The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) have postponed the Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) following the discovery of an oxidizer leak in the Dragon spacecraft’s propulsion system.

In a press release issued on August 29, 2026, NASA confirmed the delay, which pushes the launch past its original September 12, 2026, target date. The mission, launching from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, will carry four astronauts to join Expedition 75. A new launch date remains pending while joint engineering teams evaluate the spacecraft hardware.

Prelaunch processing and hardware evaluation

The oxidizer leak was detected during standard prelaunch spacecraft processing. NASA spokesperson Joseph Zakrzewski stated the agency and SpaceX are adjusting the schedule specifically to address the propulsion system anomaly before clearing the vehicle for flight.

Engineers are currently assessing the spacecraft to determine the required corrective actions. The timeline for the mission’s progression depends entirely on the resolution of the hardware issue.

“Joint NASA and SpaceX teams are performing additional tests and data review and will complete any necessary rework prior to launch. A new target date will be announced once available,” Zakrzewski noted.

Crew-13 mission profile and historical context

The Crew-13 roster includes NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins (Commander) and Luke Delaney (Pilot), alongside Mission Specialists Joshua Kutryk of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Sergey Teteryatnikov of the State Space Corporation ROSCOSMOS (Roscosmos). The crew was scheduled to enter quarantine at the Johnson Space Center in Houston approximately two weeks prior to the original launch date.

SpaceX has previously addressed oxidizer-related issues on the Dragon platform. In April 2019, a liquid oxidizer leak involving nitrogen tetroxide entering high-pressure helium tubes resulted in an explosion during a ground test of the spacecraft’s SuperDraco abort thrusters. The company subsequently redesigned the system to mitigate similar risks.

AirPro News analysis

While launch delays are routine in orbital spaceflight, propulsion system leaks require rigorous scrutiny due to the highly reactive nature of spacecraft oxidizers. The detection of this leak during standard processing validates the pre-flight checkout protocols established by NASA and SpaceX under the Commercial Crew Program. We expect the engineering teams will thoroughly trace the leak’s origin to determine whether it stems from a localized component failure or a broader systemic issue before committing to a revised launch schedule.

Sources: NASA

Astroscale Japan Inc. and German launch provider Isar Aerospace have finalized an agreement to launch the ADRAS-J2 active debris removal mission on a Spectrum rocket from Norway during Japan’s 2027 fiscal year.

Announced in a joint press release on September 1, 2026, the contracts secures the launch vehicle for Phase II of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration (CRD2) project. The mission aims to become the first to capture and safely deorbit a large, non-cooperative piece of legacy space debris.

Targeting legacy orbital debris

The ADRAS-J2 (Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan) spacecraft will target a derelict rocket upper stage that has remained in orbit for decades. The target debris weighs approximately three tons and measures roughly 11 meters in length and four meters in diameter. Because the upper stage was not designed with docking interfaces or navigational aids, it is classified by the industry as non-cooperative debris.

The upcoming mission builds upon the successful Phase I ADRAS-J mission, which concluded operations earlier in 2026. During Phase I, the Astroscale spacecraft demonstrated autonomous rendezvous and proximity operations. The vehicle conducted fly-around observations at a distance of 50 meters and achieved an ultra-close approach of 15 meters to the same rocket body.

“ADRAS-J2 is a pioneering mission that aims to achieve the world’s first removal of a large piece of legacy space debris that has remained in orbit for decades and was never designed for removal,” said Nobu Okada, Founder and CEO of Astroscale. “After more than half a century of human activity in space, the number of debris objects in orbit continues to increase, posing a growing threat to the long-term sustainability of the space environment.”

Expanding the Isar Aerospace partnership

The ADRAS-J2 mission will launch from Isar Aerospace’s dedicated pad at Andøya Space in Norway. The target launch window spans from April 2027 to March 2028, aligning with Japan’s 2027 fiscal year. The mission will utilize the Spectrum launch vehicle, which is designed to deliver payloads of up to one tonne to low Earth orbit (LEO).

This agreement represents the second launch contract signed between the Astroscale group and Isar Aerospace in 2026. On March 16, 2026, Astroscale’s United Kingdom subsidiary selected Isar Aerospace to launch the ELSA-M in-orbit demonstration mission. That separate mission is tasked with capturing an end-of-life Eutelsat OneWeb satellite.

“ADRAS-J2 is the kind of mission that defines the future of space operations. It requires precision, flexibility, and the ability to reach the right orbit at the right time,” said Stella Guillen, Chief Commercial Officer at Isar Aerospace. “This second launch agreement reflects the confidence our customers place in our team and technology and deepens a partnerships that is advancing the next generation of space missions.”

AirPro News analysis

We view the consecutive contracts between Astroscale and Isar Aerospace as a strong indicator of maturing supply chains within the commercial space sector. By securing a second dedicated launch for a complex rendezvous mission, Astroscale is standardizing its deployment strategy across different international subsidiaries. For Isar Aerospace, capturing high-profile payloads from a Japanese government-backed initiative demonstrates growing confidence in the European micro-launcher market. Dedicated small launch vehicles like Spectrum are proving highly competitive for active debris removal missions, which require precise orbital insertion parameters that traditional rideshare missions cannot easily accommodate.

Sources: Isar Aerospace

German aerospace manufacturers OHB SE has secured a contract valued at nearly €1 billion ($1.17 billion) to develop and produce 18 medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite platforms for the European Union’s IRIS² secure connectivity program.

Announced in a company press release on August 31, 2026, the agreement with satellite operator SES marks the first major manufacturing contract awarded under the IRIS² concession. The constellation represents the European Union’s third flagship space initiative, following Galileo and Copernicus, and aims to establish a sovereign, multi-orbit communications network for European governments and commercial users.

Technical specifications and production

The contract tasks OHB with delivering the MEO segment of the broader IRIS² architecture. Each of the 18 satellite platforms will feature a launch mass of 2.6 metric tons and a maximum power output of 15 kilowatts.

These 18 MEO platforms will form a critical layer of the planned 348-satellite constellation, which will operate across both low Earth orbit (LEO) and MEO to provide global coverage with reduced signal latency.

OHB SE Chief Executive Officer Marco Fuchs highlighted the strategic nature of the contract for the company and the continent.

“IRIS² will mark another significant step toward Europe’s independence. In an increasingly digital and highly mobile world, a resilient and autonomous communication infrastructure is indispensable. With Galileo and Copernicus, OHB has already helped shape two of Europe’s most important satellite programs. We are especially pleased to have been entrusted with the development of eighteen satellite platforms for IRIS², further expanding our role in Europe‘s strategic space infrastructure.”

The SpaceRISE consortium and program timeline

The European Commission selected the SpaceRISE consortium to develop and deploy the IRIS² infrastructure. The consortium includes major European satellite operators SES, EUTELSAT, and HISPASAT. Within this group, SES is leading the delivery of the MEO segment, which led to the direct contract with OHB.

The manufacturing award follows the official launch of the IRIS² implementation phase on August 6, 2026. The following day, the European Commission, the European Space-Agencies (ESA), and the SpaceRISE consortium signed an implementation agreement. That August 7, 2026 signing concluded seven months of negotiations regarding the multi-orbit network’s architecture and associated costs.

According to the current program schedule, the first IRIS² satellites are slated to launch in 2029. Initial connectivity services are expected to become available to government users in 2030.

AirPro News analysis

The nearly €1 billion award to OHB cements the industrial foundation for IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite). By utilizing a multi-orbit architecture, European planners are attempting to balance the low-latency benefits of LEO constellations with the broader coverage and established reliability of MEO platforms. We view this contract as a critical indicator that the European Union is moving aggressively from the planning phase to hardware production, prioritizing domestic aerospace contractors to ensure the resulting network remains entirely sovereign and independent of foreign commercial providers.

Sources: OHB SE