Ariane lofts biggest 'space bird'
TerreStar-1, the world's biggest commercial telecommunications satellite, is put in orbit by an Ariane 5 rocket.(BBC News)

Herschel captures galaxy image
The European Space Agency releases a stunning image of the spiral "Whirlpool Galaxy".(BBC News)

UK 'yet to embrace space tourism'
Virgin Galactic boss Will Whitehorn says the UK needs a proper regulatory framework to expand private spaceflight activity in the country.(BBC News)

Ariane 5 – Largest-ever telecommunications satellite launched
Earlier this evening, an Ariane 5 ECA launcher lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on its mission to place the heaviest and most powerful telecommunications satellite ever launched, Terrastar 1, into geostationary transfer orbit.(ESA)

XMM-Newton discovers a new class of black holes
Astronomers using ESA’s XMM-Newton X-ray observatory have discovered a black hole weighing more than 500 solar masses, a missing link between lighter stellar-mass and heavier supermassive black holes, in a distant galaxy. This discovery is the best detection to date of a new class that has long been searched for: intermediate mass black holes.(ESA)

Space Station Appearing Nationwide Over July 4 Weekend
As America celebrates its 233rd birthday this holiday weekend, there will be an extra light in the sky along with the fireworks.(NASA)

NASA TV to Broadcast Space Station Crew's Move of Return Craft
Three members of the International Space Station crew will board a Soyuz spacecraft attached to the station and move it to a different docking port on Thursday, July 2. The journey will be broadcast live on NASA Television.(NASA)

Joint Mars plan on talks agenda
The US and European space agencies are to discuss the potential for mounting joint missions to Mars.(BBC News)

Record number of participants attend Portuguese Space Forum
An estimated 150 people attended the third Portuguese Space Forum that took place today at the Pavilhão do Conhecimento - Ciência Viva in Lisbon; a sign of the growing importance of the space industry in Portugal.(ESA)

Optimising forest production with space technology
Space and robotics technology have been combined to develop an advanced Precision Forestry Positioning System, which allows more efficient forest planning and harvesting.(ESA)