Everything is gradually falling into place for the outbreak of a bloody war (?) in the field of mini-launchers and, later, heavy launchers. With the background of the desire of states such as Germany, Italy, Spain and France to impose their champion(s) on the European scene. This competition is the consequence of the Seville summit in November 2023, where the member states of the ESA (European Space Agency), asked the ESA, under the leadership of Germany, to organize this competition, which should be devastating due to national pride to dominate the European market.
While European countries with launcher industries are flexing their muscles against their neighbors, SpaceX is leading the way in this market. A situation which would require sacred union in Europe but this is not really the case. For now, the European Agency wants European operators to implement new space transport solutions so that they can ultimately have the most competitive offers possible.
RFA One, Hympulse, Orbex and Isar Aerospace
The ESA will therefore continue its financial assistance to four manufacturers of mini-launchers to prepare their first launch planned in the coming months by allocating a budget of 44.22 million euros as part of its support program for services and support for commercial space transport, Boost, financed mainly by Germany then Great Britain. Three German companies (RFA One, Isar Aerospace, Hyimpulse) and one British company (Orbex) will benefit from this financial windfall.
On the other hand, the ESA does not finance French companies like Latitude or HyPrSpace, nor Spanish companies like PLD Space. Unlike Spain, France does not participate in Boost, an optional ESA program which brings together Germany, Austria, Italy, Belgium, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. , the European Commission and ESA selected five space launch operators last January to put small European satellites into orbit, another initiative put in place to stimulate competition. A framework contract was signed with Arianespace (Ariane 6) as well as four. startup in this sector (Isar Aerospace, RFA One, Orbex and PLD Space).
Help with developments before the first flight
Why help these companies? The Agency considers that “The months leading up to a maiden flight can be critical for companies with large teams, numerous facilities and operations” while“no launch system is yet generating revenue”. “To alleviate this period, ESA has committed a total co-financing of 44.22 million euros”she explains. It is in this context that it awarded contract extensions to RFA One (Rocket Factory Augsburg), Hyimpulse, Isar Aerospace and Orbex for the deployment of their launch services. This help will strengthen, according to the ESA, “the empowerment of these companies in their transition from technical development to the start-up of operational services”.
Many projects are under development, including naturally the four companies financed again by the ESA, which must remain an impartial arbiter in this competition, which will shake up space Europe. It will affect the very credibility of the ESA at a time when the European Commission wishes to take charge of space issues, and precisely that of launchers. Several European launchers, including the four companies selected by the ESA, are due to make their first flight. “We are very interested to see their rockets deliver on their promises, which will diversify the European offering of launch services”estimated the director of space transport of theESA, Toni Tolker-Nielsen, in an interview with La Tribune.
For the boss of space transport, Boost is only a first milestone which will then lead to competition on heavy launchers. “It is within this framework that we launched the “European launchers challenge” project, which will try to bring out European startups in the field of launchers to create this competition. However, it will take time to set up. We can imagine competition with Ariane 6 in the early 2030s or mid-2030s,” he explained in an interview with La Tribune last July. For his part, the director general of the ESA, Josef Aschbacher, explained last June in an interview given to La Tribune that it was necessary “lots of time to develop a launcher. Decisions will be taken at the 2025 ministerial conference ».
Launches in the coming months
Despite the resounding failure in August, the ESA decided to continue its support for RFA One. The Boost co-funding (£3.5 million or €4.2 million) will help RFA One, a subsidiary of OHB System, prepare the next first stage flight system by carrying out more testing. It is true that the first floor has exploded during a test launch from a new space base in northern Scotland at SaxaVord on the isolated island of Unst (Shetland archipelago). The Boost program “accelerates our mission to provide cost-effective and flexible launch solutions” and represents “a crucial investment for Europe’s future access to space, which will boost competition and innovation across the sector”said RFA co-founder and commercial director Jörn Spurmann.
For its part, Isar Aerospace is currently testing the two stages of its Spectrum launcher, developed entirely in-house. The funding of more than 15 million euros granted by the ESA will be devoted to the completion of the test campaign preparatory to the first test flight of the launcher planned in principle by the end of the year. This contract strengthens the financial strength of Isar Aerospace, which has obtained more than €400 million in private financing since its creation in 2018. In addition, ESA funds will also support Isar Aerospace's preparations for the second test flight of Spectrum, its efforts to build a versatile series production in Vaterstetten, Germany and the production of the next generation engines for the second test flight.
“Given current political developments, it is clear that Europe must rethink its approach to access to space. (…) To be competitive on a global scale, institutions and governments must become regular customers,” insisted the commercial director of Isar Aerospace, Stella Guillen.
Furthermore, the Boost program will allow Orbex (5.6 million euros) to carry out the first demonstration flight of its Prime launcher planned for 2025. This financing covers important steps towards the qualification of carbon fiber fuel tanks. carbon and towards the integrated testing and launch of Prime. It is therefore “essential to help us achieve our common goals”explained Orbex CEO, Phil Chambers.
Finally, HyImpulse, which cashed a check for 11.8 million euros from the ESA, successfully launched its SR75 suborbital rocket last May. The German space startup carried out a first firing of a rocket using paraffin (candle wax) as fuel in order to test this technology before a first orbital flight at the end of 2025. Hyimpulse is now working on the development of SL1, a three-stage launcher capable of carrying 600 kg into sun-synchronous orbit. The Boost program will make it possible to develop a significant part of the subsystems towards integrated tests. “This contract extension represents a strong sign of confidence in HyImpulse and an investment in the future of Europe as a competitive force in space”underlined CEO and founder of HyImpulse, Christian Schmierer.
