Launch

News and updates on satellite and spacecraft launches from Europe, including new launch vehicles and upcoming missions.

ESA opens up new Boost! initiative call to fund the development of new European space transportation services.

ESA Opens New Boost! Call to Fund Space Transportation Services

The European Space Agency has announced that it has opened a new round of funding opportunities for startups and consortia developing launch and in-orbit...
The Vega C independent inquiry findings published on March 3 have fueled a PR headache for ESA.

Vega C independent inquiry findings fuel PR headache for ESA

On March 3, an independent inquiry formed to investigate the cause of the 20 December failure of the first commercial flight of the Avio-built...
An independent commission has identified the root cause of the December 2022 Vega C failure.

Vega C Will Not Return to Flight Until Late 2023

An independent inquiry commission investigating the loss of the Vega C VV22 mission on 21 December 2022 identified a flaw in the carbon-carbon material...
Isar Aerospace signs a contract with US-based Spaceflight Inc.

Isar Signs First Launch Contract with a US-Based Customer

US-based in-orbit space logistics company Spaceflight Inc. has signed a launch services agreement with German launch startup Isar Aerospace. This is the first time...
MaiaSpace CEO Yohann Leroy admitted in an interview that reusing small launchers is a challenging prospect.

MaiaSpace CEO admits reusing small launchers is a challenging prospect

During an interview with French television channel B SMART, MaiaSpace CEO Yohann Leroy described the challenges of implementing reusability in a small launch vehicle....
Rocket Factory Augsburg has secured exclusive access to a launch pad at the SaxaVord spaceport in the Scotland.

RFA secure exclusive access to SaxaVord launch pad

German launch startup Rocket Factory Augsburg has secured exclusive access to Launch Pad Fredo at the SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland. The multi-year partnership included...
Top European launch companies of 2022.

Top European Launch Companies of 2022—The European Spaceflight Power Ranking

Ten years ago the European launch market consisted of Arianespace and Avio (which has been around since 1908) with the former managing launch operations...
The Vega C failure proves once again that space is hard.

A different perspective on the Vega C failure

It has been a dark week for European spaceflight with the failure of the first operational flight of Vega C. This darkness has been...
Isar Aerospace and Exotrail have signed a multi-launch agreement.

Exotrail and Isar sign multi-launch agreement

French space logistics company Exotrail has signed a multi-launch agreement with Germany’s Isar Aerospace. The agreement will see Exotrail spacevan space tugs launch aboard...
A Skyrora Skylak L launch attempt failed to reach space.

Skyrora Skylak L launch attempt suffers failure

Skyrora has revealed that a launch attempt of its Skylark L rocket from Iceland has ended in failure, with the rocket falling into the...

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