After Delays, ESA to Publish Launcher Challenge Call Next Week

On Monday the first complete rocket of the Bavarian start-up Isar Aerospace could take off. The success is measured in collected data, an explosion is even expected by the developers.

On Monday, the first complete rocket of the Bavarian start-up Isar Aerospace could take off. It's mainly about collecting experience, but the next flight is scheduled to go into space.

After Delays, ESA to Publish Launcher Challenge Call Next Week

During a press briefing following the 332nd ESA Council meeting, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher announced that the agency will publish a call for proposals for the European Launcher Challenge in the coming week. Announced in November 2023, the European Launcher Challenge is intended to support the development of sovereign launch capabilities and, ultimately, a successor to Ariane 6. While few specifics have been confirmed, early indicatio…

MaiaSpace, founded in 2022, signed a contract with Exotrail to launch its mini-launcher "Spacevan" in 2027, allowing France to place micro-satellites in orbit and strengthen its space sovereignty against American and Chinese giants.

Isar Aerospace prepares to launch its Spectrum rocket from a base in Norway, making it the first orbital launch from continental Europe outside Russia Spectrum rocket on the launch ramp at Andøya Space Center in Norway Preparations are under way for a test flight of [...]

A pragmatically constructed rocket from Germany without unrealistic promises is ready for the first test flight. (Space, Falcon-9)