European Spaceflight
• Andrew Parsonson
ESA is discussing higher Ariane 6 booster output with ArianeGroup and Avio, but will wait for firmer launch-demand estimates before deciding on action, likely early next year. Separately, the agency says a turbopump issue delaying a planned 2026 mission does not indicate a lasting problem.
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ESA is discussing higher Ariane 6 booster output with ArianeGroup and Avio, but will wait for firmer launch-demand estimates before deciding on action, likely early next year. Separately, the agency says a turbopump issue delaying a planned 2026 mission does not indicate a lasting problem.
A study has identified four locations on the moon for future crewed missions, extending consideration beyond the lunar south pole where NASA is focused on establishing a base. The recommendations add potential destinations to the discussion of where human exploration missions could go.
NASA plans to provide an update on Artemis III and its plans to land astronauts on the moon during a press conference on Friday, Oct. 23. The agency says the event will be available to watch live; the announcement provides no further mission details.
NASA is changing how it selects science missions, aiming to make the process faster and simpler. The changes affect how future missions are chosen, but the available report does not detail the specific revisions, schedule or programs involved.
Inversion and NASA are pursuing aerocapture, a technique that uses a planet’s atmosphere to slow a spacecraft and establish its orbit. The approach has long appealed to mission planners, but the article’s summary does not specify the technical obstacle, mission, schedule or demonstration plan.
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NASA has revised the schedule for Artemis III and set out expected progress for the lunar landers being developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin. The update offers a view of how the agency’s crewed lunar mission timeline depends on the development of both commercial landing systems.
Solstar Space says its Wi-Fi technology connected NASA’s R5-S10 CubeSat with Momentus’ Vigoride-7 orbital service vehicle during proximity operations, relaying data to NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The Oct. 20 announcement documents an in-orbit connectivity demonstration involving a spacecraft and an orbital servicing vehicle.
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