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
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HyImpulse launched their suborbital SR75 rocket on 3 May 2024 from Koonibba, Australia.
With its Boost! programme, ESA is boosting commercial initiatives that offer transportation services to space, in space, and returning from space. The programme also supports Member States implementing national objectives for spaceports, testing facilities and more.
Boost! co-funding awarded in November 2024 will allow HyImpulse to focus on its SL1 development, a three-stage rocket to take 600 kg to Sun-synchronous orbit. The Boost! co-funding will help advance a significant part of the sub-systems towards integrated testing, such as the SL1-version of their hybrid engine, third stage propulsion systems and avionics systems.
HyImpulse Technologies, based in Neuenstadt am Kocher in Southern Germany is developing a three-stage small launcher. Their three-stage launch vehicle, called SL1, will also be powered by green hybrid propulsion technology, using liquid oxygen and paraffin as propellants. The lightweight rocket is designed to launch small satellites up to 500 kg out to low-Earth orbit.