European Spaceflight
• Andrew Parsonson
France’s CNES is seeking an industrial partner to develop and qualify a compact, low-cost optical telescope designed for mass production. The effort points to a focus on reducing unit costs and industrializing optical payload manufacturing for future satellite and space applications.
Satellite
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France’s CNES is seeking an industrial partner to develop and qualify a compact, low-cost optical telescope designed for mass production. The effort points to a focus on reducing unit costs and industrializing optical payload manufacturing for future satellite and space applications.
StarRF, a Chinese startup developing a satellite constellation to detect and geolocate radio-frequency emissions from orbit, has secured new funding. The financing comes as China’s commercial space sector expands and as orbital RF intelligence capabilities attract growing interest.
A new Novaspace forecast projects that more than 6,500 Earth-observation satellites will launch by 2035, with demand for sovereign capabilities helping drive a satellite market valued at $155.9 billion. The outlook underscores the expanding role of space-based intelligence and national control of orbital assets.
Orbital data center startup Starcloud has expanded its Series A by $250 million, just five months after its initial raise. Manhattan West led the financing, which more than doubled the company’s valuation to $2.3 billion, underscoring investor momentum behind space-based data infrastructure.
High activity
SpaceX launched 29 Starlink broadband satellites to low Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The Falcon 9’s first stage completed another recovery by landing on a droneship at sea, extending the company’s high-cadence deployment model.
York Space Systems said a sudden shift in U.S. government contracting policy for space hardware, compounded by a supply-chain disruption, drove a 32% reduction in its projected 2026 revenue. The company said delayed contracts—not lost business—will support a rebound in 2027.
Taiwan’s effort to develop an indigenous satellite launcher suffered a setback this week, highlighting the challenges facing the island’s emerging space ambitions. The development adds uncertainty to the timing and progress of a domestic launch capability, although the available reporting provides no further details on the cause or impact.
High activity
Taiwan’s first flight test of a domestically developed satellite launch vehicle ended shortly after liftoff, marking an early setback in the island’s effort to establish independent access to space. The test reflects Taiwan’s push to develop indigenous launch capabilities for its growing satellite ambitions.
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