Europe   ESA   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Exploration & Science Missions  
Space Intel Report • Peter B. de Selding

ESA and CNES pledge €1 billion over three years to upgrade Kourou’s Guiana Space Centre; Vega-C VV29 scheduled for ESA’s Smile m

ESA and CNES have signed a three-year commitment to maintain and upgrade Europe’s equatorial Guiana Space Center, backed by a combined €1 billion investment. The funding supports launch readiness at Kourou, where Vega-C is scheduled to fly VV29 carrying ESA’s Smile (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) mission on 19 May.

2026-05-18T10:23:53.882356-07:00
Space Force   Supply Chain   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Commercial Space   Space Defense & Militarization  
DefenseNews.com • Michael Peck

US Air Force looks to convert offshore oil rigs into rocket recovery platforms

By DefenseNews.com: An Air Force plan calls for old oil platforms to become Sea-based Recovery Stations for the U.S. Space Force and private spaceflight companies.

Also: AirForceTimes, news.ssbcrack.com and Military Times
2026-05-18T08:53:46.937333-07:00
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Commercial Space   Space Debris & Traffic Management  
SpaceNews.com • Commercial Space Federation

New CSF Report Sees Up To 7,000+ Satellites Launched Annually By Mid 2030's, Highlights The Challenges With US Launch Infrastructure

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON, D.C., May 18, 2026 — The Commercial Space Federation (CSF), in partnership with Rational Futures (RF), announced the release of SCRUBBED: America’s Launch Capacity Challenge , a data-driven assessment of potential U.S.

2026-05-18T05:10:27.640159-07:00