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Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ESA selects 5 rocket companies for European Launcher Challenge
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The European Space Agency (ESA) has taken a step toward diversifying its access to space. ESA has chosen five rocket companies to pass through to the next round of its competition to encourage and support the development of new launch vehicles. The agency announced on July 7 that it had selected German companies Isar Aerospace and Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), Maiaspace from France, Spain's PLD Space and Orbital Express Launch, or Orbex, which is based in the United Kingdom, to proceed to the next stage of its European Launcher Challenge. The European Launcher Challenge (ELC) is a new scheme to promote new small and medium-sized launch vehicles and boost competitiveness in Europe, which for decades has relied on large Ariane rockets. The challenge was announced in November 2023, followed by a request for information and a formal call for proposals in March 2025, leading to ESA announcing the preselected challengers. The ELC has two components. The first is for launch services to be performed for ESA from 2026 to 2030, while the second is for development and demonstration of larger, upgraded launchers. Each chosen company will be eligible for up to 169 million euros ($198 million US) in support to cover one or both of these components. The ESA member states will finalize funding decisions in November at the agency's crucial ministerial council, which will set funding for projects for the next three years. Both Isar Aerospace and RFA have made it to the pad already. Isar's Spectrum rocket had a first, short-lived flight in March from Norway, with the launcher exploding seconds in flight. RFA's RFA One rocket exploded on the pad in the Shetland Islands back in August 2024 during a static fire test. RELATED STORIES — European Space Agency: Facts & information — Spanish company PLD Space launches rocket for 1st time — Scottish rocket startup Skyrora fails on 1st space launch attempt PLD Space conducted a suborbital flight of its Miura 1 rocket in 2023, as a stepping stone toward launching the orbital Miura 5. Orbex, meanwhile, is working on its Prime microlauncher, while Maiaspace is developing its reusable Maia rocket. These are not the only European companies engaged in developing new rockets, with Skyrora (U.K.), Latitude (France) and HyImpulse (Germany) at various stages of developing their rocket concepts. Solve the daily Crossword
Broadcast Pro
08-07-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
ESA selects five companies for first stage of European Launcher Challenge
The European Launcher Challenge is part of ESAs preparation for future European space transportation services, promoting a greater choice of European launch services and increased competitiveness. The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced the five companies selected to move forward in the European Launcher Challenge, an initiative aimed at fostering independent European launch capabilities. The preselected companies are Germanys Isar Aerospace and Rocket Factory Augsburg, Spains PLD Space, Frances MaiaSpace and the UKs Orbex. The challenge, launched after ESAs Council meeting in Seville in November 2023, officially opened for proposals in March 2025. During the Paris Air Show in June, ESA confirmed that it had received a total of 12 submissions. The five shortlisted companies were announced on 7 July following an evaluation based on several criteria, including technical and business maturity, sustainability, alignment with institutional market needs, and adherence to ESAs procurement rules. With the preselection complete, ESA will now enter discussions with each of the selected companies and their respective Member States. These talks aim to shape the proposals in preparation for ESAs Ministerial-Level Council Meeting (CM25) scheduled for later this year. At CM25, Member States are expected to decide on funding commitments for the initiative. Once funding decisions are made, ESA will issue a Phase 2 call for proposals, open exclusively to the five preselected companies. Final contracts will be awarded following an additional round of evaluation. Successful candidates may receive contracts covering two key components. The first, Component A, involves providing launch services for ESA institutional missions between 2026 and 2030. Component B focuses on advancing launch capabilities, including at least one demonstration flight. ESA has proposed a maximum budget of 169m per challenger to support all activities under both components. Unlike traditional ESA programmes that follow the geo-return principleallocating contracts in proportion to a Member States financial contributionthis challenge adopts a different approach. ESA has preselected the contenders independently, and it is now up to each host country to determine whether it will financially support its respective national candidate. This setup places Germany in a potentially difficult position, as it must decide whether to fund one or both of its selected companies.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
German space startup Isar Aerospace secures 150 million euro fund
(Reuters) -German space startup Isar Aerospace obtained 150 million euros ($173 million) in funding from an American investment company, it said on Wednesday. The company, which specializes in satellite launch services, signed an agreement for a convertible bond with Eldridge Industries, it said. The investment will be used to expand its launch service offerings, it added. "We are catering to the rising global demand for satellite launch services and provide global markets and governments with independent and flexible access to space," Daniel Metzler, CEO of the company, said in a statement. Isar Aerospace's first test launch in March failed after its Spectrum rocket crashed shortly after takeoff, but was still celebrated as a success by the industry and authorities. The company is pushing forward efforts to strengthen Europe's position in the aerospace sector, competing with firms such as Elon Musk's SpaceX. ($1 = 0.8625 euros)
Reuters
25-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
German space startup Isar Aerospace secures 150 million euro fund
June 25 (Reuters) - German space startup Isar Aerospace obtained 150 million euros ($173 million) in funding from an American investment company, it said on Wednesday. The company, which specializes in satellite launch services, signed an agreement for a convertible bond with Eldridge Industries, it said. The investment will be used to expand its launch service offerings, it added. "We are catering to the rising global demand for satellite launch services and provide global markets and governments with independent and flexible access to space," Daniel Metzler, CEO of the company, said in a statement. Isar Aerospace's first test launch in March failed after its Spectrum rocket crashed shortly after takeoff, but was still celebrated as a success by the industry and authorities. The company is pushing forward efforts to strengthen Europe's position in the aerospace sector, competing with firms such as Elon Musk's SpaceX. ($1 = 0.8625 euros)
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Spectrum Rocket Crashes Into Sea After Orbital Launch Attempt, Company Calls Test A 'Success'
A highly anticipated test flight aimed at launching satellites from Europe ended in a fiery explosion just seconds after takeoff from Norway Sunday. The uncrewed Spectrum rocket, developed by German startup Isar Aerospace, was billed as Europe's first attempt at an orbital launch from its own soil. The mission was part of a broader push to expand the continent's commercial space industry. The rocket lifted off from Andøya Spaceport, located on a remote Norwegian island that sits nearly 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle. Launch occurred at 12:30 p.m. local time before the flight was purposefully terminated roughly 30 seconds later, causing the rocket to plunge into the sea in what the company described as a 'controlled manner.' Video footage from the launch shows the Spectrum rocket soaring into the sky before suddenly losing altitude and crashing into the water below in a fiery explosion. Andøya Space, the Norwegian agency operating the launch site, confirmed the launch pad was undamaged in the crash, but that 'crisis response' measures were activated following the incident. Despite the dramatic crash, Isar Aerospace framed the event as a success, stating that the test flight provided 'a substantial amount of flight data and experience to apply on future missions.' The launch had already been delayed several times due to poor weather conditions, including strong winds and rain, before finally taking off on Sunday. While Europe has long launched rockets from sites in French Guiana and Cape Canaveral, this test was part of a larger effort to establish a homegrown space economy. Despite the perceived setback, Isar Aerospace remains committed to further testing and its longterm goal of making Europe a player in the global satellite launch industry. MORE ON Here's What's Up In April's Night Sky Neptune's Aurora's Captured For First Time Astronauts Return Home After Lengthy Stay In Space
