The Russian military satellite Cosmos-2612 carried out dangerous approach maneuvers towards the Finnish commercial satellite Iceye-X36, used to support Ukraine. The distance between the two devices fell below one hundred meters.
An old Soviet weather satellite was destroyed by space debris, releasing thousands of fragments and fueling fears about Kessler syndrome and growing congestion in Earth's orbit.
Giorgio Marsiaj of Confindustria underlines the value of the space economy and announces a mission to the United States from 6 to 15 December to encourage the entry of Italian companies into American supply chains.
ESA has extended contracts with Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defense and Space for the construction of 4 new second generation Galileo satellites, bringing the G2 fleet to 16 units by 2031 to strengthen European strategic autonomy.
ESA's annual report on space debris highlights a worsening of the long-term impact of space activities in 2025. Every day three satellites or rocket bodies are returned and ten new ones are launched.
In Turin, the Thales Alenia Space team simulated the exit of the Rosalind Franklin rover from the landing platform on Mars, testing different ramp and terrain configurations to verify procedures and safety of the critical maneuver of the ExoMars 2028 mission.
Asteroids 2026 TG9 and 2026 TP6 pass approximately 220,000 and 210,000 kilometers from Earth, halfway between us and the Moon. Celestial bodies, measuring between 9 and 24 metres, do not pose any risk to the planet.
Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano has been selected for NASA's Artemis III mission, marking the first time an ESA astronaut has participated in an Artemis program. The mission will test docking capabilities between Orion and commercial landers from Blue Origin and SpaceX.
Luca Parmitano will be the pilot of the Orion capsule in the Artemis III mission, crucial training for the human return to the Moon. The mission will test Blue Origin and SpaceX landers in Earth orbit ahead of the planned moon landing in 2028.
The joint Europe-China space mission, Smile, took off from Kourou, French Guiana, with a Vega C rocket. Using X-rays, it will study the interaction between the solar wind and the Earth's geomagnetic field.
An Italian astronaut has been selected for a testing operation of crucial technologies for future lunar missions. The initiative aims to prepare the ground for the exploration of our satellite.
Italian astronaut Luca Fraioli has completed his first day of training as a pilot for the Artemis III mission, marking a significant step in his preparation for the lunar journey.
