The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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European Launcher Challenge visual.
The European Launcher Challenge was announced in Seville, Spain, in November 2023. This initiative was the result of the ESA Council deciding to prepare the future of European space transportation by promoting a greater choice for European access to space, to increase competitiveness of European launch services. ESA Member States will decide on the exact parameters of the Challenge and fund it at the ESA ministerial Council in 2025. This Request for Information is a key element towards achieving this goal that foresees a competition between European launch service providers to serve European institutional launch demands.
It is foreseen that winners of the challenge will get ESA support for the demonstration of their ability to develop and fly a service and have opportunities to bid for institutional launch service contracts.