Andrew Parsonson
@andrewparsonson.bsky.social
I'm on a mission to promote European spaceflight.
Contributor to SpaceNews and Payload.
For queries, email andrewp@europeanspaceflight.com
Contributor to SpaceNews and Payload.
For queries, email andrewp@europeanspaceflight.com
The next European launch on the pad is the suborbital MAPHEUS-16 mission, scheduled to be launched from the Esrange Space Center in Sweden in the coming days. Video credit: DLR/MORABA/SSC
November 11, 2025 at 6:55 AM
The next European launch on the pad is the suborbital MAPHEUS-16 mission, scheduled to be launched from the Esrange Space Center in Sweden in the coming days. Video credit: DLR/MORABA/SSC
Sentinel-1D has been successfully deployed!
November 4, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Sentinel-1D has been successfully deployed!
Ariane 6 upper stage separation confirmed. Everything is still going according to plan.
November 4, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Ariane 6 upper stage separation confirmed. Everything is still going according to plan.
Booster separation. Ariane 6 nominal. Looking good!
November 4, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Booster separation. Ariane 6 nominal. Looking good!
Liftoff of Ariane 6 carrying Sentinel-1D!
November 4, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Liftoff of Ariane 6 carrying Sentinel-1D!
The board is green for this evening's Ariane 6 launch.
November 4, 2025 at 8:54 PM
The board is green for this evening's Ariane 6 launch.
Launch day! Liftoff of the Ariane 62 rocket carrying the Sentinel-1D Earth observation satellite is expected at 22:03 CET from the Guiana Space Centre. Video credit: ESA / ArianeGroup / Arianespace / CNES
November 4, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Launch day! Liftoff of the Ariane 62 rocket carrying the Sentinel-1D Earth observation satellite is expected at 22:03 CET from the Guiana Space Centre. Video credit: ESA / ArianeGroup / Arianespace / CNES
The Sentinel-1D payload stack has been stacked on the Ariane 6 upper stage ahead of tomorrow's launch. The rocket is expected to be launched at 22:02 CET.
November 3, 2025 at 9:11 AM
The Sentinel-1D payload stack has been stacked on the Ariane 6 upper stage ahead of tomorrow's launch. The rocket is expected to be launched at 22:02 CET.
The flight included a delayed second stage ignition that was precisely timed to put the rocket in the necessary hypersonic test profile. Video credit: DLR MORABA
October 17, 2025 at 6:48 AM
The flight included a delayed second stage ignition that was precisely timed to put the rocket in the necessary hypersonic test profile. Video credit: DLR MORABA
Some slow-motion footage of the recent ATHEAt launch from Andøya Space in Norway. The rocket's first stage was powered by the Red Kite booster, which DLR developed in partnership with Bayern-Chemie. Video credit: DLR MORABA
October 17, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Some slow-motion footage of the recent ATHEAt launch from Andøya Space in Norway. The rocket's first stage was powered by the Red Kite booster, which DLR developed in partnership with Bayern-Chemie. Video credit: DLR MORABA
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...
And this is a breakdown of what the test model will be used for - europeanspaceflight.com/romanian-res...
October 9, 2025 at 7:48 AM
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...
And this is a breakdown of what the test model will be used for - europeanspaceflight.com/romanian-res...
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.
October 7, 2025 at 2:15 PM
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.
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.
October 6, 2025 at 11:10 AM
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.
Avio's stock extended its remarkable rally this week, climbing 12.28%. The latest surge follows last week’s €400 million capital-increase announcement and this week's signing of a new launch-services agreement with an as-yet unidentified “extra-European” institutional customer.
September 19, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Avio's stock extended its remarkable rally this week, climbing 12.28%. The latest surge follows last week’s €400 million capital-increase announcement and this week's signing of a new launch-services agreement with an as-yet unidentified “extra-European” institutional customer.
Guillen added that the company is working on expanding its access to spaceports, currently focusing on its section of the new commercial launch facility being developed at the Guiana Space Centre. It appears that they have not yet been given access to begin construction.
September 17, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Guillen added that the company is working on expanding its access to spaceports, currently focusing on its section of the new commercial launch facility being developed at the Guiana Space Centre. It appears that they have not yet been given access to begin construction.
During a session at WSBW this morning, Isar Aerospace CCO Stella Guillen explained that over the last nine months, the company has seen a shift in demand from commercial rideshare missions to dedicated defence missions.
September 17, 2025 at 8:21 AM
During a session at WSBW this morning, Isar Aerospace CCO Stella Guillen explained that over the last nine months, the company has seen a shift in demand from commercial rideshare missions to dedicated defence missions.
During a WSBW panel, CEO of Arianespace David Cavaillolès explained that the company would launch two more Ariane 6 flights in 2025. That would make a total of four for the year, two fewer than the company initially projected.
September 15, 2025 at 10:34 AM
During a WSBW panel, CEO of Arianespace David Cavaillolès explained that the company would launch two more Ariane 6 flights in 2025. That would make a total of four for the year, two fewer than the company initially projected.
Some more footage of the Ariane 6 booster separation from this. morning's launch. Credit: ESA/ArianeGroup/Arianespace/CNES
August 13, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Some more footage of the Ariane 6 booster separation from this. morning's launch. Credit: ESA/ArianeGroup/Arianespace/CNES
We also got a small view of booster separation during this morning's Ariane 6 launch, thanks to some clear skies. Credit: ESA
August 13, 2025 at 9:35 AM
We also got a small view of booster separation during this morning's Ariane 6 launch, thanks to some clear skies. Credit: ESA
The second Ariane 6 mission of 2025 was succesfully launched at 00:37 UTC this morning. The rocket carried the Metop-SG-A1/Copernicus Sentinel-5A satellite into low Earth orbit. Credit: ESA
August 13, 2025 at 6:34 AM
The second Ariane 6 mission of 2025 was succesfully launched at 00:37 UTC this morning. The rocket carried the Metop-SG-A1/Copernicus Sentinel-5A satellite into low Earth orbit. Credit: ESA
Ariane 6 is stacked and ready for launch. The launch is expected at 02:37 CEST tomorrow morning. It will carry the Metop-SG-A1 and Copernicus Sentinel-5 satellites to orbit. Credit: ESA
August 12, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Ariane 6 is stacked and ready for launch. The launch is expected at 02:37 CEST tomorrow morning. It will carry the Metop-SG-A1 and Copernicus Sentinel-5 satellites to orbit. Credit: ESA
Arianespace has announced that the next Ariane 6 launch will occur on 12 August. The flight will carry the EUMETSAT Metop-SG-A1 weather satellite into a Sun-Synchronous orbit. Video credit: ESA
July 28, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Arianespace has announced that the next Ariane 6 launch will occur on 12 August. The flight will carry the EUMETSAT Metop-SG-A1 weather satellite into a Sun-Synchronous orbit. Video credit: ESA
The payload for flight VV27, encased in its fairing, has been raised and placed atop the Vega C stack ahead of the July 25 launch.
Image credit: CNES / ESA / Arianespace / Optique Vidéo CSG / S Martin
Image credit: CNES / ESA / Arianespace / Optique Vidéo CSG / S Martin
July 22, 2025 at 6:50 PM
The payload for flight VV27, encased in its fairing, has been raised and placed atop the Vega C stack ahead of the July 25 launch.
Image credit: CNES / ESA / Arianespace / Optique Vidéo CSG / S Martin
Image credit: CNES / ESA / Arianespace / Optique Vidéo CSG / S Martin
5. Rocket Factory Augsburg
July 8, 2025 at 2:37 PM
5. Rocket Factory Augsburg
