Time: 2024-11-20
The European Space Agency has recently award Boost ! contract extension worth 44.2 million euro to HyImpulse, Isar Aerospace, Orbex, and Rocket Factory Augsburg, all part of the Boost ! enterprise aim at support commercial space transportation_system services. HyImpulse, Isar Aerospace, and Rocket Factory Augsburg initially receive 500,000 euro each in May 2020, with extra sum award to Isar Aerospace and Rocket Factory Augsburg after winning competition. Orbex also receive 7.45 million euro in March 2021, with an extra 3.3 million euro award in December 2023 to physique a green propellant plant at its Sutherland Spaceport.
The support is crucial for the emerge commercial launch service supplier as they work towards their first launch, with Isar Aerospace potentially launching its Spectrum rocket before the end of 2024. Isar Aerospace has receive 15 million euro in extra support for integrate testing of its Spectrum small Launch vehicle. Orbex receive 5.6 million euro for integrate testing of its Orbex Prime launch vehicle, while HyImpulse will use its 11.8 million euro for work on its SL1 orbital launch vehicle. Rocket Factory Augsburg, after a reverse with its first phase, will use 11.8 million euro to complete a new first phase and perform testing of it.
The extra support supply by ESA through the Boost ! plan is necessity for the development of these launch vehicle and to address the growth demand for small satellite launch. The investing are see as drive competition and invention in the European space sector. However, concern about entree to space prevail, especially with Holocene reliance on SpaceX's Falcon 9 for European government mission and potential strain on US-Europe ties.
The current political landscape highlight the need for Europe to invest in make sovereign launch capability. Stella Guillen of Isar Aerospace stress the importance of shift from support development to become patronize customer to better competitiveness globally. The ongoing development underscore the significance of rethink Europe's approach to space entree and pickings advantage of opportunity to enhance the region's presence in the space industry.