Nice to hear about #ESA is doing efforts into human spaceflight again.

As an European citizen, I'm very sad that ESA and #Europe still didn't bring humans into space with their own launch systems and spacecraft.

Ambitious (and aesthetic!) projects like the #Hermes #spaceplane never made it into reality 😥 and I really was excited about that project when I was a young boy in the 90s.

#spaceflight #ariane #aviation

RE: https://mastodon.social/@europeanspaceflight/115971936362943492

#POLARIS Spaceplanes announced that it had been awarded a contract by the Federal Office of #Bundeswehr Equipment. The first test of its full-sized #spaceplane was planned for 2028 (as of 2024)

#ZDF:
"
Start-up baut Raumflugzeug für die Bundeswehr
"
"Eine Bremer Firma entwickelt ein Hyperschall-Raumflugzeug für die Bundeswehr. Die will im Weltall "kriegstüchtig" werden – und investiert 35 Milliarden Euro in Raumfahrtprojekte."

https://www.zdfheute.de/wirtschaft/ruestung-bundeswehr-raumflugzeug-start-up-bremen-100.html

3.2.2026

#Bundeswehr #BW #PolarisRaumflugzeuge #Raumfahrt #Raumflugzeug #SpaceFlight #spaceplane

A less realistic, but maximally fun SSTO.

These tilt-engines are way more powerful and efficient than what I usually use in KSP, to the point where they probably are unrealistic af. That’s why I didn’t even bother with the TWR or dV this time. But having one part that can do a tilt engine is SO nice. If you want it to be a bit more realistic, I guess you can lower the thrust limiter. 

Its very power hungry, but it comes with an internal nuclear reactor which has a heatsink slapped on to it. This way it can run for quite a long time before running out of juice. Some capacitors also help extending that time. The cargo bay doors can also act as radiators if opened.

The COM is very carefully balanced so this thing is stable both in horizontal and vertical flight, the RCS is centred and the docking port aligns with it reasonably well. (you can dock it to the front of a mothership and it won’t make it spin out of control. If you want to use the engines to propel the other ship though, you might spin)

#spaceart #digitalart #muellermeier #krita #KSP #blueprint #SSTO #spaceplane #VTOL #Kerbal

NASA’s Dream Chaser Spaceplane Shifts Focus from ISS Resupply to National Defense and Private Space

In a major shift for NASA and Sierra Space, the Dream Chaser spaceplane’s mission has been redirected from resupply duties for the International Space Station (ISS) to a broader, more versatile role in space transportation. Initially designed as part of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services program, t... [More info]

SpaceShipTember 2025

Day 6 - Tandem
A 2-stage reusable shuttle inspired by the Boeing Space Freighter (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVYbbWAd2WA)
One shuttle, loaded with only fuel, acts as a flyback booster for the second.

#lego #space #spacecraft #spaceship #rocket #spaceplane #SST25 #spaceshiptember #shiptember

Mysterious #X-37B #spaceplane flies again, this time carrying a #quantum #GPS alternative

https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/25/x37b_quantum_navigation_payload/