European Space Agency

By Robert Wall
ESA has unveiled images the BepiColombo mission collected during its recent flight past Mercury when it skirted only 183 mi. above the planet's surface.
Space Exploration

By Robert Wall
ESA is assessing what NASA’s plan changes for the Mars Sample Return mission mean and preparing for potential alterations to the Artemis lunar program.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Robert Wall
The European Space Agency expects five Ariane 6 launches and four Vega-C liftoffs in 2025 as it heads into a busy year, with the agency's three-year-plan in the balance.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Robert Wall
It is not quite Starlink, but Europe aims to have its own commercial satellite communication mega-ish constellation ready starting in 2030.
Satellites

By Robert Wall
The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed €350 million ($363 million) in contracts with Avio to further evolve the Vega launcher family.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
The pace of growth is down slightly from the 11% seen between 2022 and 2023.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Robert Wall
Member states are expected to provide €4.8 billion and the European Union €1.7 billion, with an additional €1.2 billion coming from other sources.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Vivienne Machi
Geopolitical and environmental challenges in the northern latitudes are prompting investments in satellite communications and infrastructure.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Robert Wall
European officials plan to move quickly to put on contract risk reduction efforts for the IRIS² satellite communications program to mature critical tech.
Satellites

By Mark Carreau
The Dragon capsule has a return cargo that includes scientific research and equipment.
Space Exploration

By Robert Wall
The EU and ESA signed a concession contract with a European industry consortium to deploy a roughly 292-satellite secure, sovereign communications system.
Satellites

By Robert Wall
Even though Europe is back in the space launcher race, its progress still trails the U.S. and China.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
Arianespace on Dec. 4 returned the Vega-C rocket to flight after a more than two-year hiatus following a mission failure in 2022.
Operations & Safety

By Robert Wall
The agency suspects maneuvering spacecraft could open the door to other science missions, including ones linked to Mars sample return missions.
Space Exploration

By Robert Wall
The European Space Agency has delayed the launch of the Proba-3 mission to examine a possible fault with one of its two satellites.
Satellites

By Robert Wall
Negotiations just wrapped up on the Vega E.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
The extra time is being used to conduct additional checks.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
The European Space Agency and its counterpart Japan Aeropace Exploration Agency are moving to strengthen ties in lunar and asteroid exploration.
Space Exploration

By Robert Wall
The European Space Agency and ArianeGroup have signed an agreement for around €230 million ($242 million) in additional funding for a reusable rocket program.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
Arianespace says it has signed an agreement with Exotrail to launch the company’s geostationary version of its Orbital Transfer Vehicle.
Commercial Space

By Tony Osborne
Lockheed Martin and the UK Space Agency say they are assessing plans for how to deliver the Pathfinder space launch from the UK.
Commercial Space

By Robert Wall
The European Space Agency is looking to revamp how it implements technology programs to better support its member states' companies as competition in the sector heats up globally
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Robert Wall
The European Space Agency is providing additional funding to emerging launch service operators to help ease their way to commercial operations.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
The Exploration Company, which is working on an ESA cargo return capsule, says it has closed a $160 million Series B funding round.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion