Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 1h

ArianeGroup CEO Martin Sion has been appointed as the next head of French train maker Alstom, as the rocket builder ramps up production of Ariane 6.
europeanspaceflight.com/arianegroup-...

ArianeGroup CEO Poached by French Train Maker - European Spaceflight

ArianeGroup CEO Martin Sion has been appointed as the next head of French train maker Alstom, as the rocket builder ramps up production of Ariane 6.

europeanspaceflight.com

1 2

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 8h

A few images of the now fully qualified Space Rider Descent and Landing Test Model built by Romania’s National Institute for Aerospace Research ‘Elie Carafoli’ (INCAS). Credit: INCAS
And this is a breakdown of what the test model will be used for - europeanspaceflight.com/romanian-res...

3 6

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 1d

ArianeGroup has awarded Sabca an €85 million contract to produce Thrust Vector Control systems for 27 Ariane 6 rockets.
europeanspaceflight.com/sabca-secure...

Sabca Secures €85 Million Ariane 6 Operational Phase Contract - European Spaceflight

ArianeGroup has awarded Sabca an €85 million contract to produce Thrust Vector Control systems for 27 Ariane 6 rockets.

europeanspaceflight.com

1 11

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 2d

ESA, on behalf of the Polish government, has awarded a contract extension to Creotech Instruments to add a fourth satellite to the CAMILA Earth observation constellation.
europeanspaceflight.com/poland-adds-...

Poland Adds Fourth Satellite to CAMILA Earth Observation Constellation

ESA has awarded a contract extension to Creotech Instruments to add a fourth satellite to the CAMILA Earth observation constellation.

europeanspaceflight.com

6

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 2d

Some more info about the mission - europeanspaceflight.com/dlr-prepares...

DLR Prepares to Launch Small Reusable Space Transportation Demonstrator

DLR is preparing to launch its ATHEAt reusable space transportation demonstrator, testing re-entry technologies for future reusable space vehicles.

europeanspaceflight.com

1 5

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 2d

The DLR ATHEAt mission, carrying a small reusable space transportation demonstrator, was succesfully launched from Andøya Space on 6 October. The rocket's first stage was a Red Kite booster (developed by DLR and Bayern-Chemie) and the second was a Black Brant Mark 4 booster.

1 1 10

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 3d

ESA has published a call to procure commercial cargo services to the ISS as part of its contribution to the shared cost of operating and maintaining the station.
europeanspaceflight.com/esa-to-procu...

ESA to Procure ISS Cargo Service to Meet Common Cost Obligations

ESA has published a call to procure commercial cargo services to the ISS as part of its contribution to the shared cost of operating and maintaining the station.

europeanspaceflight.com

9

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 3d

The next Ariane 6 mission, which will carry the Sentinel-1D satellite for the European Commission, is scheduled for launch on 4 November at 10:03 CET.

1 3 17

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 5d

Polish rocket builder SpaceForest has set a target to capture up to 70% of Europe's demand for suborbital flight, an effort that will include an upgraded version of its PERUN rocket.
europeanspaceflight.com/spaceforest-...

SpaceForest Aims to Capture 70% of European Demand for Suborbital Flights

Polish rocket builder SpaceForest has set a target to capture up to 70% of Europe's demand for suborbital flight.

europeanspaceflight.com

1 2 7

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 6d

In public filings published in July, French rocket builder MaiaSpace reported receiving €180 million in advance payments in 2024, in addition to a €45 million equity boost from ArianeGroup.
europeanspaceflight.com/maiaspace-re...

MaiaSpace Received €180M in Advance Payments in 2024 - European Spaceflight

In public filings published in July, French rocket builder MaiaSpace reported receiving €180 million in advance payments in 2024.

europeanspaceflight.com

1 7

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 8d

Romania’s INCAS has qualified the Space Rider Descent and Landing Test Model (DLRM), a key step ahead of a final drop test campaign in Sardinia.
europeanspaceflight.com/romanian-res...

Romanian Research Institute Qualifies Space Rider Drop Test Prototype

Romania’s INCAS has qualified the Space Rider Descent and Landing Test Model (DLRM), a key step ahead of a final drop test campaign in Sardinia.

europeanspaceflight.com

1 9

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 9d

Planet will open a new production facility in Berlin to build its next-generation Pelican satellites after securing a €240 million contract from the German government.
europeanspaceflight.com/planet-to-op...

Planet to Open Berlin Manufacturing Site Following €240M Contract - European Spaceflight

Planet will open a new production facility in Berlin to build its next-generation Pelican satellites after securing a €240 million contract from the German government.

europeanspaceflight.com

2 9

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 10d

It's a demonstrator!

1

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 10d

It's a demonstrator!

1

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 10d

Avio has secured a €40 million ESA contract to design a reusable rocket upper stage demonstrator that could serve as an evolution of its Vega family of rockets.
europeanspaceflight.com/avio-wins-e4...

Avio Wins €40M ESA Contract to Design Reusable Upper Stage Demo

Avio has secured a €40 million ESA contract to design a reusable rocket upper stage demonstrator that could serve as an evolution of its Vega family of rockets.

europeanspaceflight.com

3 5 17

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 12d

ArianeGroup has awarded MT Aerospace a contract to supply components for 27 Ariane 6 rockets, supporting the programme’s industrial ramp-up.
europeanspaceflight.com/arianegroup-...

ArianeGroup Awards Contract for Components of 27 Ariane 6 Rockets

ArianeGroup has awarded MT Aerospace a contract to supply components for 27 Ariane 6 rockets, supporting the programme’s industrial ramp-up.

europeanspaceflight.com

1 18

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 13d

Germany's Minister of Defence announced on 25 September that the country would invest €35 billion in space-related defence projects by 2030.
europeanspaceflight.com/germany-comm...

Germany Commits €35 Billion to Space-Related Defence Projects - European Spaceflight

Germany's Minister of Defence announced on 25 September that the country would invest €35 billion in space-related defence projects by 2030.

europeanspaceflight.com

2 6

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 14d

Austria’s R-Space has selected an Isar Aerospace Spectrum rocket to carry its first two GreenBox satellites to orbit in the second quarter of 2026.
europeanspaceflight.com/r-space-sele...

R-Space Selects Isar Aerospace to Launch First Two GreenBox Satellites

Austria’s R-Space has selected an Isar Aerospace Spectrum rocket to carry its first two GreenBox satellites to orbit in the second quarter of 2026.

europeanspaceflight.com

4 14

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 14d

Airbus has awarded Arianespace a contract to launch two communications satellites aboard an Ariane 6 rocket for the German Armed Forces as part of the €2.1 billion SATCOMBw-3 programme.
europeanspaceflight.com/ariane-6-sel...

Ariane 6 Selected to Launch German Military Communications Satellites

Airbus has awarded Arianespace a contract to launch two communications satellites aboard an Ariane 6 rocket for the German Armed Forces.

europeanspaceflight.com

3 28

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 15d

Avio has signed a launch deal with US-based SpaceLaunch for a 2027 Vega C mission carrying an Earth observation satellite for an undisclosed “extra-European” customer.
europeanspaceflight.com/avio-signs-d...

Avio Signs Deal to Launch Satellite for “Extra-European” Customer - European Spaceflight

Avio has signed a launch deal with US-based SpaceLaunch to carry an Earth observation satellite for an undisclosed “extra-European” customer.

europeanspaceflight.com

1 10

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 16d

Thales Alenia Space Italia has completed Phase A development of Italy's LAORIE lunar lander mission, which forms part of the country's broader Earth-Moon-Mars programme.
europeanspaceflight.com/italy-comple...

Italy Completes Phase A Development of LAORIE Lunar Lander Mission

Thales Alenia Space Italia has successfully completed Phase A development of Italy's LAORIE lunar lander mission.

europeanspaceflight.com

2 7

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 18d

CNES has confirmed that the first flight of its FROG-H reusable rocket demonstrator has been pushed to early 2026.
europeanspaceflight.com/cnes-pushes-...

CNES Pushes FROG-H Reusable Rocket Demonstrator Debut to 2026

CNES has confirmed that the first flight of its FROG-H reusable rocket demonstrator has been pushed to early 2026.

europeanspaceflight.com

1 4 14

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 19d

ArianeGroup has completed the integration of the first Themis reusable rocket prototype, kicking off its combined test phase.
europeanspaceflight.com/arianegroup-...

ArianeGroup Completes Themis Integration Ahead of Combined Tests

ArianeGroup has completed integration of the first Themis reusable rocket prototype, kicking off its combined test phase.

europeanspaceflight.com

3 24

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 19d

The company's performance is all the more striking when you consider that just a year ago, it was still focused on returning its Vega C rocket to flight after the vehicle’s December 2022 failure. It's pretty astonishing!

3

Andrew Parsonson @andrewparsonson.bsky.social · 19d

This advance builds on last week’s 9.32% gain and pushes Avio’s one-year return to 280.31%, meaning an investor who purchased 100 shares a year ago at roughly €11.80 would now hold a position worth about €4,480 at today’s €44.80 close.

1 3