VORTEX reusable spaceplane program update

 France has officially confirmed and extended 

its backing for Dassault Aviation's Vortex program

aimed at "mastering mobility in space".

Link to: 10 Sep.2026 article in AeroTime

Abandoned rocket stage to crash into the Moon

As on August 5th there will be an initially unexpected collision

between a heavy man-made object and the surface of the Moon,

this incident should urge all nations to pay increased systematic attention

to a whole range of future Lunar Operations-related dangers

and to co-ordinate projects more methodically at an international level

in order to avoid accidents and negative effects impacting the lunar environment.

Link to: Trevor Mahlmann's article for "The Conversation"

Reasons to reach for the Moon

 

Focusing on Nasa's Artemis programme

Rebecca Morelle and Alison Francis

neatly remind us in an article for the BBC

of the manifold incentives for going and returning to the Moon.

Link to: "First stop, the Moon"

Old Europe fireball

 In the evening of 8th March 2026

a fireball in the sky was very clearly visible

for about six seconds in five EU countries.

Link to: ESA analysis

Europe preparing to meet asteroid Apophis

 

The flyby of this comparatively large asteroid

at an expected distance of only 32,000 km from our planet

and which should happen on 13th April 2029

has been high up on ESA's scientific agenda in recent months.

Link to: Article by Mykyta Lytvynov

Link to: ESA Space Safety

Clearing away space debris at lower cost

 

The Korean Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)

are making steady progress in developing and perfecting a new type of device

for removing space debris from Low Earth Orbit.

Link to: ChosunBiz

Greenland: a strategically important gateway to space

 

Anna Marie Brennan, in a recent article of hers published in The Conversation,

expounds in crystal clear words what "new space race" related reason there is

as to why Greenland has become so passionately coveted of late:

it is in fact crucial to control access to it

 because this vast territory is not only seen as vital for space surveillance

but also viewed as "a potential Arctic launch hub".

Link to: The Conversation

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket heading for ISS

 

A relief quartet for the International Space Station, made up of

 two NASA astronauts, one ESA astronaut and one ROSCOSMOS cosmonaut,

is being taken into low-Earth orbit for an eight-month science mission.

Link to: Space.com "Space photo of the day for Feb.13, 2026"

Ariane 6: more power and double the payload

 

32 internet satellites are on their way to low-Earth orbit

on board Ariane 64 following a successful lift-off

from the launch pad at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou.

Link to: Detailed information by NSF (nasaspaceflight.com)

Link to: ESA "Ariane 6 evolutions"

More sharing of space intelligence essential for European self-defence

 

Cameron Olbert, writing for SpaceNews,

focuses on the need for closer cooperation 

and greater trust among European countries

in terms of satellite information gathering and sensitive data exchange

to guarantee strategic readiness and resilience in the years to come.

Link to: spacenews.com

Selecting and training moon mission astronauts

 

Richard Hollingham explains

what personal qualities and abilities are required

for candidates to qualify as lunar pioneers

in the near future.

Link to: "Have you got what it takes to go to the Moon?"