Space News

Aerial Firefighting Europe Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Sustainability & Climate Initiatives

TechCrunch • Anna Heim

European aerospace startups raise fresh capital for reusable spacecraft, firefighting aircraft and lower-emissions propulsion

The Exploration Company has raised $450 million in a Series C, taking its total funding to about $680 million, while France’s Kepplair Evolution secured €6 million and Viraj Aero €4.5 million. The companies are advancing reusable space transportation, ATR 72-based aerial firefighting and steam-injection propulsion technology.

Also: SpaceWatch Global

5 Sources

2026-09-08T14:15:18.284918-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

NEW

Payload • Douglas Gorman

Eutelsat Taps Infinite Orbits for GEO Life Extension Mission

By Payload: Eutelsat announced an agreement today tasking the Infinite Orbits with increasing the life span of at least one of its GEO sats.

2 Sources

2026-09-09T02:06:51.046487-07:00

Event Europe Space Policy & International Cooperation

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

International Space Summit to highlight European and global space issues

By SpaceNews.com: A high-level conference organized by the French government on space seeks international consensus on key issue and to bolster Europe’s space efforts.

1 Source

2026-09-09T01:36:11.092260-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

National security launch forecast surges as new rockets struggle to break SpaceX's grip

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has more than doubled the number of national security launch services it expects to procure, from 151 in its 2022 baseline to 337 under its latest estimate, as the U.S.

1 Source

2026-09-08T18:00:38.910501-07:00

Space Exploration & Science Missions

Universe Today • Matthew Williams

Japan's Hayabusa2 Achieves First-Ever Laser Ranging Experiment with an Asteroid

By Universe Today: On Sunday July 5th, 2026, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) achieved the first-ever successful laser ranging experiment while making a flyby of an asteroid.

1 Source

2026-09-08T16:16:16.687979-07:00

FCC Satellite Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation Policy & Regulation

SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

FCC to draw line under constellation environmental review exemption

By SpaceNews.com: The FCC is poised to cement its longstanding practice of excluding constellations from environmental reviews, amid an unprecedented wave of proposals covering more than a million orbital data centers.

1 Source

2026-09-08T13:55:50.108734-07:00

Satellite Commercial Space

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Pixxel Targets US Growth, New Sensing Tech With $100M Raise

By Via Satellite: Hyperspectral satellite startup Pixxel completed a $100 million funding raise that Pixxel says will fuel its growth in the U.S. and expansion into sensing.

Also: SpaceQ

2 Sources

2026-09-08T12:35:06.399122-07:00

Europe Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Isar Aerospace Achieves First Commercial Launch from Europe

By Via Satellite: German launch startup Isar Aerospace achieved the first successful commercial launch from Europe over the weekend, launching payloads on the second flight.

1 Source

2026-09-08T12:35:05.724956-07:00

European aerospace startups raise fresh capital for reusable spacecraft, firefighting aircraft and lower-emissions propulsion

Eutelsat Taps Infinite Orbits for GEO Life Extension Mission

International Space Summit to highlight European and global space issues

National security launch forecast surges as new rockets struggle to break SpaceX's grip

Japan's Hayabusa2 Achieves First-Ever Laser Ranging Experiment with an Asteroid

FCC to draw line under constellation environmental review exemption

Pixxel Targets US Growth, New Sensing Tech With $100M Raise

Isar Aerospace Achieves First Commercial Launch from Europe

Eutelsat Taps Infinite Orbits for GEO Life Extension Mission

International Space Summit to highlight European and global space issues

The Exploration Company nabs $450 million to challenge SpaceX

National security launch forecast surges as new rockets struggle to break SpaceX's grip

Japan's Hayabusa2 Achieves First-Ever Laser Ranging Experiment with an Asteroid

FCC to draw line under constellation environmental review exemption

ESA opens call for plant to produce radioisotope spacecraft heaters in Europe

AT&T Business Expands Work with Amazon Leo for Resilient Connectivity

White House has lofty space launch ambitions, but experts question price tag

The secret to protecting next-gen spacecraft might be eggshells

Artemis III SLS stacking advances as Orion results validate trajectory fix

SpaceX advances Starbase infrastructure as Flight 14 hardware moves toward the pad

MTG-I2 completes Meteosat Third Generation constellation as India’s EOS-05 begins ascent to geostationary orbit

Five orbital launches planned, including Falcon 9 missions for O3b mPOWER and USSF-153

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

More in Space

Infinite Orbits’ Marion Andrieux on Its New Toulouse AIT Facility and Satellite Services

Former NGA director Frank Whitworth named president of Satellogic

SpaceX Shares to Get a Boost If Nasdaq 100 Increases Weighting

ESA Set to Discuss Europe’s Space Future at the International Space Summit in Paris

Telesat and Farcast announce antenna technology demonstration milestone

SpaceX is a buy as the rocket company can solve one major bottleneck, says Pivotal Research

Stoke Space Raises $1B Initial Series E Round

Artemis III SLS stacking advances as Orion results confirm trajectory fix