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ESA Recertifies ExoMars Parachutes After Years in Storage

The European Space Agency announced on 21 July that it had retested a pair of parachutes designed to enable its Rosalind Franklin rover to land safely on the surface of Mars. The ExoMars mission is currently scheduled for launch in 2028.

UK-led plan to build 4,000mph hypersonic plane ‘The Sabre’ that flies on edge of space going from London to NY in 60mins

BRITAIN is leading plans to build a hypersonic plane that could fly on the edge of space and travel from London to New York City in 60 minutes. With a breakthrough design and cutting-edge technology, "The Sabre" will be able to fly at a speed of Mach 5 (4000mph) - which is five times the speed of sound.

ESA selects 5 rocket companies for European Launcher Challenge

The European Space Agency (ESA) has taken a step toward diversifying its access to space. ESA has chosen five rocket companies to pass through to the next round of its competition to encourage and support the development of new launch vehicles. The agency announced on July 7 that it had selected German companies Isar Aerospace and Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), Maiaspace from France, Spain's PLD Space and Orbital Express Launch, or Orbex, which is based in the United Kingdom, to proceed to the next stage of its European Launcher Challenge.

Private Ax-4 astronauts splash down aboard SpaceX capsule to conclude ISS mission

Welcome home! Four astronauts have returned to Earth following more than two weeks living aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Denmark to provide European-produced satellite communication services to Ukraine's military

Denmark will provide Ukraine's military with European-made satellite communication services as Kyiv continues to fend off Russia's war, the Danish Defense Ministry announced on July 14. The Danish military aid will provide Ukraine with receiver terminals, providing access to satellite-based communications amid Russia's war, the announcement said. "Denmark has now contributed to strengthening Ukraine's satellite-based communications in their defense against Russia. There is a very large potential in space-based solutions that can contribute to both Ukrainian, Danish, and European defense," Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.

Supporting national ambitions with space-tech — Interview with Karim Sabbagh

Space42 is an AI-powered space-tech company based in Abu Dhabi and serving more than 150 countries with geospatial and mobility solutions, satellite communications and business intelligence. Its managing director, Karim Sabbagh, has seen the impact of space-tech across sectors, from shipping to border control, and watched its development cycles shorten.

Europe’s Space Act shows it’s getting serious about space policy

Plans to overhaul European space regulation would come with unprecedented enforcement power over domestic and foreign satellite operators, including on-site inspections and steep fines to uphold safety, cybersecurity and sustainability standards.

The biggest piece of Mars on Earth is being auctioned off in New York

This is the first time such an historical and rare piece is auctioned off. Sotheby’s says the eventual buyer of the items is guaranteed to own a piece of history. A 25-kilogram rock is being auctioned off at Sotheby’s New York on Wednesday. It’s being listed for a price of $2 million (€1.71 million) to $4 million (€3.42 million).

ESA Blazes a New Trail in Space with Optical Communication Milestone!

On July 7, 2025, the European Space Agency (ESA) achieved a groundbreaking feat in space communications by establishing Europe’s first optical communication link with a spacecraft in deep space. This link was made possible through the Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment onboard NASA’s Psyche mission, which is currently over 265 million kilometers away from Earth. The link was established using two optical ground stations located in Greece, a significant achievement that promises to revolutionize communication for future deep-space missions.

Europe’s Next Launch Champions: Five Space Tech Firms in the Race

Europe stands on the cusp of a new era in space exploration, with several enterprising startups positioning themselves to lead the continent’s private orbital launch capabilities. The European Space Agency (ESA) is currently evaluating proposals from multiple companies, signaling a meaningful push towards autonomous European access to space for small satellite payloads.

Researcher to entrepreneur: from love for tiny things to building a start up

Researchers' journeys begin with an idea, fueled by the motivation that drives them forward. But achieving a successful career requires more than that – resources, time, and skills. As a child, Prof. Dr. Sonia María García Blanco was always intrigued about making things small and how computers work. This sparked her scientific instinct to learn more about chips that use light. After an enriching journey in academia, including a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship, Sonia is now a consolidated academic in the field of photonics.

ESA secures access to Guiana Space Centre for launches to 2035

ESA secures access to Guiana Space Centre for launches to 2035 Despite the future ambitions of SaxaVord, in the Shetlands, and Andøya Space Center, in Norway, Europe’s official Spaceport is actually located in the northeast of South America. In French Guiana, an overseas department of France.