https://spacewatch.global/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:40:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/spacewatchgl-analysis-paris-set-the-ambition-now-someone-has-to-build-the-plumbing/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77562
Written by Torsten Kriening
The first International Space Summit produced 51 announcements, four declarations and a €20 billion headline that needs unpacking. But the most consequential outcome in Paris was not a contract - it was the set of demands Europe placed on itself in public, with ninety countries watching. Torsten Kriening on launch aggregation, the Bromo signal, Germany's offers, and the partnership question Europe cannot afford to get wrong.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/vast-greece-mission-advances-european-human-spaceflight-as-macron-calls-for-greater-autonomy/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77560 The European Space Agency has signed an agreement with U.S. commercial space company Vast to implement an astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for Greece, providing the country with a pathway to human spaceflight through NASA's private astronaut mission framework. The agreement comes amid a wider push at the International Space Summit to strengthen Europe's position in human spaceflight with French President Emmanuel Macron calling for Europe to establish its own crewed spaceflight capability within the next decade.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/marble-imaging-partners-with-safran-reosc-on-first-satellite-mission/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77548 Marble Imaging is collaborating with Safran Reosc, a subsidiary of Safran Electronics & Defense, to integrate the latter's SEEING 230 optical imager aboard Marble Sat 1, the German Earth-observation company's maiden satellite mission, which is targeting launch in the first quarter of 2027.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/spacewatchgl-opinion-space-has-inspired-the-public-for-decades-now-it-needs-to-listen/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77467
Written by Judith Delany
Europe depends on space more than most citizens realise. As Josef Aschbacher calls for greater public engagement, new initiatives from ESA and ESPI are exploring how to turn space outreach into a two-way conversation.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/eutelsat-and-infinite-orbits-partner-on-geo-satellite-life-extension-mission/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77536 Infinite Orbits and Eutelsat are collaborating to prepare a life-extension mission for at least one of the French operator's geostationary orbit satellites, opening another route for Eutelsat to extend the productive lives of spacecraft already in orbit.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/eutelsat-and-ororatech-partner-to-build-scalable-european-thermal-intelligence-infrastructure/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77518 Eutelsat and OroraTech will deploy the latter's thermal-infrared payloads aboard future Eutelsat OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites under a strategic partnership announced at the International Space Summit in Paris. The partnership reflects a broader European industrial cooperation model, demonstrating how European companies can combine complementary capabilities to build critical space-based services without each having to develop a fully vertically integrated satellite system.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/amazon-leo-orders-six-more-ariane-64-launches-from-arianespace/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77499 Amazon Leo and Arianespace have expanded their existing launch partnership at the International Space Summit in Paris, with Amazon Leo ordering six additional Ariane 64 missions and bringing the total number of Ariane 6 launches contracted with Arianespace to 24. Arianespace is one of several launch providers supporting Amazon Leo's constellation build-out, allowing the company to pursue a high launch cadence as it works to deploy its first-generation constellation of more than 3,000 satellites.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/venturi-space-expands-lunar-mobility-portfolio-with-alta-luna-rover/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77484 Venturi Space has unveiled ALTA LUNA, a compact and maneuverable lunar rover designed to support operations around future lunar bases, at the International Space Summit in Paris. With ALTA LUNA, Venturi Space is expanding its lunar mobility ambitions beyond individual vehicle technologies towards a broader family of specialized rovers for future surface operations.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/paris-opens-the-first-international-space-summit-with-51-announcements-and-a-european-iss-crew/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 20:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77474 The first International Space Summit opened at the Grand Palais with 120 delegations, 51 announcements and a €20 billion headline that deserves closer reading. Philippe Baptiste made the case for launching European satellites on European rockets, Dorothee Bär pointed to Rome in December, and Macron unveiled the PAM-6 crew - with Thomas Pesquet set to become the first non-American ever to command a US spacecraft.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/international-space-summit-you-buy-a-product-not-a-powerpoint-adel-haddoud-of-infinite-orbits/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 19:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77541 From the first International Space Summit in Paris, Adel Haddoud, CEO of Infinite Orbits, joins Torsten Kriening with fresh news of a second European operator signing for Endurance — and explains how in-orbit servicing has moved from concept to repeatable, commercial scale, built with parts from 17 European countries. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/international-space-summit-torsten-kriening-live-from-the-grand-palais-in-paris/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 18:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77538 From the Grand Palais in Paris, Torsten Kriening opens SpaceWatch.Global's coverage of the first International Space Summit — 120 delegations, heads of state and agencies, and an agenda spanning security, the space economy, space as a common good, and space to inspire and mobilise. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/spacewatchgl-opinion-everyone-uses-space-so-why-does-space-still-struggle-to-make-its-case/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77369
Written by Walter Peeters
Space infrastructure underpins everyday life, yet its benefits and economic returns often remain invisible to the public. An ISU-led study proposes a three-phase roadmap to build awareness, understanding and long-term support for space exploration.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/uk-unveils-7-8-billion-space-strategy-focused-on-security-and-industrial-growth/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77450 The UK has published a new UK Space Strategy, positioning space as a critical component of national security, defense and economic growth and backing the sector with £7.8 billion of investment to 2030. The new strategy suggests that the UK is seeking not only to fund a larger space sector, but to build a more commercially competitive and strategically resilient space industry around capabilities it considers critical to national power.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/the-exploration-company-raises-450-million-in-series-c-to-advance-reusable-space-transportation/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77438 The Exploration Company (TEC) has raised $450 million in a new Series C financing round, bringing the company's total funding secured since its founding in 2021 to approximately $680 million. The round will advance TEC's Nyx reusable capsule toward a mission to dock with the International Space Station and return to Earth, and accelerate development of the high-thrust reusable Storm rocket engine.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/stoke-space-raises-1-billion-in-series-e-round-to-accelerate-fully-reusable-nova-rocket/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77432 Stoke Space has completed the initial closing of its $1 billion Series E financing round, bringing the company's total capital raised to $2.3 billion. The new capital reflects the broader strategic importance of reusable launch systems to the future availability, capacity and cost of access to space.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/pixxel-raises-100-million-in-series-c-funding-to-expand-beyond-hyperspectral-imaging/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77390 Pixxel has raised $100 million in Series C funding to accelerate the development of its Earth-observation and space infrastructure capabilities, bringing its total capital raised to $195 million The raise marks a transition for Pixxel from a hyperspectral satellite company into a broader Earth-intelligence and space-infrastructure business.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/spacewatchgl-opinion-governing-a-crowded-orbit-requires-more-than-regulatory-approval/ Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77348
Written by Masse Melvin
As Low Earth Orbit becomes increasingly crowded, regulatory approval alone is no longer enough. Masse Melvin argues that making orbital risks and trade-offs visible must become part of space governance.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/infinite-orbits-toulouse-marion-andrieux-on-the-new-ait-facility-built-in-six-months/ Tue, 08 Sep 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77394 From Toulouse, Marion Andrieux, CCO of Infinite Orbits, joins Laura Todd inside the company's new Assembly, Integration and Testing facility - built in just six months - to discuss the Orbit Guard and Endurance in-orbit services, why GEO came first, and how a change of mindset is helping Europe build faster.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/esa-set-to-discuss-europes-space-future-at-the-international-space-summit-in-paris/ Tue, 08 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77371 The inaugural International Space Summit takes place in Paris on 9 and 10 September, bringing together heads of state, ministers, industry, and astronauts to discuss Europe's role in the next phase of exploration.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/as-bepicolombo-nears-mercury-terma-continues-supporting-the-mission/ Tue, 08 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77370 The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission enters Mercury orbit on 21 November after an eight-year journey, supported throughout by European companies including Denmark's Terma.]]>