This article is based on an official press release from Northrop Grumman.

Northrop Grumman Confirms Solid Rocket Boosters Ready for Historic Artemis II Launch

Northrop Grumman has officially announced that its twin five-segment solid rocket boosters (SRBs) are fully integrated and ready to support the launch of NASA’s Artemis II mission. According to the company’s statement released on January 27, 2026, the hardware is prepared for a liftoff targeted as early as February 6, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

This mission represents a significant milestone in aerospace history, marking the first time humans will travel beyond the Moon’s orbit since the conclusion of the Apollo program in 1972. The boosters, which provide the majority of the thrust for the Space Launch System (SLS), are critical to propelling the four-person crew inside the Orion spacecraft toward deep space.

Powering the Space Space-Agencies Launch System

The technical specifications released by Northrop Grumman highlight the immense scale required to escape Earth’s gravity with a crewed payload. The twin boosters, standing 177 feet tall, are the largest solid rocket motors ever built for flight. Together, they generate 7.2 million pounds of thrust.

According to mission data, these boosters provide more than 75% of the total thrust at liftoff, with the SLS rocket’s total thrust reaching approximately 8.8 million pounds. The design is an evolution of the four-segment boosters used during the Space Shuttle era, the addition of a fifth segment allows the new motors to deliver 25% more total energy than their predecessors.

Jim Kalberer, Vice President of Propulsion Systems at Northrop Grumman, emphasized the role of manufacturing expertise in reaching this stage:

“We’ve leveraged our unparalleled manufacturing and solid rocket motor expertise to supply the SLS rocket with 7.2 million pounds of its 8.8 million pounds of total thrust at launch. The power and performance the Northrop Grumman-manufactured solid rocket boosters provide the SLS rocket is critical to America’s new age of exploration and building a sustainable human presence in deep space ahead of missions to Mars.”

Safety Systems and Mission Profile

In addition to the primary propulsion, Northrop Grumman confirmed its role in manufacturing safety-critical components for the Orion spacecraft’s Launch Abort System (LAS). The company produces both the abort motor and the attitude control motor. These systems are designed to pull the capsule and its crew safely away from the rocket in the event of an emergency on the launch pad or during ascent.

Crew and Timeline

The Artemis II mission is a crewed test flight designed to verify spacecraft systems, including life support, communication, and navigation, on a “free-return trajectory” around the Moon. The crew includes astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. Following the successful integration of the boosters, the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft were rolled out to Launch Complex 39B earlier in January, with final preparations now underway for the February launch window.

AirPro News Analysis

The readiness of the five-segment boosters signals a stabilization in the supply-chain for the Space Launch System. While the architecture relies heavily on heritage hardware from the Shuttle era, the successful integration for a crewed deep-space mission validates the engineering modifications required for the heavier lift capacity of the SLS. As NASA looks toward Artemis III and the construction of the Gateway station, the performance of these solid rocket motors will be the primary metric for assessing the sustainability of the agency’s long-term lunar infrastructure plans.

Sources

Sources: Northrop Grumman Press Release, NASA Artemis II Mission Data

This article is based on an official press release from Airbus.

Airbus and Hisdesat Secure Commercial Future for High-Resolution PAZ 2 Radar Constellation

On January 28, 2026, Airbus Defence and Space and Hisdesat, the Spanish government satellite operator, formalized a major commercialization agreement regarding the PAZ 2 Earth observation program. Signed at the European Space Conference in Brussels, this deal cements a long-term partnerships designed to bring next-generation Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery to the global market.

According to the official announcement, the agreement grants Airbus the rights to co-commercialize data from the upcoming PAZ 2 constellation. This program represents a significant technological evolution from the original PAZ satellite, promising ultra-high-resolution capabilities that target elite defense, intelligence, and infrastructure monitoring sectors. The collaboration builds upon a relationship established in 2018, ensuring continuity for current users while preparing the market for a drastic increase in imaging fidelity.

The PAZ 2 program, which includes two satellites, is scheduled to begin service by mid-2031. While Hisdesat retains capacity for Spanish governmental use, Airbus will leverage its international sales network to distribute surplus capacity to military and commercial clients worldwide.

Technological Leap: 10 cm Resolution

The transition from the current PAZ satellite to the PAZ 2 constellation involves a substantial upgrade in technical specifications. The press release and technical data indicate that the new system will offer a resolution of up to 10 cm, a marked improvement over the previous 25 cm capability. This level of detail allows for the precise identification of smaller objects, vehicle types, and infrastructure damage, regardless of weather conditions or time of day.

In addition to resolution, the constellation approach doubles the revisit capacity compared to the single-satellite PAZ 1 mission. The new satellites are designed to cover approximately 6.7 million square kilometers per satellite daily, a more than 20-fold increase in area coverage compared to the legacy system. The system also boasts a swath width of up to 500 km and near real-time latency capabilities, reducing data delivery times to as little as five minutes for critical tactical operations.

“This partnership aims to push the boundaries of SAR-based Earth observation and provide innovative solutions to meet growing global demand for both military and commercial markets.”

, Eric Even, Head of Space Digital at Airbus Defence and Space

Strategic Context and Dual-Use Mission

The PAZ 2 program is a central pillar of Spain’s national space strategy, supported by a loan of approximately €1 billion from the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism. The system is designed for dual-use applications, serving both the Spanish Ministry of Defence and civilian sectors.

For defense purposes, the constellation will provide Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. On the civilian side, the data will support infrastructure monitoring, disaster management, and maritime surveillance. Miguel Ángel García Primo, CEO of Hisdesat, emphasized the continuity of the alliance in the official release:

“The renewed alliance would ensure continuity of cooperation… while accelerating the adoption of SAR imagery, which can operate in all weather conditions and at any time of day.”

, Miguel Ángel García Primo, CEO of Hisdesat

AirPro News Analysis

We observe that this agreement arrives during a period of intense bifurcation in the Earth Observation market. While “New Space” companies like ICEYE and Capella Space have focused on launching large constellations of smaller, lower-cost satellites to maximize revisit rates, the PAZ 2 program represents a commitment to the “high-end” tier of the market.

By targeting 10 cm resolution and high geometric accuracy, Airbus and Hisdesat are positioning PAZ 2 to compete on quality and fidelity rather than just frequency. This strategy appeals to customers requiring “gold standard” data for precise targeting and detailed infrastructure analysis, capabilities that smaller, cheaper satellites often struggle to match consistently. Furthermore, the integration of PAZ 2 data into Airbus’s existing portfolio allows the European giant to offer a comprehensive package of optical (Pléiades Neo) and radar imagery, securing its standing against growing US and Asian competition.

Timeline and Manufacturing

The manufacturing contract for the PAZ 2 satellites was awarded to Airbus in July 2025. With the commercialization framework now signed in early 2026, the program is moving toward a projected service entry in 2031. The satellites will operate in a sun-synchronous orbit to maintain consistent lighting conditions, similar to the current PAZ and the German TerraSAR-X missions.

Sources

• Airbus

This article is based on an official press release from Airbus Defence and Space.

Airbus Defence and Space has officially confirmed the timeline for its next generation of Earth observation capabilities. In an announcement made on January 27, 2026, the European aerospace giant revealed that the first satellite of the Pléiades Neo Next program is scheduled for launch in early 2028. The new program represents a significant technological evolution, introducing native resolution in the 20-centimeter class, a marked improvement over the current 30-centimeter industry standard.

According to the company, the satellite will be launched aboard an Avio-manufactured Vega C rocket from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. This initiative is designed to secure service continuity for Airbus’s government and commercial clients through at least 2040, while simultaneously responding to intensifying competition in the high-resolution satellite imagery market.

Pushing the Boundaries of Resolution

The core advancement of the Pléiades Neo Next program is the shift to 20 cm native resolution. While the existing Pléiades Neo constellation,which began launching in 2021,offers 30 cm resolution, the new “Next” generation aims to provide significantly finer detail. This capability allows for the identification of smaller objects and more precise infrastructure monitoring, a critical requirement for defense intelligence and urban planning sectors.

Airbus states that the program is fully funded, manufactured, and operated by the company. In addition to the optical hardware upgrades, the system will integrate with the OneAtlas digital platform and upgraded Direct Receiving Stations (DRS). These ground segment enhancements are intended to reduce data latency to minutes, enabling near real-time tasking and delivery.

Eric Even, Head of Space Digital at Airbus Defence and Space, emphasized the continuity and ambition of the program in a statement included in the press release:

“The Pléiades Neo Next programme builds on the success of our existing Pléiades Neo constellation which serves government and commercial customers around the world. This programme will further enhance our standard of excellence in terms of quality, performance, and reliability to deliver images as well as geo-intelligence services and applications.”

Launch Logistics and Strategic Resilience

The selection of the Vega C launcher highlights a continued commitment to European space sovereignty. Despite the setback in December 2022, where a Vega C launch failure resulted in the loss of two Pléiades Neo satellites (Neo 5 and 6), Airbus has reaffirmed its confidence in the European launcher system. The upcoming launch in early 2028 will take place at the Guiana Space Centre, ensuring that the satellite, launcher, and operator remain strictly European.

The Pléiades Neo Next program serves a dual purpose: it advances technological capabilities and replenishes the constellation following the 2022 losses. By integrating these new assets with the existing fleet, Airbus aims to increase revisit rates, allowing users to image specific locations multiple times per day.

AirPro News Analysis

The Race for 20 Centimeters

The move to 20 cm resolution is not merely an incremental upgrade; it is a strategic necessity in what industry observers call the “resolution war.” Airbus is positioning Pléiades Neo Next directly against competitors like Maxar Technologies, whose WorldView Legion constellation also targets the ultra-high-resolution market. For defense and intelligence clients, the difference between 30 cm and 20 cm can be the deciding factor in contract awards, as the higher resolution allows for the distinction of vehicle types and equipment details that coarser imagery might obscure.

Furthermore, by sticking with the Vega C rocket despite previous failures, Airbus is signaling a strong political and industrial commitment to EU autonomy in space access. While this carries inherent risk, it ensures that the Pléiades Neo Next program remains a sovereign European asset, free from reliance on non-European launch providers,a key selling point for EU defense ministries seeking independence from US or Chinese data chains.

Sources

• Airbus Defence and Space