Launch

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

The D-Orbit Magnificent Monica space tug has begun deploying its passenger satellites after being launched aboard a Falcon 9 earlier this month.

D-Orbit’s Magnificent Monica Space Tug Begins Payload Deployment

Italian in-space logistics company D-Orbit has announced that its Celestial Bliss mission has moved into the commercial phase with the deployment of four Spire...
RFA COO Stefan Brieschenk has revealed the results of an initial review of an anomaly that resulted in the destruction of an RFA first stage.

RFA Identifies Turbopump as the Cause for RFA ONE Test Failure

The results of a preliminary investigation into what caused an RFA ONE first stage to burst into flames have identified an oxygen fire in...
An RFA ONE static fire test has resulted in the destruction of the first stage that was intended to be used for the inaugural flight.

RFA Hot Fire Anomaly Results in Loss of RFA ONE First Stage

German launch provider Rocket Factory Augsburg has announced that an RFA ONE first stage, which was to be used for the rocket’s inaugural flight,...
RFA shareholder OHB revealed during an earnings call that the inaugural RFA ONE flight could be “weeks” away.

RFA Shareholder Announces RFA ONE Debut “Weeks” Away

Major Rocket Factory Augsburg shareholder OHB has revealed that the inaugural RFA ONE rocket launch attempt could occur in "a matter of weeks." Founded in...
Exolaunch will launch the European Space Agency’s prototype Artic weather satellite later today aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9.

ESA Weather Satellite to Launch Aboard Falcon 9 Today

The European Space Agency's AWS mission will be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket later today on a mission to study Arctic weather. The...
Atlantic Spaceport Consortium has signed an agreement with NAV Portugal to study how to safely conduct launches from Santa Maria island.

Atlantic Spaceport Consortium to Explore Azores Launch Facility

Portugal's Atlantic Spaceport Consortium has signed a cooperation agreement with NAV Portugal to support commercial feasibility testing of building a launch facility on the...
German launch provider RFA has completed the second static fire test of the RFA ONE rocket’s first stage at SaxaVord in Scotland.

RFA Complete Second First Stage Static Fire Test

German launch startup Rocket Factory Augsburg has completed a second static fire test of the first stage of its RFA ONE rocket. The RFA ONE...
The launch of the DLR Reusable Flight Experiment (ReFEx) demonstrator has slipped from 2024 to 2025.

DLR Reusable Flight Experiment (ReFEx) Launch Slips to 2025

German space agency DLR has confirmed that the launch of its subscale reusable flyback booster demonstrator has been delayed to no earlier than 2025. The...
Arianespace has announced that the final Vega rocket will be launched at 22:50 local time on 3 September.

Arianespace Announce Sept. 3 Launch Date for Final Vega Flight

Launch services provider Arianespace has announced that it expects to conduct the final Vega rocket launch on 3 September from the Guiana Space Centre....
CNES has revealed that it does not expect an inaugural flight of its Callisto reusable rocket demonstrator until late 2025 or early 2026.

Has the Inaugural Callisto Test Flight Slipped to 2026?

The French space agency CNES has revealed that the inaugural test flight of its Callisto reusable rocket demonstrator will not take place until late...

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