ESA   Space Exploration & Science Missions  
European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

ESA sterilises ExoMars Rosalind Franklin descent parachute to enable Mars touchdown

ESA has completed sterilisation of the ExoMars parachute set that will slow the Rosalind Franklin rover’s descent for a safe touchdown on Mars. ESA’s Mars chief engineer Albert Haldemann walked through the sterilisation approach and why it’s critical to mission success for the rover’s environment-sensitive landing phase.

Also: ESA
2026-05-01T00:54:51.537593-07:00
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Human Spaceflight & Space Stations   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
NASA Spaceflight • Haygen Warren

Russia debuts new rocket with maiden Soyuz-5 launch

By NASA Spaceflight: Russia’s brand new Soyuz-5 rocket made its first flight on Saturday, lifting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Thursday on a suborbital demonstration mission with a dummy payload that will pave the way for its entry into service.

Also: Space.com, Times of India, The Independent, tass.com and tass.com
2026-04-30T15:04:20.219619-07:00
Satellite   Space Force   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Space Defense & Militarization  
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Force taps K2 satellites to test laser communications for missile-defense

By SpaceNews.com: GTON — The U.S. Space Force plans to use satellites built by K2 Space to test a critical but unresolved piece of future missile-defense systems: how to move large volumes of data quickly between spacecraft and down to Earth.

2026-04-30T18:11:55.729130-07:00
Satellite   Space Force   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Space Defense & Militarization  
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Northrop Grumman delivers sensor for missile-warning satellite as Pentagon cancels program

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — Northrop Grumman said it has taken delivery of a missile-warning sensor for a U.S. Space Force satellite program that the Pentagon is now proposing to cancel, highlighting the tension between legacy space acquisitions and a shift toward newer architectures.

2026-04-30T16:24:46.828695-07:00