Andrew Parsonson
@andrewparsonson.bsky.social
I'm on a mission to promote European spaceflight.
Contributor to SpaceNews and Payload.
For queries, email [email protected]
Contributor to SpaceNews and Payload.
For queries, email [email protected]
CNES has announced that after expanding its “Astronaut for a Day” initiative nationwide, it received more than 2,500 applications.
europeanspaceflight.com/cnes-expands...
europeanspaceflight.com/cnes-expands...
CNES Expands “Astronaut for a Day” Initiative Following Successful First Year
CNES has announced that after expanding its “Astronaut for a Day” programme nationwide, it received more than 2,500 applications.
europeanspaceflight.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:25 AM
CNES has announced that after expanding its “Astronaut for a Day” initiative nationwide, it received more than 2,500 applications.
europeanspaceflight.com/cnes-expands...
europeanspaceflight.com/cnes-expands...
ESA has committed to funding two ISS cargo return service demo missions and to serve as an anchor customer for a future commercial LEO cargo return service.
europeanspaceflight.com/esa-commits-...
europeanspaceflight.com/esa-commits-...
ESA Commits to Being an Anchor Customer for LEO Cargo Return Services
ESA has committed to funding two ISS cargo return service demo missions and to serve as an anchor customer for a future commercial LEO cargo return service.
europeanspaceflight.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:23 PM
ESA has committed to funding two ISS cargo return service demo missions and to serve as an anchor customer for a future commercial LEO cargo return service.
europeanspaceflight.com/esa-commits-...
europeanspaceflight.com/esa-commits-...
The first European to travel beyond low Earth orbit aboard an Artemis mission will be German. After the German astronaut, the other two flights to Gateway that have already been secured will go to a French and an Italian astronaut.
November 27, 2025 at 5:31 PM
The first European to travel beyond low Earth orbit aboard an Artemis mission will be German. After the German astronaut, the other two flights to Gateway that have already been secured will go to a French and an Italian astronaut.
With the conclusion of ESA's Ministerial Council meeting in Bremen, the agency has announced a record three-year budget of €22.1 billion, up from €16.9 billion.
europeanspaceflight.com/exploration-...
europeanspaceflight.com/exploration-...
Exploration and the UK Emerge as the Biggest Losers of CM25 - European Spaceflight
With the conclusion of ESA's Ministerial Council meeting, the agency has announced a record budget of €22.1 billion, up from €16.9 billion.
europeanspaceflight.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:27 PM
With the conclusion of ESA's Ministerial Council meeting in Bremen, the agency has announced a record three-year budget of €22.1 billion, up from €16.9 billion.
europeanspaceflight.com/exploration-...
europeanspaceflight.com/exploration-...
During the agency’s Ministerial Council meeting in Bremen, ESA announced that the inaugural flight of its reusable Space Rider vehicle was expected in 2028.
europeanspaceflight.com/inaugural-sp...
europeanspaceflight.com/inaugural-sp...
Inaugural Space Rider Flight to Occur in 2028 - European Spaceflight
During the agency’s Ministerial Council meeting in Bremen, ESA announced that the inaugural flight of its reusable Space Rider vehicle was expected in 2028.
europeanspaceflight.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:41 AM
During the agency’s Ministerial Council meeting in Bremen, ESA announced that the inaugural flight of its reusable Space Rider vehicle was expected in 2028.
europeanspaceflight.com/inaugural-sp...
europeanspaceflight.com/inaugural-sp...
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher on the progress of the Ministerial Council meeting compared to three years ago.
November 26, 2025 at 8:57 PM
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher on the progress of the Ministerial Council meeting compared to three years ago.
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher on the progress of the Ministerial Council meeting compared to three years ago.
November 26, 2025 at 8:37 PM
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher on the progress of the Ministerial Council meeting compared to three years ago.
ESA's proposed €22.254 billion budget for the next three years includes significant funding boosts for Human and Robotic Exploration and Space Transportation.
europeanspaceflight.com/exploration-...
europeanspaceflight.com/exploration-...
Exploration and Space Transportation See Largest ESA Funding Boosts
ESA's proposed €22.2 billion budget for the next three years includes significant funding boosts for Human and Robotic Exploration and Space Transportation.
europeanspaceflight.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:54 PM
ESA's proposed €22.254 billion budget for the next three years includes significant funding boosts for Human and Robotic Exploration and Space Transportation.
europeanspaceflight.com/exploration-...
europeanspaceflight.com/exploration-...
Interesting comments from Norwegian representative Cecilie Myrseth, who discussed "unfair subsidies" in space transportation.
November 26, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Interesting comments from Norwegian representative Cecilie Myrseth, who discussed "unfair subsidies" in space transportation.
Interesting comments from the French representative Philippe Baptiste, who called ESA's Geo-return policy a "pipe dream."
November 26, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Interesting comments from the French representative Philippe Baptiste, who called ESA's Geo-return policy a "pipe dream."
ESA is exploring repurposing the European Service Module and Earth Return Orbiter amid uncertainty over US support for the Artemis and Mars Sample Return missions.
europeanspaceflight.com/esa-to-repur...
europeanspaceflight.com/esa-to-repur...
ESA to Repurpose European Service Module and Earth Return Orbiter
ESA is exploring repurposing the European Service Module and Earth Return Orbiter amid uncertainty over US support for the Artemis and Mars Sample Return missions.
europeanspaceflight.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:33 PM
ESA is exploring repurposing the European Service Module and Earth Return Orbiter amid uncertainty over US support for the Artemis and Mars Sample Return missions.
europeanspaceflight.com/esa-to-repur...
europeanspaceflight.com/esa-to-repur...
The proposed ESA budget for the next three years and its programmatic breakdown. For context, the budget for the preceding three years was €16.9 billion.
November 26, 2025 at 1:28 PM
The proposed ESA budget for the next three years and its programmatic breakdown. For context, the budget for the preceding three years was €16.9 billion.
The ESA Director General this morning, as day 2 of CM25 is getting started: "To explain the importance of space for society and the economy and for security is easier today than three years ago. On the side, the economic situation is more challenging today than it was three years ago."
November 26, 2025 at 9:23 AM
The ESA Director General this morning, as day 2 of CM25 is getting started: "To explain the importance of space for society and the economy and for security is easier today than three years ago. On the side, the economic situation is more challenging today than it was three years ago."
ESA DG Josef Aschbacher on the importance of the agency's Geo-return policy.
November 25, 2025 at 5:56 PM
ESA DG Josef Aschbacher on the importance of the agency's Geo-return policy.
And so it begins.
November 25, 2025 at 2:29 PM
And so it begins.
A Polish consortium has successfully tested a three-stage suborbital rocket as part of an EU-funded project to develop a launch system capable of carrying payloads into space.
europeanspaceflight.com/polish-conso...
europeanspaceflight.com/polish-conso...
Polish Consortium Successfully Tests Three-Stage Suborbital Rocket
A Polish consortium has successfully tested a three-stage suborbital rocket as part of an EU-funded project.
europeanspaceflight.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:09 PM
A Polish consortium has successfully tested a three-stage suborbital rocket as part of an EU-funded project to develop a launch system capable of carrying payloads into space.
europeanspaceflight.com/polish-conso...
europeanspaceflight.com/polish-conso...
The Exploration Company opens a new facility in France, calling it “a new permanent home for building Europe’s cargo return capability.”
europeanspaceflight.com/the-explorat...
europeanspaceflight.com/the-explorat...
The Exploration Company Inaugurates New Facility in France - European Spaceflight
The Exploration Company opens a new facility in France, calling it “a new permanent home for building Europe’s cargo return capability.”
europeanspaceflight.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:55 PM
The Exploration Company opens a new facility in France, calling it “a new permanent home for building Europe’s cargo return capability.”
europeanspaceflight.com/the-explorat...
europeanspaceflight.com/the-explorat...
Thales Alenia Space has finalised the core industrial team for ESA’s Argonaut lunar lander, awarding contracts to Nammo, OHB System, and two of its own subsidiaries.
europeanspaceflight.com/thales-aleni...
europeanspaceflight.com/thales-aleni...
Thales Alenia Space Finalises Industrial Team for Lunar Lander
Thales Alenia Space has finalised the core industrial team for ESA’s Argonaut lunar lander. A first mission is expected in 2030.
europeanspaceflight.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Thales Alenia Space has finalised the core industrial team for ESA’s Argonaut lunar lander, awarding contracts to Nammo, OHB System, and two of its own subsidiaries.
europeanspaceflight.com/thales-aleni...
europeanspaceflight.com/thales-aleni...
Wales-based B2Space has successfully tested its balloon-based launch system in the Canary Islands using a small solid-fuel rocket.
europeanspaceflight.com/b2space-test...
europeanspaceflight.com/b2space-test...
B2Space Tests Balloon-Based Launch System - European Spaceflight
Wales-based B2Space has successfully tested its balloon-based launch system in the Canary Islands using a small solid-fuel rocket.
europeanspaceflight.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Wales-based B2Space has successfully tested its balloon-based launch system in the Canary Islands using a small solid-fuel rocket.
europeanspaceflight.com/b2space-test...
europeanspaceflight.com/b2space-test...
ESA has announced plans to build a new €20 million facility on the grounds of the European Astronaut Centre in Germany to centralise its human and robotic exploration activities.
europeanspaceflight.com/esa-to-build...
europeanspaceflight.com/esa-to-build...
ESA to Build €20 Million Human and Robotic Exploration Hub in Germany
The European Space Agency has announced plans to build a new €20 million facility at the European Astronaut Centre in Germany.
europeanspaceflight.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:24 AM
ESA has announced plans to build a new €20 million facility on the grounds of the European Astronaut Centre in Germany to centralise its human and robotic exploration activities.
europeanspaceflight.com/esa-to-build...
europeanspaceflight.com/esa-to-build...
The Exploration Company has acquired German additive manufacturing firm Thrustworks to expand its production capacity.
europeanspaceflight.com/the-explorat...
europeanspaceflight.com/the-explorat...
The Exploration Company Acquires German Additive Manufacturing Company - European Spaceflight
The Exploration Company has acquired German additive manufacturing firm Thrustworks to expand its production capacity.
europeanspaceflight.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:06 PM
The Exploration Company has acquired German additive manufacturing firm Thrustworks to expand its production capacity.
europeanspaceflight.com/the-explorat...
europeanspaceflight.com/the-explorat...
In this week's newsletter, I looked at what it would take for Europe to build its own commercial crew capability and which company is currently best placed to deliver it.
europeanspaceflight.substack.com/p/a-spacesui...
europeanspaceflight.substack.com/p/a-spacesui...
A Spacesuit With No Ship
On Friday, Decathlon revealed a first look at EuroSuit, an intra-vehicular activity (IVA) spacesuit developed in collaboration with Spartan Space and the Institute of Space Medicine and Physiology (ME...
europeanspaceflight.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:50 PM
In this week's newsletter, I looked at what it would take for Europe to build its own commercial crew capability and which company is currently best placed to deliver it.
europeanspaceflight.substack.com/p/a-spacesui...
europeanspaceflight.substack.com/p/a-spacesui...
Arianespace has announced the final Ariane 6 flight of 2025 will be launched on 17 December at 05:01 UTC. The flight will carry two Galileo satellites to orbit for the European Space Agency on behalf of the European Commission. Image credit: ESA / S. Corvaja
November 20, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Arianespace has announced the final Ariane 6 flight of 2025 will be launched on 17 December at 05:01 UTC. The flight will carry two Galileo satellites to orbit for the European Space Agency on behalf of the European Commission. Image credit: ESA / S. Corvaja
Poland’s SpaceForest has announced that it will attempt the first launch of its PERUN rocket on 22 November, following a redesign of its propulsion system.
europeanspaceflight.com/spaceforest-...
europeanspaceflight.com/spaceforest-...
SpaceForest Announces Launch Date for PERUN Return-to-Flight Mission
Poland’s SpaceForest has announced that it will attempt the first launch of its PERUN rocket on 22 November, following a redesign of its propulsion system.
europeanspaceflight.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Poland’s SpaceForest has announced that it will attempt the first launch of its PERUN rocket on 22 November, following a redesign of its propulsion system.
europeanspaceflight.com/spaceforest-...
europeanspaceflight.com/spaceforest-...
Canada has announced a significant increase in its contributions to the European Space Agency, committing $528.5 million.
europeanspaceflight.com/canada-commi...
europeanspaceflight.com/canada-commi...
Canada Commits $528.5 Million to European Space Agency Programmes
Canada has announced a significant increase in its contributions to the European Space Agency, committing $528.5 million.
europeanspaceflight.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Canada has announced a significant increase in its contributions to the European Space Agency, committing $528.5 million.
europeanspaceflight.com/canada-commi...
europeanspaceflight.com/canada-commi...