Europe is about to attempt its first successful commercial orbital rocket launch as it seeks to end reliance on the US/SpaceX/Musk
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/03/20/1113582/europe-is-finally-getting-serious-about-commercial-rockets/
Europe is about to attempt its first successful commercial orbital rocket launch as it seeks to end reliance on the US/SpaceX/Musk
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/03/20/1113582/europe-is-finally-getting-serious-about-commercial-rockets/
6 Comments
Define commercial.
ArianeSpace was the first private company that did sell launch services.
Ariane is already contracted often. For example the James Webb telescope was sent using an Ariane Launcher.
This doesn’t happen overnight. This has been in the works for years. Snappy narrative though.
Who’s out there trying for an unsuccessful launch?
Thank you Malcom McDonald for the encouraging words.
“I expect four or five companies to get to the point of launching, and then over a period of years reliability and launch cadence [or frequency] will determine which one or two of them survives,” says McDowell.
Isn’t it better to have one large company rather than multiple smaller ones?