ESA Contracts Kepler-Led Consortium for the Third Phase of the HydRON Laser Communications Project
ESA has awarded Kepler €18.6 million to spearhead the third phase of the HydRON project, which focuses on developing a high-throughput laser communications network designed for satellite constellations. This initiative aims to enhance data transmission capabilities and support future satellite communication needs, marking a significant advancement in optical communication technology for space applications.
Canada and the European Space Agency sign security agreement
Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and European Space Agency (ESA) have formalized a General Security of Information Agreement (GSOIA). This agreement establishes a legal framework for the secure exchange of classified information between the two agencies, enhancing collaboration on various projects. The GSOIA is a crucial step in strengthening international partnerships in space exploration and technology development.
ESA Taps Kepler to Lead Next Stage of HydRON Optical Program
Kepler Communications has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) as prime contractor for the HydRON Element 3 program, valued at €18.6 million ($22 million). This initiative aims to develop a multi-orbital optical communications network with a capacity of 1 terabit per second, enhancing data transport capabilities in LEO. The contract follows a previous $39 million award for initial program stages.
ESA’s Mars Rover to Launch Aboard SpaceX Falcon Heavy in 2028
NASA has selected a SpaceX Falcon Heavy to launch the Rosalind Franklin Mars rover for the European Space Agency no earlier than late 2028. This decision follows a partnership agreement from May 2024, with ESA independently developing the mission after cutting ties with Roscosmos. ESA awarded a €522 million contract to Thales Alenia Space on April 9, 2024, for mission elements.
CIRA Tests Space Rider Reentry Performance with Damaged Heat Shield
CIRA has completed critical testing of the thermal protection system for the European Space Agency's Space Rider spacecraft, demonstrating resilience against reentry damage from micrometeoroids. The tests confirmed the performance of the ISiComp ceramic composite material. The inaugural mission aboard Vega C is anticipated in early 2028, with 18 commercial customers secured for the flight.
OQ Technology Awarded ESA Contract to Adapt 5G Beamforming for Space
OQ Technology secured a €1 million contract from European Space Agency (ESA) for the BEAMSAT-5G project, aimed at enhancing satellite-to-phone connectivity through advanced 5G beamforming techniques. This initiative addresses the performance gap between terrestrial mobile networks and satellite communications, potentially revolutionizing direct-to-device services in the aerospace sector and improving user experience in remote areas.
Planetary Exploration With Four-Legged Rovers Carrying Only Two Instruments
ANYmal four-legged robots are being tested for Martian and Lunar exploration, equipped with a microscopic imager and Raman spectrometer. Researchers, led by Gabriela Ligeza from the European Space Agency, aim to enhance semi-autonomous operations for multi-target exploration, addressing communication delays. This study emphasizes the integration of these instruments for astrobiology and resource prospecting in extraterrestrial environments.
Kepler and Astrolight Secure ESA Contract for HydRON Optical Network
Kepler Communications secured a multimillion-euro contract from ESA to develop the user-terminal segment of the High-throughput Optical Network (HydRON). This initiative aims to enhance optical communication capabilities, facilitating high-speed data transfer for future space missions. The consortium's work will focus on integrating advanced technologies to support efficient data relay and connectivity in space environments.
SME Forum 2026 – Join ESA's annual consultation process
ESA invites small- and medium-sized enterprises to participate in the SME Forum on June 8-9, 2026, at its headquarters in Paris. Preceding this, online preparatory meetings will occur in April and May 2026. Feedback from these events will influence future ESA policies and activities, fostering industry engagement and addressing key challenges in the space sector.
LiveEO Receives ESA Funding Support for the Development of its ‘Twinspector’ Satellite Constellation
LiveEO has secured €1M+ funding from the European Space Agency’s InCubed program for its Twinspector satellite constellation. This financial support will enhance European infrastructure monitoring capabilities and provide independent access to high-resolution Earth observation data. The initiative marks a significant step in advancing LiveEO's technological offerings in the EO sector, focusing on infrastructure analytics.
Kepler, Astrolight to Test ESA’s ‘Fiber in the Sky’
Kepler Communications will lead a team to test ESA's HydRON orbital communications network, termed “fiber in the sky.” This initiative aims to enhance satellite communication capabilities, leveraging advanced optical technologies. The collaboration with Astrolight signifies a strategic move towards improving connectivity in space, aligning with ESA's objectives for next-generation communication systems in low Earth orbit (LEO).
Kepler awarded $30.1 million prime contract for European Space Agency HydRON optical network
Kepler Communications secured a $30.1M prime contract for the European Space Agency's HydRON Element 3, enhancing its position in the high-throughput broadband architecture. This contract underscores Kepler's commitment to advancing optical network capabilities within ESA's framework, contributing to the overall efficiency and performance of satellite communications systems in the European market.
Canada formalizes subscriptions to four new European Space Agency programs
Canada has officially authorized participation in four new European Space Agency (ESA) programs, pending ratification. Recent Orders in Council dated March 30, 2026, facilitate Canada's integration into multilateral initiatives: Moonlight, FutureNAV, and ACCESS. This move signifies a strategic expansion of Canada's international space partnerships, enhancing collaboration in lunar exploration and navigation technologies.
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Daniel Metzler, Isar Aerospace
Isar Aerospace CEO Daniel Metzler discussed the company's progress following its inaugural Spectrum launch and ongoing ESA contracts, emphasizing the 2027 orbital deadline under the European Launcher Challenge. The critical issue remains whether European customers will secure sufficient manifest volume to support the emerging launch market, ensuring sustainability for companies like Isar Aerospace in the competitive landscape.
The perfect place for Celeste’s first navigation signal
ESA teams successfully received the inaugural navigation signal from the Celeste mission on April 8, marking a milestone for European satellite navigation in LEO. This event occurred at ESA’s Navigation Lab in the Netherlands, which has been pivotal for navigation testing, previously hosting the first ground location determination using Galileo satellites over a decade ago.
Notice: UK National Delegate support for ESA ARTES Invitations to Tender
UK Space Agency supports ESA's ARTES Invitations to Tender, offering up to 100% funding for early technology development. UK organizations must obtain approval from the UK Space Agency before submitting proposals to ESA. The application process includes registration, proposal submission, and funding authorization. The program remains open until further notice, facilitating innovation in the space sector.
Space Symposium 2026 – Giorgio Saccoccia’s Bold Leap from ESA to VAS
Giorgio Saccoccia discussed his career transition from ESA to VAS during an interview with Torsten Kriening at the Broadmoor resort. The conversation touched on topics such as the Artemis 2 mission and the evolving landscape of commercial space stations. Saccoccia's insights reflect a growing interest in the intersection of government and commercial space endeavors.
ESA Publishes New Details on Crew Launch Abort Demonstrator
European Space Agency has initiated a call for proposals to develop a crew launch abort demonstrator, revealing a budget of €1 million for the initial development phase. This project, first announced on 28 November 2025, aims to enhance crew safety during launch scenarios. Additional project details have been published alongside the call for proposals.
First Proba-3 science: surprisingly speedy solar wind
Proba-3 satellites have generated 57 artificial solar eclipses since July 2025, collecting over 250 hours of high-resolution corona videos. Recent findings reveal solar wind structures can travel 250–500 km/s, three to four times faster than previously thought. This groundbreaking data enhances our understanding of solar wind dynamics and space weather phenomena, according to Andrei Zhukov of the Royal Observatory of Belgium.
Artemis II Gives Airbus Hope For European Spaceflight
Airbus Defence and Space's European Service Module (ESM) is integral to Artemis II's Orion spacecraft, enhancing European contributions to spaceflight. Built in Bremen, Germany, the ESM signifies a collaborative effort with ESA. This partnership may bolster Airbus's position in the competitive aerospace market, particularly as international missions expand.
Pointing in the (b)right direction
CubeSpec is a 12U CubeSat designed for high spectral resolution spectroscopy of visible light, marking ESA's first astronomy CubeSat. It utilizes a High-Precision Pointing Platform (HPPP) developed by KU Leuven to enhance its attitude control system. Testing occurred at ESTEC's ORBIT facility, simulating space conditions for accurate tracking of target stars during its in-orbit technology demonstration.
ESA Spent €82 Million to Launch Sentinel-1D Satellite on Ariane 6
ESA disclosed a launch cost of €82,070,773 for the Sentinel-1D Earth observation satellite aboard an Ariane 62 rocket, scheduled for November 2025. This mission supports the Copernicus satellite constellation, with ESA managing contracts for development, launch, and operation, ensuring European industry participation in Earth observation initiatives critical for environmental monitoring and disaster management.
Artemis II Flight Day 7: Crew Makes Long‑Distance Call, Begins Return
NASA's Artemis II crew, including astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, began their return journey after a lunar flyby on April 6, 2026. They will exit the Moon's gravity at 1:23 p.m. EDT, followed by a call with ISS astronauts at 2:40 p.m. and a trajectory correction burn at 9:03 p.m.
Graphene and lasers for space propulsion
ESA’s 86th parabolic flight campaign in May 2025 featured an international research team testing ultralight graphene aerogels. Continuous laser exposure during microgravity phases caused the samples to propel forward instantly, demonstrating light propulsion potential. Results indicate that stronger lasers yield greater acceleration, unlocking possibilities for steering solar sails and adjusting satellite positions in space.
Graphene and lasers for space propulsion
ESA's recent experiment demonstrated that graphene aerogels can be propelled by lasers in microgravity, achieving rapid accelerations. Conducted during the 86th parabolic flight campaign in May 2025, the study showed that stronger laser beams increase acceleration. This research opens pathways for future solar sail propulsion and attitude control in small satellites, potentially revolutionizing space propulsion technologies.
Avio Delays SMILE Launch After Component Production Issue Identified
Avio has delayed the ESA SMILE mission launch aboard a Vega C rocket due to a production issue with a subsystem component. Preparations for the SMILE launch commenced in mid-February, including the transfer of the P120C first stage. The specific timeline for the rescheduled launch remains undetermined as Avio addresses the identified issue.
How to follow the Smile launch live
*ESA* will broadcast the *Smile* mission launch on 9 April 2026 at 07:29 BST, utilizing the *Vega-C* rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The launch was postponed due to a technical issue on a subsystem component production line after VV29 integration, with a new date to be confirmed later. Times may change unexpectedly.
A silicon chip that can do it all
IMST demonstrated a prototype of a multichannel transceiver at ESTEC, enabling next-generation satellites to deploy digital communications, Earth observation, or navigation payloads. This chip simplifies hardware complexity while reducing power consumption, supporting a wide range of radio frequencies. It represents critical European intellectual property for modern satellite constellations, according to Václav Valenta of ESA.
Smile: A global answer to a global mystery
European Space Agency and Chinese Academy of Sciences collaborate on the SMILE mission to investigate solar wind interactions with Earth's magnetic field. Utilizing four onboard instruments, SMILE aims to capture unprecedented imagery of this phenomenon, enhancing our understanding of space weather and its implications for life on Earth. This initiative marks a significant advancement in space weather forecasting.
Redwire Awarded Contract to Deliver Quantum-Secure Spacecraft for European Space Agency’s QKDSat
Redwire Corporation has secured a contract to develop a quantum-secure satellite for the European Space Agency's Quantum Key Distribution Satellite (QKDSat) initiative. This project falls under ESA's Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Partnership Projects program, enhancing secure communications capabilities in space. The contract highlights Redwire's leadership in space and defense technology solutions.
Guidance: Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems Programme (ARTES)
UK Space Agency subscribed £141.4M to the ARTES programme at the ESA Council of Ministers in November 2025. This funding aims to bolster UK industry in developing next-generation satellite communications products and services. The ARTES programme focuses on research and development for commercial telecommunications, enhancing capabilities within the European space sector and fostering innovation.
ESA Seeks Commercial Provider to Transport Payload to the Moon
European Space Agency is soliciting a commercial provider for the lunar delivery of its NILS2 instrument, designed to measure negative ions on the Moon's surface. This follows the successful deployment of the original NILS instrument on Chang’e 6 on 1 June 2024. The initiative aims to enhance lunar surface research capabilities significantly.
ESA Member States Call for Cancellation of Earth Return Orbiter
ESA Member States have proposed cancellation of the Earth Return Orbiter, integral to NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission. This orbiter was designed to retrieve Martian surface samples and facilitate their return to Earth. The decision reflects ongoing debates regarding the mission's viability and funding priorities within the European space community, impacting international collaboration on Mars exploration.
T-20 days: Smile to launch on 9 April
Smile is set to launch on a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 9 April at 08:29 CEST. This mission, a collaboration between ESA and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, aims to study Earth's response to solar particles using X-ray and ultraviolet cameras. Smile will achieve a final orbit 121,000 km above the North Pole.
A look back at 2025 for Europe’s Spaceport
Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana achieved a significant milestone in 2025, returning to full autonomous launch capability with Ariane 6 and Vega-C. Key launches included MetOp-SG-A1, Sentinel-5, and the CSO-3 satellite. The P160C solid rocket motor test marked a crucial development, enhancing Europe's competitive edge in space access and sustainability for future missions.
Everything rockets
ESA's Ariane 6 and Vega-C rockets represent Europe's advancements in space transportation, enhancing launch capabilities for various missions. Space Rider, a reusable laboratory, is set for its inaugural flight in 2025. The Future Launchers Preparatory Programme aims to ensure future rockets meet evolving performance and reliability standards, supporting Europe's ambitions in space exploration and satellite deployment.