https://spacewatch.global/tag/esa/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:36:58 +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/tag/esa/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/ohb-signs-first-major-industrial-contract-worth-nearly-e1-billion-under-europes-iris%c2%b2-program/ Tue, 01 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77136 OHB has signed the first major contract under the IRIS² concession with SES - worth nearly €1 billion for 18 medium Earth orbit satellite platforms, marking the programme's shift from planning into industrial deployment.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/maiaspace-completes-upper-stage-validation-of-its-maia-launcher-ahead-of-its-2027-orbital-debut/ Tue, 01 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77148 MaiaSpace has completed a further upper-stage validation campaign for its Maia launcher, marking another step toward the vehicle's planned orbital debut in the second half of 2027. The company's progress comes at a vital stage in Europe's effort to establish a more competitive and diversified launch ecosystem.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/spacewatchgl-opinion-washington-is-building-a-space-academy-eight-weeks-ago-europe-liquidated-one/ Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77127 President Trump's executive order of 28 August creates no campus and appropriates no money. One overlooked clause seals the proposed academy off from allies entirely - and it lands eight weeks after a Strasbourg court liquidated the International Space University. Torsten Kriening on the question Washington has answered and Europe has not yet asked.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/nasa-launches-nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-to-map-the-universe-at-unprecedented-scale/ Mon, 31 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77098 NASA launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on 30 August on a Falcon Heavy from Kennedy, beginning a three-month journey to L2, from where its wide-field infrared surveys will map the Universe at unprecedented scale.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/esa-launches-next-phase-of-european-launcher-challenge-with-e543-6-million-in-contracts/ Fri, 28 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77067 The first contracts under the European Launcher Challenge between the European Space Agency (ESA) and European launch service providers have been signed, concluding the second stage of the tender process. The next stage of the European Launcher Challenge will shift the focus from contract awards to flight performance, with the participating launch providers required to demonstrate successful orbital launches no later than 2027.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/mtg-i2-launch-expands-ariane-6s-mission-capabilities-as-europe-accelerates-launcher-ramp-up/ Fri, 28 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77084 Arianespace has launched the MTG-I2 weather satellite on a dedicated Ariane 62 into geostationary transfer orbit - Ariane 6's ninth mission, its fourth of 2026, and its first to GTO.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/adenot-and-menon-complete-second-spacewalk-to-restore-iss-communications-antenna/ Thu, 27 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77037 NASA astronaut Anil Menon and ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot completed a follow-up spacewalk on 25 August, successfully installing a replacement for the failed Space-to-Ground Antenna 2 (SGANT-2) after delays during their initial 18 August EVA.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/spacewatchgl-gray-space-orbital-data-centres-while-europe-debates-china-builds/ Tue, 25 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76512
Written by Christophe Bosquillon
China is moving rapidly from orbital data centre concepts to deployment, while Europe risks turning an early lead in orbital computing research into another strategic dependency. In Gray Space, Christophe Bosquillon examines ESPI’s warning, China’s coordinated approach and what Europe must do if technological sovereignty is to extend to computing in orbit.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/mtg-i2-launch-sends-ariane-6-to-geostationary-orbit-for-the-first-time/ Mon, 24 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76850 On 27 August, an Ariane 62 will carry Meteosat Third Generation Imager 2 from Kourou - the vehicle's first mission to geostationary transfer orbit and the farthest it has flown. MTG-I2 completes the first MTG family, delivering a rapid scan over Europe every 2.5 minutes and closing a programme that has occupied more than 2,000 people across 70 European companies.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/esa-astronaut-sophie-adenot-makes-history-as-first-frenchwoman-to-perform-a-spacewalk/ Wed, 19 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76719 ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot has become the first Frenchwoman to perform a spacewalk, venturing outside the International Space Station yesterday, 18 August, with NASA astronaut Anil Menon to repair a crucial piece of equipment.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/scientists-chase-the-moons-shadow-as-total-solar-eclipse-sweeps-across-europe/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76536 Europe witnessed a total or partial solar eclipse on 12 August - totality visible from Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and northeastern Portugal - and scientists worldwide seized the moment for solar science and public events.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/hispasat-confirms-spanish-commitments-to-iris%c2%b2-as-ground-segment-prime-contractor-with-the-program-targeting-2029-for-initial-launches/ Mon, 10 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76336 The European Commission and ESA have concluded IRIS² negotiations with the SpaceRISE consortium (Eutelsat, HispaSat, SES), naming HispaSat prime contractor for the ground segment, with initial launches targeted for 2029.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/axiom-space-appoints-dr-renato-krpoun-as-chief-of-international-operations-for-new-swiss-subsidiary/ Fri, 07 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76270 Axiom Space has appointed Dr. Renato Krpoun to lead its new Swiss subsidiary in Lucerne as Chief of International Operations for EMEA.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/spacewatchgl-feature-the-kriening-10-and-what-it-revealed/ Wed, 05 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76176 Ten posts, one a day, each built on an uncomfortable question about European space - and released while their author was on holiday. Torsten Kriening on what The Kriening 10 revealed, where he was corrected, and why the questions matter now.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/spacewatchgl-opinion-europes-space-dilemma-sovereignty-or-global-broker/ Tue, 04 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76091
Written by K.-P. Ludwig
Europe cannot outspend the United States or outscale China. Instead of chasing a two-horse race, this opinion argues that Europe's future influence may lie in combining strategic autonomy with global partnership, sustainability and rule-making.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/nasa-selects-lunar-outpost-to-advance-its-starweave-autonomous-robotic-swarm-software/ Tue, 04 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76141 NASA has selected Lunar Outpost to advance Starweave, its distributed software layer enabling robotic swarms to operate as autonomous, coordinated fleets for lunar and Mars infrastructure.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/esa-commissions-optical-ground-station-in-luxembourg-to-advance-quantum-enabled-ultra-secure-satellite-communications/ Wed, 29 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76018 The European Space Agency has commissioned a new optical ground station in Windhof, Luxembourg, to help test an ultra-secure, international communications network. This follows the ground breaking ceremony in Noordwijk, The Netherlands, for a dedicated OGS to communicate with the EAGLE-1 satellite for quantum technology-based ultra-secure communication earlier this month. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/farnborough-2026-day-2-laura-todd-rosa-schmidt-on-uk-billions-nasas-new-chief-and-the-how-behind-collaboration/ Mon, 27 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=75963 Day two from Farnborough 2026: Laura Todd and Rosa Schmidt debrief the opening day - Rosa's panel on European space leadership, the UK's multi-billion commitment, NASA chief Jared Isaacman's call for Europe to fill the gaps rather than duplicate, and the buzzwords defining the Space Zone.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/esa-and-uksa-launch-new-incubed-funding-call-for-eo-based-proposals-in-the-united-kingdom/ Mon, 27 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=75954 ESA has launched a new call for proposals in collaboration with the UK Space Agency, through the ESA InCubed program. This comes as more than £2.5 million were awarded to five projects that use satellite data to improve public services during 2024's InCubed call. For the new round of applications. ESA and the UK Space Agency invite UK-based organizations to submit proposals that demonstrate a clear route to market, credible commercial demand and a strong plan for operational deployment, before an August 21 deadline.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/07/esa-awards-execution-contract-for-magpie-esas-lunar-polar-ice-exploration-mission-to-ispace-europe/ Mon, 27 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=75945 ESA has awarded ispace-EUROPE the second phase of the MAGPIE (Mission for Advanced Geophysics and Polar Ice Exploration.) contract, Europe's first lunar polar ice exploration mission. The contract, valued at €65 million, funds the mission's full remaining delivery, including rover and payload development, manufacture, testing, transportation to the lunar surface and lunar surface operations.]]>