Search results for European Space Agency
Industry
Europe space industry prospect suspends Spectrum rocket second test launch again
Isar Aerospace halted its second test launch attempt of the Spectrum rocket again after detecting abnormal signs in the vehicle’s fluid system during launch preparations. The rocket was due to lift off from the Andoya Spaceport in northern Norway, but no new date has been announced. Spectrum has had multiple launch attempts over the past five months. The company is analysing newly gathered data to identify the cause.
Industry
Lithuania builds space industry on small satellites, aims for 1 percent of GDP by 2027
Lithuania is emerging as a new centre of Europe’s space industry by riding growth in the low-Earth orbit small satellite market, as the sector shifts from large satellites to low-cost mass production. The government aims to lift the space industry’s contribution to gross domestic product to 1 percent by 2027. Local startup NanoAvionics has won a contract to supply 280 satellites for Meridian Space’s LEO network project.
Industry
NASA steps up permanent moon base plans; Blue Origin to handle lander
NASA has released a preliminary schedule to carry out up to three additional moon missions by the end of 2026 as it pushes ahead with plans for a long-term lunar outpost. The missions focus on testing rovers and landers and surveying the lunar surface environment. Blue Origin, Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines will provide landers, while Astrolab’s FLIP rover is also slated for deployment. The plan highlights NASA’s separate contracts for landers, rovers and payload transport.
