As the new Space Age kicks off in force, propulsion technologies are becoming a booming industry. Read more about the different types of propulsion in development. For more than half a century, spaceflight has relied on a familiar formula: powerful chemical rockets generating enough thrust to escape Earth’s gravity and propel spacecraft towards their destinations. From the Apollo Moon missions to today’s commercial launch vehicles, chemical propulsion has remained the backbone of space exploration. Yet a quiet revolution is underway. As the global space sector expands beyond government-led exploration into satellite mega-constellations, commercial lunar missions, space logistics, and ambitions for human journeys to Mars, traditional propulsion systems are increasingly being pushed to their limits. New mission profiles demand greater efficiency, longer operational lifetimes, enhanced manoeuvrability, and lower costs. In response, engineers and researchers are developing a new generation of propulsion technologies that promise to transform how spacecraft travel through space. From electric thrusters and green propellants to nuclear engines and solar sails, these innovations are reshaping the future of spaceflight and redefining what is possible …

Launched last November, the Copernicus Sentinel-1D satellite has completed the critical in-orbit commissioning phase and marks a milestone in Europe’s flagship radar mission. The first generation satellite of the Copernicus programme, Sentinel-1A was launched in 2014. The Sentinel-1 mission aimed to provide consistent, high-quality Earth Observation data for the Copernicus Services, helping inform analysis of meteorological events, natural disasters and climate change. The programme consists of two identical satellites orbiting our planet with 180 degrees of separation to optimise coverage. Sentinel-1B was launched in 2016 to pair with Sentinel-1A, but was its mission was ended prematurely by a technical anomaly in 2022. Sentinel-1C was launched in 2024 to fulfil the constellation, with Sentinel-1D launched as an additional satellite in late 2025. Day and night radar coverage of the Earth’s surface The mission delivers critical data for scientists, emergency responders and policymakers through high-resolution synthetic aperture radar imaging. Upon completion, the satellites will have provided twenty years of continuous observations, in all weathers and day and night, offering an unparalleled retrospective in a time of rapid …

New funding aims to help domestic companies compete in the rapidly expanding global satellite network market. The UK Government has announced £30m fiscal backing to accelerate the development of satellite communications technology, part of a broader strategy to strengthen the country’s role in the global space economy. The investment, confirmed by Space Minister Liz Lloyd, will support British companies developing critical components for modern satellite networks operating in low Earth orbit (LEO). The funding comes through the UK Space Agency’s Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme and is designed to help technologies move from laboratory testing into operational missions. Government officials say the initiative is intended to position the UK to capture a larger share of a global satellite communications market estimated to be worth about £40bn and expanding by more than 10% annually. Minister Lloyd explained: “Space is now the cornerstone of our modern economy. Satellite constellations have revolutionised how we operate, digitalising industries, optimising logistics and connecting all corners of the globe. “This new funding will support the development of smarter satellites …