News

The European Commission has launched a call for studies to examine the potential of a mobile responsive launch system, a capability that would enable the rapid deployment of satellites into orbit from non-permanent (mobile) ground platforms.

Less than three weeks since the first MetOp Second Generation weather satellite, MetOp-SG-A1, was launched, this remarkable new satellite has already started transmitting data from two of its cutting-edge instruments, offering a tantalising glimpse of what’s to come.

KIRUNA, Sweden (AP) — Deep in the Swedish forest, where reindeer roam and scientists ski in winter, lies one of Europe’s hopes for a spaceport that can ultimately compete with the United States, China and Russia.

Andøya Space and Rheinmetall Nordic have signed a letter of intent (LOI) in order to enhance mutual commercial capabilities for civil and military space operations, the two companies announced on 1 September 2025.

The European Space Agency has awarded launch service contracts to Avio and Isar Aerospace under its Flight Ticket Initiative. Announced in October 2023, the Flight Ticket Initiative is a programme run jointly by ESA and the European Union that offers subsidised flight opportunities for European companies and organisations seeking to demonstrate new satellite technologies in orbit.

The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) is on track for its gravity-assist flyby at Venus on 31 August, following the successful resolution of a spacecraft communication anomaly that temporarily severed contact with Earth.

Europe is racing to fill a gap in defense and space capabilities. Space startups have seen a spike in demand and say they are ready to fill the gap, while calling for Europe to rethink its procurement mechanisms and preference for traditional primes.

Held on 17 September 2025 in Paris, the event connects investors (Alpine Space Ventures, NATO Investment Fund, Seraphim), industry (Airbus, Boeing, SpaceX, Thales), startups (Aalyria, Hydrosat, The Exploration Company), and many more. Want one of the last two free CASSINI tickets? Send a ≤ 280-character pitch to spin@nova.space by 25 August.

Solar panels placed in space could transform Europe’s energy future by supplying up to 80% of the continent’s renewable power needs by 2050, according to a new study from King’s College London. The research suggests that this system, based on a NASA design, could lower overall energy system costs by 15% and cut battery use by more than two-thirds.

European defense stocks surged in 2025 due to geopolitical tensions and EU rearmament plans. - Key firms like Rheinmetall and Saab saw over 100% gains from modernization contracts. - Valuations hit 31x forward P/E, reflecting growth potential but exposing execution risks. - Policy shifts toward strategic autonomy and localized production drive long-term momentum. - Investors balance high-growth subsectors with geopolitical volatility and regulatory uncertainties.

As global space policy shifts, Europe faces a unique opportunity to build its own future in space. This moment has become a catalyst for the continent's most ambitious scale-ups and aspiring unicorns, who are ready to shape a more independent and resilient space sector.

On 14 August, Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy appeared on Fox News and announced that the agency would no longer prioritise Earth science, choosing instead to focus on exploration.