Andøya Satellite Summit 2025: Europe First Spaceport Unites Nations

Andøya Satellite Summit 2025, held August 25-27 at Fyrvika, Andenes, showcases Europe first operational spaceport, Andøya Spaceport, uniting over 100 leaders from 50+ organizations across 10 countries, including Norway, Germany, France, United States and Canada. Norwegian Space Agency, European Space Agency (ESA), and NASA drive multinational collaboration, advancing satellite technology and launch innovation. The program includes keynotes by Norwegian Space Agency Director General Christian Hauglie-Hanssen, ESA Directors Laurent Jaffart and Toni Tolker-Nielsen, and perspectives from Isar Aerospace Chief Commercial Officer Stella Guillen, Andøya Space CEO Ketil Olsen, Northrop Grumman Vice President Troy Brashear, Space Norway Director Odd-Harald Hagen, EIDEL CEO Truls Andersen, Rheinmetall Head of Space Nadja Peterseim, and Kongsberg Defence Vice President Arne Gjennestad. Monday keynote, “Building a stronger ecosystem for the space industry,” sets the tone. Day one features market talks and a reception with Nordland County Mayor Eivind Holst. Day two includes Isar Aerospace launch complex tour and innovation panels. Day three offers an Arctic whale safari and concluding remarks. Fully booked, Andøya Spaceport fosters global partnerships, cementing Europe leadership in space. (Image Credit: Spaceport Norway, L-R Hauglie-Hanssen, Tolker-Nielsen, Olsen, Guillen)

MONDAY

☆ Aug 25 — International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 73 seven members focusing on cardiovascular health with NASA Astronaut Jonny Kim, an MD, doing artery ultrasound scans of Zena Cardman of NASA and Kimiya Yui of JAXA; Oleg Platonov of Roscosmos using both microscope to study artery-lining cell and camera to capture Earth landmark images; Mike Fincke of NASA renewed thermal tape on spacesuit helmets that protects them from extremes when in use during spacewalks.

☆ Aug 25 — Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou 20 three-member crew using a large-scale robot, called an artificial intelligence model, named Wukong in honor of Sun Wukong the legendary Monkey King, a symbol of agility and intelligence; the astronauts said Wukong offered highly comprehensive guidance during preparations for the 3rd spacewalk of the crew, using both ground-based search strategies and in-orbit data.

☾ Aug 25 — Moon Enterprise News: Weekly lunar advisories coming soon….

☆ Aug 25 — CASC, Launch Long March 8A / Unknown Payload, Commercial LC-1, Wenchang Space Launch Site, China: 10th group of Guowang Internet satellites.

o Aug 25-27 — Andøya Space, Norwegian Space Agency, Innovation Norway, Kongsberg, et al, Andøya, Norway: Andøya Satellite Summit 2025 – Arctic².

● Aug 25 – Oct 1 — American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Online / Reston VA: Orbital Mechanics and Mission Simulation Course; instructor Ken Ernandes of L3Harris and Florida Institute of Technology.

Astroscience Exploration Network (ASEN) Posits Africa as Key Contributor in Space Exploration

Network of Researchers on the Chemical Emergence of Life (NoRCEL) is collaborating with National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to hold ASEN 2025, August 27-28. Sohan Jheeta (pictured) founded NoRCEL to promote collaboration among scientists, researchers, students and enthusiasts for origin-of-life science, including hypothesizing existence of life beyond Earth. NoRCEL seeks to make astroscience (astrobiology, astrophysics, astrochemistry and planetary sciences) accessible through educational outreach, especially in the Global South, has affiliations with 7+ countries in Africa, 12+ universities in India and a Latin American Hub. An online magazine is now in its 3rd publication and features an article on exoplanets. NoRCEL supports 100+ PdD students and postdocs globally and is entirely volunteer-run, including scientists with a sense of humor such as the one who asked, “Who keeps reheating primordial soup in the lab microwave?” NASRDA is the space agency of Nigeria and has goals to advance education and research Africa-wide in astroscience. Part of the Federal Ministry of Innovation Science and Technology, NASRDA is hosting ASEN  in-person event at Abuja, but online attendance is encouraged and has a registration fee of only US$27 / €24. Africa has a growing role in advancing space exploration and has terrain such as deserts that can stand-in for extraterrestrial conditions. (Image Credits: NoRCEL)

TUESDAY

★ Aug 26 — SpaceX, Launch Falcon 9 / NAOS, SLC-4E, Vandenberg SFB CA: Satellites to SSO: Luxembourg Earth observation, 800 kg built by OHB Italia, ground resolution 50 cm; those of Dhruva Space, Planet, Exolaunch.

● Aug 26 — Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, KSC FL: Meet Astronaut Terry Wilcutt, who is a director at NASA Johnson after piloting or commanding 4 Space Shuttle (STS) missions, 79 and 89 with Mir dockings, and 106 to prepare ISS for 1st permanent crew

☾ Aug 26 — Moon: 2.47° SSW of Mars, 06:00.

☆ Aug 26 — Apollo Asteroid 2024 CL: Near-Earth Flyby (0.077 AU)

WEDNESDAY

★ Aug 27 — SpaceX, Launch Falcon 9 / Starlink Group 10-56, SLC-40, Cape Canaveral SFS FL: 28 satellites for Starlink constellation.

★ Aug 27 — SpaceX, Launch Falcon 9 / Starlink Group 10-11, LC-39A Kennedy Space Center FL: 28 satellites for Starlink constellation.

● Aug 27 — American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Space Resources Technical Committee, Reston VA: Webinar: Innovation through Inspiration: Space Robotics Competitions; presented by Robert Mueller of NASA Kennedy Swamp Works.

o Aug 27-28 — Astroscience Exploration Network of NoRCEL, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASDRA), Abuja, Nigeria: Astroscience on the African Continent; at NASDRA Headquarters and online.

☾ Aug 27 — Moon: 1.05° SSW of Spica, 04:00.

☆ Aug 27 — Mercury: At perihelion, 0.3075 AU from Sun, 02:00.

☆ Aug 27 — Apollo Asteroid 2025 PM2: Near-Earth Flyby (0.024 AU)