European Spaceflight
• Andrew Parsonson
ArianeGroup has completed a second wet dress rehearsal of Themis, the European Space Agency’s reusable rocket demonstrator, at Esrange in Sweden. The rehearsal marks another test campaign milestone for the vehicle, though the available report provides no further details on test results or next steps.
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation
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ArianeGroup has completed a second wet dress rehearsal of Themis, the European Space Agency’s reusable rocket demonstrator, at Esrange in Sweden. The rehearsal marks another test campaign milestone for the vehicle, though the available report provides no further details on test results or next steps.
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South Korea’s homegrown Nuri rocket launched from the Naro Space Center carrying 15 satellites, including five NEONSAT microsatellites intended for the country’s first domestically launched constellation. Reports say 14 of 15 payloads reached orbit. The flight also highlighted Hanwha Aerospace’s expanded role and growing private-sector participation in the national space program.
FAA data show licensed commercial space launches declined in fiscal 2026 for the first time since FY2019, while the agency proposed streamlining regulations for launches and re-entries. Launch bottlenecks are also prompting interest in high-density satellite designs as operators seek alternatives to launch capacity constraints.
German researchers used a Dassault Falcon 20E research jet to measure the emissions plume from a suborbital launch vehicle. The German Aerospace Center says the resulting data could help support development of propellants with lower climate impact.
Western launch capacity is often measured by rocket cadence, reusability and cost, but infrastructure is increasingly setting the pace. Cape Canaveral saw 36 rocket launches in 2021, underscoring the growing demand on the ground systems that support launch operations.
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The European Union has extended the SALTO project deadline to the end of 2026, while the first hop test of Europe’s Themis reusable rocket demonstrator has slipped further. The schedule change puts the project’s near-term milestone and revised completion date in focus.
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NASA has stacked the center segments of both Space Launch System solid rocket boosters for Artemis III on Mobile Launcher 1. The work advances booster assembly ahead of mating the boosters with the rocket’s core stage, a key step in preparing the vehicle for the mission.
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