GOTHENBURG, Sweden. Cobham Gaisler -- a space design center of Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions -- has received a contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) for the development and validation of a new mixed-signal LEON3FT microcontroller, which is aimed at use in satellite and other space applications.

KIRUNA, Sweden. The ExoMars project -- a joint venture of the European Space Agency (ESA) and Russian governmental body Roscosmos -- reports that it has successfully tested the largest parachute ever to fly on a Mars mission; the test was the first in a series of trials to prepare for the upcoming ExoMars mission that will deliver a rover and a surface science platform to the Red Planet. The spacecraft that will carry them is due to launch in July 2020, arriving at Mars in March 2021.

LONDON. European Space Agency (ESA) officials selected Inmarsat to develop satellite communication services that enable 4-D trajectory air traffic management in European airspace from 2020.

PARIS. The European Space Agency (ESA) is now investigating how lasers would be best used in future space missions.

HEILIGENBERG, Germany. The European Space Agency (ESA) recently tested a long radar boom that will probe below the surface of several of Jupiter?s moons during the future JUpiter Icy moons Explorer (JUICE) mission, which is scheduled for launch in 2022, arriving near Jupiter seven years later.