There is an increasing willingness in the space sector to tackle the problem of space debris. Yet much of the required technology to mitigate or prevent its risks is still missing.

Preventing new debris, avoiding collisions and the timely clearance of satellites from orbit at their end-of-mission are complex challenges that each require a variety of practical solutions.

Released to the public on 15 January 2025, the Zero Debris Technical Booklet is a community-driven document that identifies technologies that will contribute to the goal of Zero Debris by 2030. Essentially, the Booklet forms a technical Zero Debris 'to-do list'.

Since the recent presidential election, there’s been a flurry of speculation about the future of NASA’s Moon to Mars plans during the second Trump administration.

Image: Ariane 6 Central Core being transferred from the launcher assembly building to the launch pad

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 15, 2025
Firefly Aerospace announced the successful launch of its Blue Ghost lunar lander on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marking the beginning of its 60-day mission. Following a 45-day transit to the Moon, the mission aims to deliver 10 instruments for NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. A target landing date of March 2, 2025, has been set. Dubbed Ghost Riders in the Sky, Blue

Paris, France (SPX) Jan 15, 2025
A major milestone in the European Space Agency's Proba-3 mission occurred last night as the twin spacecraft, launched together in December 2024, successfully separated. This marks the start of their unique role in the world's first precision formation-flying mission. The Proba-3 satellites, launched on 5 December 2024 aboard a PSLV-XL rocket from India's Satish Dhawan Space Centre, had rem

Paris, France (SPX) Jan 15, 2025
Three satellites from ESA's InCubed programme have launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, demonstrating the agency's commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration in the commercial space sector. The InCubed initiative, which stands for 'Investing in Industrial Innovation,' is managed by ESA's Pi-lab and focuses on advancing commercially viable technologies that lever

The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed its first exploration data buy agreement with Hungarian company Puli Space Technologies, whose neutron spectrometer will study water ice in the Moon's south pole region and provide the first direct surface measurements from a permanently shadowed crater. Through this partnership, ESA will obtain data from the spectrometer, which will fly on Intuitive Machines' second lunar mission. 

Three InCubed satellites have launched from the Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, highlighting ESA’s role as partner to industry and its support for business and technology innovation.

A Falcon 9 successfully launched Jan.