Space News

Europe ESA Space Exploration & Science Missions

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

ESA’s Draco reentry mission passes critical design review ahead of 2027 launch

The European Space Agency’s Draco reentry mission has completed its Critical Design Review, a major program milestone that authorizes the transition to manufacturing and testing. The mission remains scheduled for launch in 2027, advancing ESA’s work on controlled atmospheric reentry and spacecraft recovery technologies.

1 Source

2026-08-25T03:50:12.731781-07:00

Satellite Space Exploration & Science Missions NASA

NEW

Space.com • Elizabeth Howell

NASA satellites ace world's 1st 'lost-in-space' GPS-free navigation experiment

By Space.com: No GPS? No problem. A team of NASA satellites are extending their stay in space after successfully proving out navigation by other means.

1 Source

2026-08-25T05:05:09.988785-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

NEW

Payload • Douglas Gorman

The Aerospace Corp’s Disksat Gains Commercial Traction

By Payload: Australian propulsion startup Neumann Space plans to license the Disksat architecture for future missions.

1 Source

2026-08-25T05:05:04.401175-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

MaiaSpace adds RIDE! to Commercial Ecosystem ahead of its Launcher's Maiden Mission

By SpaceWatch Global: MaiaSpace partners with RIDE! to potentially enable compatible secondary payloads to fly alongside MaiaSpace's primary mission payloads.

1 Source

2026-08-25T02:13:22.305767-07:00

Satellite North America Commercial Space

SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

Leaf Space Completes Ground Station Install at Spaceport Nova Scotia

By SpaceWatch Global: Leaf Space has extended its global ground station network to Canada with the completion of a ground station at Spaceport Nova Scotia.

1 Source

2026-08-25T02:13:22.215917-07:00

China Satellite Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation

SpaceWatch Global • Christophe Bosquillon

China Advances Orbital Data Centers as Europe Debates Its Space-Compute Strategy

By SpaceWatch Global: Christophe Bosquillon examines China’s rapid push into orbital data centres, ESPI’s warning for Europe and the growing strategic importance of space compute.

1 Source

2026-08-25T01:20:23.274300-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

Payload • Jacqueline Feldscher

Exclusive: OrbitAID to Launch RPO Demo in 2027

By Payload: “Most RPO demonstrations to date have qualified a single piece of the sequence, either far-range inspection or close-approach maneuvering, in isolation,” he said.

1 Source

2026-08-24T22:05:09.008375-07:00

ISS Human Spaceflight & Space Stations NASA

Space.com • Mike Wall

Watch 2 astronauts replace failed ISS antenna during spacewalk today

By Space.com: NASA astronaut Anil Menon and France's Sophie Adenot will conduct a spacewalk today (Aug. 25) to replace a space-to-ground-antenna on the International Space Station.

1 Source

2026-08-24T21:05:29.513934-07:00

ESA’s Draco reentry mission passes critical design review ahead of 2027 launch

NASA satellites ace world's 1st 'lost-in-space' GPS-free navigation experiment

The Aerospace Corp’s Disksat Gains Commercial Traction

MaiaSpace adds RIDE! to Commercial Ecosystem ahead of its Launcher's Maiden Mission

Leaf Space Completes Ground Station Install at Spaceport Nova Scotia

China Advances Orbital Data Centers as Europe Debates Its Space-Compute Strategy

Exclusive: OrbitAID to Launch RPO Demo in 2027

Watch 2 astronauts replace failed ISS antenna during spacewalk today

NASA satellites ace world's 1st 'lost-in-space' GPS-free navigation experiment

The Aerospace Corp’s Disksat Gains Commercial Traction

ESA’s Draco Reentry Mission Clears Its Critical Design Review

Leaf Space Completes Ground Station Install at Spaceport Nova Scotia

MaiaSpace adds RIDE! to Commercial Ecosystem ahead of its Launcher's Maiden Mission

China Advances Orbital Data Centers as Europe Debates Its Space-Compute Strategy

Russia launches military satellite aboard Soyuz-2.1b rocket

Trump bought shares in Elon Musk's SpaceX in June, financial disclosure shows

KSAT Rolls Out Demonstration Campaign for Hybrid RF/Optical Network

Lux Aeterna takes reusable satellite pitch to the Pentagon

Small-satellite market moves toward larger, more capable platforms and space-based sensing

China postpones Chang’e-7 lunar south-pole mission hours before launch

LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 Lands First Stage After Second Orbital Flight, Then Topples

NASA’s Roman Space Telescope nears Aug. 30 launch after final integration and rehearsal milestones

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

More in Space

Goodbye, Falcon 9: SpaceX planning to retire workhorse launcher when Starship is up and running

SpaceX sets rocket-reuse record on 100th Falcon 9 launch of the year (video)

ESA to Adapt Ariane 6 for Nuclear-Powered Argonaut Missions

Kepler starts commercial optical data relay service

CesiumAstro plans first Element satellite launch in October

‘Decoding’ Earth: Demand signal for hyperspectral emerges

Kongsberg NanoAvionics more than doubles flagship satellite bus mass

Beyond Reach Labs unveils line of large deployable solar arrays