European Spaceflight
• Andrew Parsonson
The UK Government has completed a £30 million investment in SaxaVord Spaceport, securing an ownership stake of more than 25%. The transaction gives the government a significant equity position in a UK spaceport, though the announcement provides no further details on governance or how the funds will be used.
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation
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The UK Government has completed a £30 million investment in SaxaVord Spaceport, securing an ownership stake of more than 25%. The transaction gives the government a significant equity position in a UK spaceport, though the announcement provides no further details on governance or how the funds will be used.
Earth-observation company Planet has booked launches with Stoke Space, adding a launch provider as it seeks to diversify access to space for its imaging spacecraft. The announcement links a satellite operator’s launch planning with a new launch provider, though the articles provide no schedule, vehicle, or contract details.
Canada will upgrade its rockets under the Launch the North initiative, which aims to support sovereign launch vehicles operating from at least two new spaceports. The budget confirmation sets out a national effort spanning launch-vehicle development and the infrastructure needed to reach orbit from Canadian sites.
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Rocket Factory Augsburg has confirmed that the first flight of its RFA ONE launch vehicle from SaxaVord is now scheduled for 2027. The update moves the rocket’s inaugural launch later than previously planned, extending the timeline for the company’s entry into orbital launch operations.
China’s commercial launch sector logged second flights for both the Ceres-2 and Kinetica-2 rockets, with Ceres-2 reaching orbit and Kinetica-2 carrying Qianfan satellites. The launches came alongside two Long March missions for state programs, underscoring activity across both commercial and government launch providers.
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NASA is seeking student proposals for a long-term lunar living and work facility while advancing infrastructure plans that include the PROMISE nuclear-powered rover, targeted for 2028. The agency also outlined a $10 billion pool for CLPS 2 landers and $1.3 billion in launch task orders.
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NASA announced a slate of awards and mission updates to expand lunar transportation, science and infrastructure capabilities. The work includes contracts for a new generation of landers, selection of eight companies for the next phase of cargo-lander development, and plans to send the PROMISE nuclear-powered rover and miniCAST technology demonstrator to the lunar south pole.
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