Profile avatar
andrewparsonson.bsky.social
I'm on a mission to promote European spaceflight. Contributor to SpaceNews and Payload. For queries, email [email protected]
668 posts 1,396 followers 8 following
Prolific Poster
Posts 45 Comments 5

OLM has secured approval to begin propulsion tests at a military site in Sardinia, aiming to launch the student-built Starlight rocket in 2026. europeanspaceflight.com/olm-plans-to...

submitted 1 hour ago • 0 comments

ESA’s reusable Themis booster demonstrator is now unlikely to fly before 2026, marking another delay for the programme despite recent funding boosts. europeanspaceflight.com/first-themis...

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

ESA has extended its contract with ispace EUROPE for the MAGPIE initiative, which aims to develop a rover that will hunt for water ice on the surface of the Moon. europeanspaceflight.com/esa-awards-i...

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

Dutch suborbital launch provider T-Minus Engineering will launch two Barracuda rockets from Spaceport Nova Scotia in October 2025. europeanspaceflight.com/t-minus-to-l...

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

CNES has launched a call for proposals under its CRYOSTARS initiative to develop and demonstrate in-orbit cryogenic propellant storage and refuelling technologies. europeanspaceflight.com/cnes-issues-...

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

François Jacq has been appointed President and CEO of CNES, replacing Philippe Baptiste. Confirmation of Jacq's appointment was, however, not without dissent. europeanspaceflight.com/francois-jac...

submitted 14 days ago • 0 comments

ArianeGroup has completed hot-fire tests of a 3D-printed 240N hydrogen peroxide thruster as part of the European Commission's SALTO project. europeanspaceflight.com/arianegroup-...

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

ESA has awarded contracts for a CubeSat that will attempt to land on an asteroid as it passes within 32,000 kilometres of Earth’s surface. europeanspaceflight.com/esa-awards-c...

submitted 20 days ago • 0 comments

French startup AndroMach has secured a CNES contract to test a prototype of the LOX/propane rocket engine that will power its ENVOL spaceplane. europeanspaceflight.com/cnes-awards-...

submitted 21 days ago • 0 comments

ESA has published a call for Phase 2 of its Reusable Upper Stage Demonstrator project, focusing on maturing technologies "up to a critical design milestone." europeanspaceflight.com/esa-launches...

submitted 24 days ago • 0 comments

Space Forge has raised £22.6 million to accelerate the development of its reusable ForgeStar-2 in-orbit research and manufacturing platform. europeanspaceflight.com/space-forge-...

submitted 26 days ago • 0 comments

The upper and main stages of the next Ariane 6 rocket have arrived in French Guiana. The rocket will carry the EUMETSAT Metop-SG-A1 weather satellite to orbit in August.

submitted 26 days ago • 1 comment

Poland tests a single-stage suborbital demonstrator as part of a project to develop a three-stage launch system capable of reaching altitudes above 100 kilometres. europeanspaceflight.com/poland-launc...

submitted 28 days ago • 0 comments

ATMOS and ARX Robotics have formed a joint venture to offer the rapid deployment of autonomous ground vehicles using the PHOENIX re-entry platform. europeanspaceflight.com/atmos-to-use...

submitted 31 days ago • 1 comment

ESA and ISRO have signed an agreement to collaborate on human spaceflight, including possible future missions to India's planned space station. europeanspaceflight.com/esa-and-indi...

submitted 32 days ago • 3 comments

The Exploration Company has shipped its Mission Possible capsule to California for launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare mission. europeanspaceflight.com/the-explorat...

submitted 33 days ago • 0 comments

After its launch aboard a Vega C rocket on 29 April, ESA's Biomass operations team has successfully overseen the deployment of the satellite's mesh antenna reflector. This marks the final key step in the Biomass satellite's launch and early operations phase. Video credit: ESA

submitted 33 days ago • 1 comment

ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher has responded to NASA’s proposed budget cuts, which would eliminate at least two key programmes that involve ESA contributions. europeanspaceflight.com/esa-chief-re...

submitted 34 days ago • 1 comment

POLARIS Spaceplanes is preparing for key docking tests as it develops in-flight refuelling capabilities for its AURORA multipurpose spaceplane europeanspaceflight.com/polaris-spac...

submitted 35 days ago • 0 comments

At European Spaceflight, I celebrate one and only one holiday. Happy Star Wars Day! May the Fourth be with you!

submitted 36 days ago • 0 comments

In light of the announcement that NASA's new budget could result in the abrupt cessation of the Orion and Gateway programmes, this pair of posts I wrote for the newsletter have become more relevant than ever:

submitted 38 days ago • 3 comments

Dr. Marta Ewa Wachowicz has been appointed as the new President of the Polish Space Agency following the abrupt removal of her predecessor. europeanspaceflight.com/new-polish-s...

submitted 38 days ago • 0 comments

Some incredible footage from yesterday's Vega C launch. Definitely worth turning the sound on for this one. Credit: ESA / S.Corvaja

submitted 40 days ago • 3 comments

DLR has announced the completion of key qualification tests for the Callisto reusable rocket demonstrator’s "Top Block." europeanspaceflight.com/dlr-wraps-up...

submitted 40 days ago • 1 comment

Vega C has successfully launched ESA’s Biomass satellite, a mission that will measure global forest carbon stocks and support climate research. europeanspaceflight.com/successful-v...

submitted 41 days ago • 0 comments

Some cool views of the stage separation of the Vega C P120C booster.

submitted 41 days ago • 0 comments

Liftoff of Vega C from the Guiana Space Centre carrying ESA's Biomass mission!

submitted 41 days ago • 1 comment

The Czech government has selected 14 experiments to be conducted by Aleš Svoboda during his mission to the ISS, scheduled for no earlier than late 2027. europeanspaceflight.com/czechia-sele...

submitted 42 days ago • 0 comments

Watch the shockwave hit the trees! The footage is from yesterday's P160C test at the Guiana Space Centre. Credit: ESA / CNES / Arianespace / Optique Video du CSG / S. Martin

submitted 45 days ago • 2 comments

We finally have our first image of yesterday's successful P160C booster test! The booster is set to replace the P120C booster on both Ariane 6 and Vega C. Credit: ESA / CNES / Arianespace/Optique Video du CSG / S. Martin

submitted 45 days ago • 0 comments

ArianeGroup subsidiary MaiaSpace has selected Poland’s Łukasiewicz–ILOT to develop the engine for its Colibri kick stage. europeanspaceflight.com/maiaspace-se...

submitted 45 days ago • 0 comments

CNES has confirmed that the P160c booster hot fire test was successfully completed.

submitted 46 days ago • 0 comments

The first test firing of a P160C booster is set for 24 April at the Guiana Space Centre. The new booster will replace the P120C booster used aboard the Ariane 6 and Vega C rockets. europeanspaceflight.com/ariane-6-boo...

submitted 47 days ago • 0 comments

ATMOS Space Cargo has tentatively declared its PHOENIX 1 test flight a success, with further analysis of the collected data still to come. europeanspaceflight.com/atmos-space-...

submitted 48 days ago • 0 comments

ATMOS Space Cargo has secured €1M investment from Mätch VC ahead of its PHOENIX 1 test flight, scheduled for launch on 22 April aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. europeanspaceflight.com/atmos-raises...

submitted 49 days ago • 0 comments

The Spanish government has approved a €1.011 billion loan to Hisdesat to develop two PAZ 2 Earth observation satellites, set to enter service by 2032. europeanspaceflight.com/spain-approv...

submitted 51 days ago • 0 comments

One of the giant dome doors of Europe’s Extremely Large Telescope has been installed, marking a key milestone in the observatory’s construction. europeanspaceflight.com/giant-dome-d...

submitted 53 days ago • 0 comments

I have updated this article to remove mention of the constellation being a planned national alternative to IRIS2. While that may still be the case, the evidence currently available suggests otherwise. I sincerely apologise for jumping the gun on this one. europeanspaceflight.com/italy-moves-...

submitted 54 days ago • 0 comments

Poland has awarded a €52 million contract to Creotech Instruments for the development and launch of its CAMILA Earth observation satellite constellation. europeanspaceflight.com/poland-green...

submitted 54 days ago • 1 comment

Small update to this story to include that Latitude expects to open its new factory in 2026.

submitted 54 days ago • 1 comment

Latitude has secured France 2030 funding to support the construction of its new Reims rocket factory, which will increase its Zephyr production capacity to 50 rockets per year. europeanspaceflight.com/latitude-sec...

submitted 55 days ago • 1 comment

Italy is moving ahead with Phase 2 of a feasibility study exploring the development of a national alternative to the IRIS2 constellation. europeanspaceflight.com/italy-moves-...

submitted 56 days ago • 1 comment

The European-built primary structure of the lunar Gateway space station's HALO module has arrived at its destination without incident. Northrop Grumman will now complete outfitting ahead of its integration with the PPE module and launch to lunar orbit. Credit: Northrop Grumman

submitted 57 days ago • 1 comment

ESA has awarded ALTEC a €61 million contract for training, logistics, and operations support across the agency’s ISS and Gateway programmes. europeanspaceflight.com/altec-receiv...

submitted 58 days ago • 0 comments

Avio and ESA teams have successfully validated that a key element of Space Rider’s Service Module can withstand the stresses of a rocket launch. europeanspaceflight.com/esa-conclude...

submitted 59 days ago • 0 comments