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Explore the initiatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space in the European space sector.

On 11 November 2025, a powerful solar flare peaked at 10:04 UTC, followed by a coronal mass ejection (CME) traveling at about 1500 km/s, expected to reach Earth between 12–13 November. The resulting geomagnetic storm is projected to be severe, potentially disrupting satellites, power grids, and navigation systems, though it poses no direct risk to human health. The European Space Agency (ESA) is monitoring the event closely and will update its assessment as new data becomes available.

At the inauguration of France’s first Space Command facility in Toulouse on Wednesday, President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a new national space strategy defining the country’s civil and military priorities.

The US State Department has issued a formal response to the European Union’s proposed EU Space Act, warning that it would impose “unacceptable regulatory burdens” on US companies and could jeopardise future cooperation in a number of areas.

France and Europe must be prepared to defend their interests in the orbit too, the French leader is expected to say on Wednesday, as space becomes a key element in the global struggle for security.

Two European companies will cooperate on a mission launching next year to demonstrate microgravity research and manufacturing capabilities.

Space is within reach! The European Space Agency is inviting students to apply for its 2026 Student Internship Programme. Whether you're into engineering, science, IT, business, economics or social sciences, there’s a place for you among the stars.

On Tuesday 4 November 2025, the European Union’s Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, addressed a meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC).

Increasing tensions with Russia have prompted defense spending boosts throughout Europe that will benefit fledgling smallsat launcher companies across the continent. But Europe is still years away from meeting its own space access needs, analysts said.

The Sentinel-1 mission – which provides radar vision for the Copernicus Earth observation programme – has a new addition to its family of satellites, with the arrival in orbit of Sentinel-1D, the last of the groundbreaking first generation. The launch took place at 22:02 CET (18:02 local time), on Tuesday, 4 November, on board an Ariane 6 launcher from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

The European Space Agency has announced the opening of its first satellite office in Japan as the agency looks to deepen its cooperation with the country.

On 28 October, the European Commission proposed to member states authorizing the opening of negotiations with Ukraine on its participation in the Governmental Satellite Communications (GOVSATCOM) component of the European Union Space programme and the Union Secure Connectivity Programme.