The European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) HydroGNSS mission, which will investigate the Earth’s water cycle, has landed in California and is ready to start preparations for launch.

Changes in the global water cycle pose a threat to our environment and to communities around the world. HydroGNSS, part of ESA’s FutureEO program, delivers observations on four hydrological parameters that are Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) or closely related to ECVs:

1. soil moisture
2. inundation or wetlands
3. freeze/thaw state
4. above-ground biomass

ECVs, which are defined by the global climate observing system (GCOS), measure physical, chemical, or biological characteristics that provide empirical evidence to assess climate risks. These parameters are used in many applications and areas of science: from weather forecasting and flood prediction, to understanding wetlands, as well as data on permafrost and forest carbon stocks. HydroGNSS will also measure wind speed over the ocean and sea-ice extent as secondary products.

By providing valuable data on the Earth’s water cycle, HydroGNSS will ensure there are no data gaps when missions such as ESA’s SMOS and NASA’s SMAP come to an end.

The mission will provide measurements on these water-related indicators using a technique called Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reflectometry.

This technique involves the signals from systems such as Galileo and GPS, which are part of the GNSS. These navigation satellites work by continually transmitting low-power L-band microwave navigation signals toward Earth. Their primary purpose is to provide global positioning, navigation, and timing services, such as the navigation systems in cars and mobile devices.

However, when the GNSS signal reflects off Earth’s surface, it is altered by the physical properties of terrain, ice, oceans or vegetation. The HydroGNSS mission obtains scientific data on the Earth’s water cycle by comparing this altered signal with the direct signals from the GNSS satellites.

The mission consists of two microsatellites, both of which carry a GNSS reflectometry instrument in an orbit of 500-600 km, 180 degrees apart.

ESA’s Scout Project Manager, Jean-Pascal Lejault, explained that the technique of GNSS-reflectometry may be the only future affordable and sustainable means of taking global soil moisture measurements at a resolution of better than 25 km. “The hope is that HydroGNSS will pave the way for this type of mission for the future.”

Jean-Pascal added, “For now we are extremely excited to see the satellite arrive in California. I would like to thank our colleagues at Surrey Satellite Technology for their expertise and dedication in developing HydroGNSS and delivering the satellites ready for launch preparations.”

HydroGNSS has been developed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) for ESA’s Scout framework, part of the agency’s FutureEO program. The potential of GNSS reflectometry for land sensing was demonstrated by two missions: TechDemoSAT-1 (an ESA and UK Space Agency mission) and the CYGNSS constellation (a NASA mission). SSTL was also involved in both demonstration missions.

This new family of small ‘Scout’ satellites are developed within short timeframes and deliver science data, either by miniaturizing existing space technologies or by demonstrating new observing techniques.

HydroGNSS is the first of three Scout missions, which pave the way to innovative science in a quick and adaptable way, complementing ESA’s Earth Explorer research missions.

Launch is expected later this year on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

As part of the European 5G-HUB project, Indra is developing a state-of-the-art, interoperable, 5G satellite system to ensure secure, robust, and resilient data transmission from space in the event of a disaster or emergency in a remote area via a SATCOM terminal.

Indra’s solution will be tried out during a pilot test with the Italian Red Cross, which will simulate a complete failure of the terrestrial communication networks due to a catastrophe, while it will also be deployed in Spain on a vessel belonging to the Open Arms NGO to perform telemedicine tasks on the high seas

Indra Group is taking part in the European 5G-HUB project with its innovative SATCOM solution, a satellite communications system developed to guarantee robust, secure, and resilient connectivity in emergency situations and remote environments without any terrestrial coverage.

As part of this strategic project, which is funded by the Horizon Europe program and coordinated by the University of Siena, Indra will develop a state-of-the-art interoperable 5G satellite system that automatically switches between satellite and terrestrial communications to ensure the continuity of the service, even in the event of natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis that can cause widespread breakdowns of communication networks and hinder the coordination of rescue efforts in extreme circumstances.

Indra’s solution enables the real-time transmission of data and video in situations in which communication is vital, such as humanitarian operations, search and rescue missions and interventions following major disasters, on land, at sea, and in remote areas that currently lack network coverage or for those that have completely lost their network infrastructure due to a catastrophe.

Two highly significant pilot tests will be carried out to validate the functioning of the communications in critical and extreme environments. During the first, a major climate catastrophe causing a complete failure of all of the terrestrial communication networks will be simulated in partnership with the Italian Red Cross.

In the second, to be carried out in Spain, the system will be tested on a real mission of the Open Arms NGO in the Mediterranean, during which one of its ships will be equipped with a state-of-the-art onboard satellite terminal provided by Indra, enabling telemedicine applications, live video transmissions from drones and the real-time coordination of the entire operation from land.

Indra will also provide the tool set to be used for the automated management of the communication requests. This software will be able to simulate the appropriate allocation of the available satellite and terrestrial resources in accordance with each request, optimizing the coordination and use of critical capabilities in emergency situations and thus guaranteeing a more streamlined and efficient response. This solution will also be used to carry out exercises very similar to those to be performed with the terminals when they become operational within the GOVSATCOM system, a component of the European Union’s Space Program.

The tests to be carried out in Italy and Spain constitute a technological milestone, as they will be among the first demonstrations of a hybrid terrestrial-satellite 5G communications model applied to real emergency operations in Europe. This breakthrough will strengthen Indra Group’s standing as one of Europe’s leading end-to-end players in the space sphere, with capabilities to enhance security, operational efficiency, and the protection of critical communications in the civil and military domains.

Indra Group will continue to drive a more secure, connected, and sustainable future with this project, placing technology at the service of the safety and well-being of citizens. With innovation at the core of its business and unique experience going back over 30 years, the company boasts a comprehensive portfolio of trailblazing solutions designed on an ad hoc basis to address all kinds of citizen security threats that have been implemented in countries all around the world.

HawkEye 360 Inc. has announced that Cluster 12 has officially reached Full Operational Capability (FOC).

The three formation-flying satellites, launched on June 26 (ET) aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket, are now fully calibrated, commissioned, and integrated into HawkEye 360’s constellation — delivering mission-ready signals intelligence across key global regions.

The mission also included Kestrel-0A, an experimental satellite designed to evaluate emerging capabilities that inform HawkEye 360’s next generation of technologies. Kestrel-0A is progressing well, with ongoing contact and early-stage mission milestones being achieved.

Cluster 12 adds further depth and coverage to HawkEye 360’s constellation, supporting expanded frequency detection, improved revisit rates, and broader global reach. These advancements directly support the growing demand for signals intelligence to address challenges such as maritime domain awareness, air defense system detection, and GNSS interference monitoring.

With Cluster 12 now operational, HawkEye 360 continues to scale its capabilities to support government and allied partners with consistent, trusted RF geolocation data — providing the strategic awareness needed to navigate increasingly contested and complex domains.

Achieving FOC for Cluster 12 strengthens our ability to deliver timely, mission-critical signals intelligence to defense, intelligence, and commercial partners,” said Todd Probert, President, HawkEye 360 U.S. Government. “This cluster enhances our ability to monitor complex operating environments, detect signals of interest, and drive informed decisions across land and sea.”

This milestone reflects the outstanding performance of our engineering, operations, and mission management teams,” said Eric Haengel, Vice President of Space & Ground Systems. “Cluster 12 is now fully integrated into our constellation and contributing to the seamless delivery of high-impact RF data for our customers worldwide.”

INNOSPACE (KS:462350) has signed a multi-launch service contract worth $5.8 million with Media Broadcast Satellite GmbH (“MBS”) in Germany.

Under the agreement, INNOSPACE will carry out two HANBIT launch missions to deploy MBS satellites into LEO, with one launch in 2026 and the other planned by 2028. In both launch missions, MBS satellites will serve as the primary payloads, with priority in launch scheduling and orbit determination.

INNOSPACE also signed a separate contract on the same day, officially appointing MBS as its exclusive agent for launch service sales and marketing within Germany, marking the company’s entry into the European space launch market. In addition, sovereign launch capabilities out of Europe contribute to Europe’s growing demand for ad-hoc launch capabilities on the background of responsive space initiatives.

Following the contract, MBS will exclusively distribute launch services based on the HANBIT series to satellite customers in Germany. It is expected to establish a strategic foothold in the European launch services market as well as enable faster and more effective responses to customer demand.

MBS is a German space company providing and operating full scale responsive space missions. With over 45 years’ experience, the company focuses on ad-hoc capabilities for in-theater mission support, covering aspects such as mission-critical SATCOM, situational awareness and managed gateway services on a global scale. Their international government and industry customers trust MBS’s quality, integrity and combat-proven expertise.

We are excited to partner with INNOSPACE as both a launch customer and exclusive sales agent for Germany,” said Sven Sünberg, Managing Director of Media Broadcast Satellite GmbH. “INNOSPACE’s innovative HANBIT launch vehicle series and agile development approach offer exactly the kind of flexibility, reliability and sovereignty that the European satellite market demands. This agreement marks an important milestone in expanding our service portfolio and delivering greater value to our customers in the Government and Defense sector. We look forward to shaping the future of responsive space and satellite launches from Europe together with INNOSPACE.”

Securing a multi-launch service contract is a meaningful achievement made possible by MBS’s deep trust in and expectations for INNOSPACE,” said Soojong Kim, founder and CEO of INNOSPACE. “We are truly grateful for this trust, and we will continue to prove our competitiveness in the global market and do our utmost to grow as a customer-tailored launch service provider.” He added, “Germany is a key market in Europe with high technological standards and a fast-growing space industry. Based on our exclusive agency agreement with MBS, we plan to strengthen our local sales capabilities and customer networks, accelerating brand recognition and customer acquisition across the European market.”

Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) has delivered two Explorer-class spacecraft to Kennedy Space Flight Center for NASA’s Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission, in partnership with the University of California, Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory.

Last year Rocket Lab completed the design, build, integration, and testing of the twin spacecraft, named Blue and Gold, in just three and a half years, an accelerated timeline for a Mars mission. This achievement was made possible by Rocket Lab’s mature spacecraft manufacturing experience and its vertically integrated supply chain, which brings production of critical components like solar arrays, star trackers, propellant tanks, reaction wheels, radios, flight software, and more, in-house.

ESCAPADE is based on Rocket Lab’s Explorer spacecraft platform, a configurable, high delta-V interplanetary variant of the Company’s advanced family of spacecraft.

ESCAPADE is part of NASA’s Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) program, designed to deliver high-value planetary science at lower cost and on faster timelines. ESCAPADE will deliver critical Mars science at a fraction of the cost and time of traditional billion-dollar missions.

During a 22-month cruise to Mars, Blue and Gold will travel together before entering complementary elliptical orbits around the planet to conduct their science campaigns. The spacecraft will simultaneously capture data from two regions of Mars’ magnetosphere. This unique two-point measurement will allow scientists to understand how the solar wind strips atoms from Mars’ atmosphere, offering insight into the planet’s atmospheric escape history and space weather environment, and informing future human exploration strategies.

Upon arrival at Kennedy Space Center, Rocket Lab engineers will conduct post-transport inspections and functional tests in the cleanroom before propellant loading and vehicle integration. Launch is scheduled to occur no earlier than this fall on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, said, “ESCAPADE is a perfect example of why Rocket Lab exists – to make ambitious space science faster and more affordable. Delivering two interplanetary spacecraft on schedule and within budget for a Mars mission is no small feat, and it speaks to the determination and agility of our team. They’ve proven that we can take a concept from design to Mars readiness in just a few short years. This won’t be Rocket Lab’s last time at Mars, with concepts like the Mars Telecommunications Orbiter on the horizon, we’re laying the groundwork for more complex, capable, and essential missions that will support future human exploration.”

Rob Lillis, ESCAPADE Principal Investigator and Associate Director for Planetary Science at the UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory, said, “It’s been a long road, but we are so excited to be launching Blue & Gold on their mission to understand the Martian space weather environment. Through the usual ups and downs, Rocket Lab has been right alongside NASA and UC Berkeley, supporting us every step of the way on this interplanetary journey.”

For more than a decade, mission control teams at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) have successfully commissioned and operated most of the Sentinel fleet of satellites.

In preparation of the coming launch of Sentinel-1D, mission controllers have started the simulations of the critical ‘launch and early orbit phase’. The launch of Copernicus Sentinel-1D will provide a much-needed replacement to Sentinel-1A, which has been in orbit for almost 11 years now, well beyond its planned lifetime. The Sentinel-1D satellite will join its sibling, Sentinel-1C, which was launched last December.

On top of ensuring continuity of data for Copernicus services and applications, the satellite, the fourth of its series, will extend the mission’s Earth Observations (EO) capabilities and provide a long-term outlook for the next decadeSentinel-1D will be lifted into orbit by an Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, later this year (2025). This marks the first time an ESOC-operated satellite will be launched on Ariane 6, a milestone for ESA’s operations team.

On September 17, the control team located at ESA’s operation center in Darmstadt, Germany, began preparing for the launch and the crucial early-orbit phase. Thanks to their recent experience with Sentinel-1C, the team is expected to complete the simulation campaign more quickly than usual.

The team has been augmented by over a hundred experts from flight dynamics, ground stations, software systems, and other specialist areas, along with industry partners who built the satellite and ESA engineers who designed and procured it.

The simulations have been downsized from the usual fifteen or more sessions to eight only, during which mission plans and procedures for both the satellite and ground segment will be rehearsed, reviewed, and refined.

Using sophisticated software to replicate satellite and ground systems, the team will train for a range of scenarios – from minor glitches to major anomalies – ensuring they can respond quickly and effectively under pressure.

One of the scenarios the team has been preparing for is a potential delay in the Sentinel-1D launch that could cause it to overlap with the launch campaign of Sentinel-6B, currently scheduled also this year. To mitigate this, contingency plans have been developed to ensure both missions can proceed smoothly, even if timelines converge.

This Copernicus Sentinel series of satellites is no stranger to ESA mission controllers. Just over ten years ago, in early 2014 , the same control room hosted the simulation campaign for Sentinel-1A before the launch of the satellite in April. Since then, ESOC has successfully commissioned and operated ten satellites under the Copernicus Earth Observation program.

In the final days of the simulation campaign, teams at ESOC will work with the joint ESA, Arianespace and industry launch team in Kourou to complete the comprehensive final simulation of the countdown and launch sequence. This will include receiving live signals from the satellite via an umbilical connection, which will be disconnected shortly before liftoff.

Once the last step is completed, the mission control team will be ready to launch the satellite. Good luck Sentinel-1D!

We’re essentially working with the same satellite and the same team as last year,” said Ian Shurmer, Flight Operations Director for Sentinel-1D. “This allows us to streamline several phases of the training and focus on the unique aspects of this launch.”

Sentinel-1D marks the last launch of the first Sentinel mission, although it’s only the end of the beginning”, said Thomas Ormston, Deputy Spacecraft Operations Manager for Sentinel-1D. “With such varied spacecraft, and more to come, we have learned so much from flying the Sentinel missions and look forward to many more to come. At ESOC we are experienced in adapting to different launch vehicles, so the first Ariane 6 launch is no different, although we’re all excited to finally get to ‘fly’ on Europe’s new launcher.”

Flying Sentinel-1D on Ariane 6 in less than a year after launching Sentinel-1C on the Vega-C’s return to flight is a tremendous honour for our team. Sentinel-1D represents not only continuity for Copernicus but also a bold step forward in European launch capability”, said Ana Garcia, Sentinel-1D Launch Campaign Manager.