Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully launched the first HTV-X1 cargo spacecraft, atop an H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center at 0000 UTC, on Sunday (Oct. 26). It is expected to arrive at the International Space Station (ISS) for docking on Wednesday (Oct. 29) at about 1550 UTC.

The launch marked the maiden flight of the new generation of Japanese cargo ships and the debut of the H3 rocket’s configuration with four solid rocket boosters (SRBs). This H3 Flight 7 (H3 F7) mission represents a significant milestone in JAXA’s efforts to modernize its ISS resupply capabilities.

The HTV-X is the successor to the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), also known as Kounotori ("White Stork"), which completed its nine missions to the ISS between 2009 and 2020. The new spacecraft was conceived in 2015 to develop a cost-reduced, improved version of the HTV, with a focus on enhanced efficiency and flexibility. It features a modular design, reusing the Pressurized Logistics Carrier (PLC) from the HTV but incorporating a new Service Module that replaces the Unpressurized Logistics Carrier, Avionics Module, and Propulsion Module.

A key design change was the removal of the side hatch for late access cargo, which was initially planned but later abandoned. Instead, unpressurized cargo is now carried on top of the Service Module, allowing for greater payload capacity and improved mission flexibility.

The HTV-X1 spacecraft is 8 meters(m) long (1.2 m shorter than its predecessor) and has a launch mass of 16,000 kg. It can carry a total of 5,820 kg of cargo, consisting of 4,069 kg of pressurized cargo and 1,750 kg of unpressurized cargo, representing a significant increase over the previous HTV's capabilities.

The spacecraft is powered by deployable solar cells, generating up to 1 kW of power, and is designed to remain berthed to the ISS for up to six months. After departure, it can conduct extended free-flight missions for up to 1.5 years, serving as a testbed for autonomous navigation and long-duration system reliability.

The primary mission of HTV-X1 includes delivering a mix of consumables, maintenance gear, and experimental equipment to the ISS. A key payload is the i-SEEP-3B, the latest version of Japan’s exposed experiment platform, which will be robotically installed on the Kibo laboratory module to host small scientific and commercial payloads.

This first flight is not only a resupply mission but also a full-scale demonstration of JAXA’s upgraded power, avionics, and modular service systems under real ISS conditions 

The H3 rocket, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), is designed to be a cost-effective and reliable launch vehicle, incorporating 3D-printed components and simplified structures. Its maiden flight in March 2023 ended in failure due to a second-stage engine issue, but subsequent missions have been successful, including a February 2025 launch that deployed the QZS-6 navigation satellite. The H3’s ability to deliver precise orbital insertion into the ISS’s narrow orbital plane makes it an ideal partner for the HTV-X.

"HTV-X enhances transportation capabilities and adds the capability to provide various users with on-orbit demonstration opportunities for up to 1.5 years after leaving ISS until reentry," Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which builds the HTV-X for JAXA, wrote in a description of the vehicle.

Looking ahead, JAXA plans to extend the HTV-X design for future missions beyond low Earth orbit, including potential logistics support for the Lunar Gateway the space station NASA may build in lunar orbit as part of its Artemis program, and future lunar surface operations. The agency envisions it aiding "post-ISS human space activities in low Earth orbit."

HTV-X joins the stable of ISS cargo vehicles which currently include Russia's Progress vehicle and Northrop Grumman's Cygnus and SpaceX's Dragon, the only reusable craft of the four. The others are designed to burn up in Earth's atmosphere when their missions are over.

The successful launch of HTV-X1 signifies a new era in Japanese space logistics, enhancing international cooperation on the ISS and paving the way for Japan’s continued role in future space exploration.

Airbus, Leonardo, and Thales have announced a landmark agreement to merge their space businesses into a new joint venture, creating a $7.5 billion (€6.5 billion) European space entity with 25,000 employees, aimed at countering the dominance of Elon Musk’s SpaceX and strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy in space.

The merger, formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed on October 23, 2025, is expected to begin operations by 2027, pending regulatory approval, and will consolidate their satellite manufacturing, space systems, and services under a single entity, excluding launch vehicle activities.

The combined entity will integrate the space divisions of Airbus (Space Systems and Space Digital), Leonardo (Space Division, Telespazio, and Thales Alenia Space stakes), and Thales (Thales Alenia Space, Telespazio, and Thales SESO optics).

The new company will have a projected annual revenue of $7.5 billion based on 2024 results and a backlog covering more than three years of sales. Ownership will be split with Airbus holding 35%, and Leonardo and Thales each holding 32.5%, reflecting a balanced governance structure despite Airbus contributing roughly half of the combined revenue Airbus will receive compensatory payments to balance the stake split.

The companies anticipate achieving "mid-triple-digit million" euro annual synergies in operating income within five years of closing the deal, with further long-term operational savings expected.

The merger, internally known as "Project Bromo," follows months of negotiations and due diligence, with executives emphasizing the need for scale to compete globally and ensure Europe’s independence in critical space applications like communications, navigation, Earth observation, and national security.

The companies said the joint venture “will accelerate innovation in this strategic market, in order to create a unified, integrated and resilient European space player, with the critical mass to compete globally and grow on the export markets.”

“This proposed new company marks a pivotal milestone for Europe’s space industry. It embodies our shared vision to build a stronger and more competitive European presence in an increasingly dynamic global space market,” said Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury, Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani and Thales Chairman and CEO Patrice Caine in a joint statement.

“By pooling our talent, resources, expertise and R&D capabilities, we aim to generate growth, accelerate innovation and deliver greater value to our customers and stakeholders,” they said. “This partnership aligns with the ambitions of European governments to strengthen their industrial and technological assets, ensuring Europe’s autonomy across the strategic space domain and its many applications.”

Regulatory approval is required, with European antitrust authorities expected to take up to two years to review the deal, though political support for a "European champion" is growing amid concerns over reliance on foreign providers like SpaceX.

The merger is driven by the need to respond to the disruptive rise of SpaceX’s Starlink, which has deployed over 8,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, shifting global demand away from traditional high-cost, large geostationary satellites that European firms previously dominated.

The new venture is modeled after MBDA, the successful European missile consortium, and aims to become a "trusted partner" for national sovereign space programs across Europe.

“In Europe, if we step back, there is a lot of fragmentation in terms of projects, fragmentation in terms of players as well,” Alain Fauré, head of space systems at Airbus Defence and Space, said during a briefing at the Paris Air Show in June. A combination, he said then, “can have the strengths of the three companies.”

At the air show, executives said they were close to a decision on whether to proceed with the venture. Cingolani said at one briefing that he expected a “go/no-go decision” by the end of July after completing valuation work and assessing “value creation” from the merger.

“I like to say that one plus one plus one should be bigger than three, otherwise we don’t do it,” he said at the time.

While no immediate job losses are expected, insiders suggest that job cuts may be unavoidable in the long term, despite the companies’ commitment to avoiding site closures

Tommy Robinson's government-funded propaganda tour to Israel has backfired spectacularly, with widespread online mockery following his public humiliation by Israeli figures and condemnation from British Jewish leaders.

The trip, which began on October 15, quickly turned into a PR disaster as Robinson was confronted by Rabbi Yishai Fleisher, a former advisor to Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who told him the British have a "special place in hell for turning on the Jewish people," a remark Robinson was forced to accept without protest. This moment, captured on video and widely shared, became a focal point of ridicule, with commentators highlighting the irony of a self-proclaimed British nationalist being rebuked by a Jewish representative.

Robinson’s attempts to defend himself were met with further criticism, including a physical assault on a heckler who called him a racist at a Tel Aviv event, and a growing backlash from both the British Jewish community and right-wing critics who view his alliance with Israeli figures as a betrayal.

During a Knesset event, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana reportedly shushed Robinson when he interrupted a scripted moment, further highlighting the awkwardness of the encounter.

Robinson’s visit was condemned by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council, who called him a "thug who represents the very worst of Britain" and stated his presence undermines efforts to combat extremism.

The Israeli government’s decision to invite Robinson, particularly by Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, drew fierce criticism, with the Knesset committee for Diaspora Affairs demanding a formal apology for bypassing British Jewish leaders.

A protest against Robinson’s visit led to the arrest of two individuals, including a rabbi, outside Chikli’s home, underscoring the deep division his presence caused.

Journalists and activists, including Heidi Bachram and Raoul Wootliff, condemned the invitation, arguing it was an insult to British Jews and a dangerous embrace of far-right extremism.

Robinson’s own rhetoric, including past antisemitic claims such as accusing "powerful Jewish people" of controlling media and government, has been widely cited as evidence of his problematic history, despite his current self-presentation as a pro-Israel advocate.

The trip has also sparked internal conflict within the British right, with figures like Jayda Fransen and Gareth Icke criticizing Robinson for aligning with Israeli far-right leaders while alienating his own base.