The scene is set for the European Launcher Challenge
In brief
Last week players in the European Launcher Challenge gathered at ESA’s ESTEC technical centre in The Netherlands together with ESA and the European Commission, showcasing the large and diverse network of the European rocket industry and spaceports.
In-depth

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, and to increase the competitiveness of European launch services.
ESA’s Director of Space Transportation Toni Tolker-Nielsen welcomed the industrial players by setting the scene: “In the short and medium term the ESA-developed family of launchers Ariane and Vega are ensuring autonomous access to space for Europe,” said Toni, adding, “Through the European Launcher Challenge we are implementing a transition to a more diverse European transport sector to develop, test and demonstrate a greater choice of services, for the benefit of European autonomy and competitiveness, with a huge potential for growth.”

Head of Unit in charge of Space Policy at the European Commission, Guillaume de la Brosse explained in his address that with two constellations in orbit – Galileo and Copernicus – and a third one in the planning – Iris²– the EU will be launching over 300 satellites in the coming decade, requiring more rockets to loft them to orbit.
New players, new approach
The European Launcher Challenge adopts a new approach to securing rocket flights whereby companies – based in ESA or EU Member States – demonstrate new launch services serving European institutional needs. The launch companies will have to pass milestones on time to unlock ESA payments and to validate that the launch service deployment is on track.
Meet the challengers…

Twenty six companies from nine countries responded to the European Launcher Challenge request for information in June and more than 75 entities attended the European Launcher Challenge industry day held on 8 November. Nine companies presented their launch system developments showcasing the diverse and expanding European market for launch services, each with their own design and unique selling points. The companies presenting were HyImpulse, HyPrSpace, Isar Aerospace, MaiaSpace, Orbex, PLD Space, Rocket Factory Augsburg, Skyrora, and The Exploration Company.
… the spaceports and test centres…
A rocket needs a launch pad and infrastructure for fuelling, mission control and more, which is why launches are often referred to as launch systems. The European Launcher Challenge requires launch bases to be on European territory so on the Industry Day European spaceports, test centres and ground support services had the opportunity to present themselves.

Europe has a few established launch facilities such as those in Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana – where Ariane 6 and Vega-C rockets are launched from – as well as Andøya in Norway and Esrange in Sweden that regularly launch sub-orbital rockets for science experiments.
Up-and-coming orbital launch sites in active development include SaxaVord on a Scottish island in the UK.
Future areas for launch facilities are being considered in the Portuguese islands of the Azores, the UK and southern Italy as well as from platforms in the North Sea.
Other facilities presenting their services were testing specialists BeBlue, satellite-based telemetry service provider Viasat, and launch and mission control company GTD.
…and their suppliers

Nothing would be built without a supply chain that delivers the best components. Seven companies presented their wares varying from rocket engine turbomachinery and valves, pumps, actuators and electronics, to high-tech thermal insulation materials, as well as larger elements such as propellant tanks, rocket interstages, fairings, landing legs for reuseable launchers parafoils for glider-landings and grid fins for atmospheric control and much more. The companies that presented were: Sabca, Almatech, Invent, Beyond Gravity, Sener, SoftinWay and TestFuchs.
“The scene is set, and it is obvious to everyone that European industry is ready to take up the challenge,” said Toni, “it will be fascinating to follow these companies as they each develop their own services to offer competitive, assured access space to space for Europe, from Europe.”