Image: ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot during one of her first workouts at the start of the εpsilon mission.

Image: ESA’s 5G laboratory on wheels

The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing for the inaugural launch of the Celeste LEO-PNT in-orbit demonstration mission with the first two satellites scheduled to lift off no earlier than 24 March, aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from the company’s Māhia Launch Complex in New Zealand.

For the first time, an international team of astronomers have mapped the vertical structure of Uranus’s upper atmosphere, uncovering how temperature and charged particles vary with height across the planet. Using NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope's NIRSpec instrument, the team observed Uranus for nearly a full rotation, detecting the faint glow from molecules high above the clouds. The results offer a new window into how ice-giant planets distribute energy in their upper layers.

London, UK (SPX) Feb 18, 2026
Gilat Satellite Networks has secured a 9 million dollar contract from Israel's Ministry of Defense to supply and integrate satellite communication systems and services for defense operations. The award was announced by the company's defense division, Gilat Defense, which will deliver next generation defense modems as a core element of Gilat's ground system defense solution. The new modems

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Feb 18, 2026
AALTO HAPS Ltd, an Airbus subsidiary that develops and operates the Zephyr solar-powered Stratocraft, plans to establish its second launch and landing site in northern Australia as it expands stratospheric operations and services. The proposed AALTOPORT in Australia would complement the company's existing launch and landing base in Kenya, which opened in 2024, and is aimed at supporting a nation

London, UK (SPX) Feb 17, 2026
The UK Space Agency has placed three new study contracts with British companies to assess how advanced materials could be manufactured in Low Earth Orbit for use back on Earth. The projects focus on life-saving medicines, high performance optical fibre and next generation semiconductor materials, all produced using the unique environment of space. In orbit manufacturing can exploit microgr

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 17, 2026
The National Reconnaissance Office has issued the first three awards under its Strategic Commercial Enhancements Commercial Solutions Opening, advancing the agency's shift toward multi-phenomenology commercial remote sensing capabilities that combine several sensing modalities to support intelligence missions. Under this initial tranche, HEO will provide non-Earth imagery, SatVu will deliv

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 17, 2026
BlackSky Technology Inc. has secured a new seven figure Assured contract that deepens its relationship with an international defense customer seeking guaranteed access to Gen 2 and Gen 3 satellite capabilities. The agreement extends uncontested tasking priority and real time delivery of imagery and AI enabled analytics over the country's key areas of interest. The Assured model gives the c