting four entities to launch a new, low-cost cargo spacecraft system supporting its space-station logistics. The move signals a shift toward greater contractor participation in routine in-orbit resupply operations.

2026-06-09T03:33:29.470720-07:00

China shortlists commercial launchers for low-cost cargo spacecraft to its next space station

Axios

ISS leak saga escalates again as NASA orders astronauts to prepare for a hasty departure NASA has directed International Space Station astronauts to prepare for a rapid departure Friday, citing worsening conditions tied to mysterious leaks originating in a Russian segment/module. The order is the latest dramatic step in a years-long problem that has periodically strained ISS habitability and contingency planning.

2026-06-08T11:26:59.716046-07:00

ISS leak saga escalates again as NASA orders astronauts to prepare for a hasty departure

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Human Spaceflight & Space Stations News

Artemis III: ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano’s test-pilot background helps Italy leap the crew allocation queue

Voyager CEO says NASA review of commercial space-station plan will back Voyager Technology-backed project

ESA contracts Vast to fly Czech reserve astronaut Aleš Svoboda to the ISS in 2027

Prada and Axiom Space unveil Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) for NASA’s Artemis III lunar spacesuits

News Timeline