SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket grounded after launching spacecraft on rescue mission to ISS
The Falcon 9 is temporarily grounded after an anomaly was detected following the launch of a Dragon capsule to the International Space Station.
International Space Station
Russian cosmonauts touch down in Soyuz capsule after record-breaking stay on ISS
A Russian space capsule with two Russians and one American on board landed Monday in Kazakhstan after undocking from the International Space Station (ISS). Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub returned after a record-breaking stay of 374…
‘Space aficionado’ Kamala Harris aims for moonshot presidency
As chair of the National Space Council, Harris has been a leading advocate of getting astronauts back to the moon to build a lunar base.
How Europe screwed up its rocket program
One successful test launch doesn’t mean that Europe’s struggles in the space race are over.
Russian satellite breaks up in space, forces ISS astronauts to shelter
A defunct Russian satellite has broken up into more than 100 pieces of debris in orbit, forcing astronauts on the International Space Station to take shelter for about an hour and adding to the mass of space junk already in orbit, US space agencies said.
French, Belgian astronauts named next Europeans to fly to ISS
France’s Sophie Adenot and Belgium’s Raphael Liégeois will be the first two from a new class of European astronauts to blast off to the International Space Station, the European Space Agency said Wednesday (22 May).
French, Belgian euronauts next to fly to ISS
Astronauts are already in Houston for mission prep ahead of next year’s launch.
European Space Agency aims for own version of SpaceX
Body awards contracts to 2 companies to develop cargo services to International Space Station
Why Russia won’t have its anti-satellite weapon in space anytime soon
It’s unclear if Russia has the capability to successfully launch a nuclear anti-satellite device into orbit, people familiar with the issue say.
First all-European commercial astronaut mission launched on flight to space station
Turkey’s first astronaut and three other crew members representing Europe were launched from Florida on Thursday (18 January) on a voyage to the International Space Station in the latest commercially arranged mission from Texas startup Axiom Space.
A starring role for NASA in Biden’s push to end cancer
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are using microgravity to unlock the disease’s secrets.
Germany aims to be Europe’s ‘backbone of deterrence’
SNEAK PEEK — Germany overhauls its military doctrine in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; it aims to be Europe’s “backbone of deterrence.” — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is in Berlin today to take part in the alliance’s cyberdefense summit. — Ukraine could hold its next defense industry forum in the U.S. as it looks […]
ESA agrees on space cargo mission
SNEAK PEEK — After the European Space Agency agreed on a plan to launch a cargo spaceflight mission by 2028, there’s a space-focused Competitiveness Council today. — Russia reported damage to a telecommunications cable connecting St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad, and the Finnish Coast Guard suspects it could be linked to damage sustained by other Baltic […]
Europe takes one small step toward astronaut spaceflight
European Space Agency member countries balked at a manned space program, instead opting for a lower cost cargo mission.
European Space Agency to let private firms compete for chance to deliver cargo to ISS
The European Space Agency announced Monday it would hold a competition between firms to build a ship to deliver cargo to the International Space Station, in a potential first step towards independent missions carrying astronauts.
European Space Agency meeting to dodge manned spaceflight
SNEAK PEEK — The European Space Agency will hold a meeting today in Spain, to discuss the long-delayed Ariane 6 rocket system. — France is muscling into new defense contracts in countries Russia considers its sphere of influence. — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired his special operations forces commander without explanation. Good morning, and welcome to Morning Defense. Tips […]
EU leaders talk Ukraine, Middle East, MFF
SNEAK PEEK — European leaders meet today to discuss Ukraine, the Middle East and the EU’s long-term budget. — EU countries account for 11.5 percent of the world’s military spending. — Ukraine announces another partnership with a German defense contractor. Good morning, and welcome to Morning Defense. Tips to jposaner@politico.eu, lkayali@politico.eu and clarson@politico.eu or follow […]
Two Russian cosmonauts, one US astronaut land back on Earth after ISS mission
Two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut landed back on Earth Wednesday after spending a year at the International Space Station (ISS), Russia’s Roscosmos space agency said.
First cat in space: how a Parisian stray called Félicette was blasted far from Earth
Monkeys and dogs were usually used to test whether humans could survive outside Earth’s atmosphere – but 60 years ago the French tried something a little differentIn a few weeks, space scientists will celebrate a remarkable event – the 60th anniversary…
Barbie and Oppenheimer don’t live up to our values, Russia says
Forget Margot Robbie — watch Cheburashka instead, Kremlin tells citizens.
Russia-Ukraine war latest: Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death confirmed by Russian investigators – as it happened
Genetic testing confirms identities of 10 people killed in plane crash including Wagner mercenary group boss, says Russia’s investigation committeeOn the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts from Russia and the west share a craft the size of a…
‘It’s like doing an Arctic expedition with German scientists in 1943’: life on the International Space Station at a time of war
On the ISS, astronauts from Russia and the west share a craft the size of a large family home. So what happened when Moscow started a conflict 250 miles below on Earth? One evening in January 2015, Terry Virts, a Nasa astronaut onboard the Internationa…