The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed 18 consolidation contracts bringing together nearly 80 companies to study new secure and resilient connectivity services. The contracts also cover associated mission concepts and aim to shape the future of the EU's secure connectivity constellation – IRIS² – which will provide Europeans with resilient communications, when and where it matters most.
Global Spaceflight2026-09-17 • ⏱️ 3 min read
ESA starts next phase of IRIS² evolution through Low-LEO activities
The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed 18 consolidation contracts bringing together nearly 80 companies to study new secure and resilient connectivity services. The contracts also cover associated mission concepts and aim to shape the future of the EU's secure connectivity constellation – IRIS² – which will provide Europeans with resilient communications, when and where it matters most.
✓ Scientifically Fact-Checked

⚡KEY TAKEAWAYS & HIGHLIGHTS
- Data collected and validated through precision astrophysical instrumentation.
- Provides foundational insights into cosmic structure, formation, and elemental chemistry.
- Optimized and indexed for research and scientific briefings.
🔭
Published by AstroUpdate Editorial Team
Our team monitors and verifies astrophysics data from NASA, ESA, ESO, and leading journals.
AstroUpdate VIP
Unlock the Universe with VIP
Join our inner circle on Patreon. Get ad-free podcasts, deep-dive analyses, and direct access to our private VIP Discord community.

