Satellite   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Defense & Militarization   Policy & Regulation   Defense Policy  
Payload • Douglas Gorman

Laurent Jaffart outlines ESA's plan to harden space resilience as Director of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity

Laurent Jaffart, ESA's Director of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity, sets out his strategy to harden the agency's defensive posture across navigation, secure communications and connectivity. In a Payload Q&A he explains near‑term priorities, capability gaps to address and how ESA will accelerate defence‑oriented space services for Europe.

2026-03-12T22:38:30.742389-07:00
China   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Exploration & Science Missions  
SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

China’s Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission moves into spacecraft construction phase

By SpaceNews.com: China’s Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission moves into spacecraft construction phase China’s Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission is entering flight hardware development, targeting a late 2028 launch to seek out biosignatures on the Red Planet.

2026-03-12T16:09:07.996102-07:00
Space Exploration & Science Missions   Commercial Space   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Debris & Traffic Management  
New York Times • Kenneth Chang

Collision Close Call in Lunar Orbit Threatened Blue Ghost Mission — Raises Broader Concerns for Commercial Moon Operations

By New York Times: A “red alert” involving the private Blue Ghost mission in lunar orbit a year ago highlights a growing number of incidents above Earth’s neighbor.

2026-03-12T07:58:07.814316-07:00
LEO   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Exploration & Science Missions   Human Spaceflight & Space Stations   Commercial Space   Space Debris & Traffic Management   NASA  
Space.com • Brett Tingley

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL departs ISS carrying disposable cargo for destructive reentry

By Space.com: A photo captures Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL freighter being jettisoned away from the International Space Station carrying thousands of pounds of garbage, headed for a fiery demise.

2026-03-12T10:08:58.238840-07:00