-
ESA relaxes prove-it-first requirement for small launchers, says Ariane 6 delay can’t be blamed on GEO-return policy
PARIS — The European Space Agency (ESA) is modifying its policy on dealing with the half-dozen small-launcher startups in Europe to contract for launches from these companies even before they conclude a successful inaugural flight. The 22-nation ESA up to now has declined to contract with startup launch providers before they have demonstrated their technical…
-
OHB’s 2022 revenue falls short, co. expects solid growth through 2025; RFA mini-launcher aims for 2023 flight
PARIS — Space hardware and service provider OHB SE pulled back on its mid-term revenue and profit forecast, but said recent European government program decisions will mean the projected growth is only delayed by a year. Bremen, Germany-based OHB, with European subsidiaries notably in Italy and Sweden, said the results of November’s conference of the…
-
No seed rounds, minimal hardware: Einstein Industries Ventures, an ESA partner, plans $300M investment in space startups
PARIS — Germany-based Einstein Industries Ventures intends to fill a gap in venture-capital financing of European space startups by focusing on B- round investments in companies that have already proved themselves initial customers. Einstein, which has entered a partnership with the 22-nation European Space Agency (ESA), plans to raise 300 million euros ($300 million) in…
-
Germany & Spain will not subsidize their small launcher startups, even if France goes the other way
LAMPOLDSHAUSEN, Germany — Germany’s space agency insisted it will not change its approach to startup rocket operators — offer launch contracts, not development subsidies — even if another European nation, such as France, provides full-throttle funding for its own launch startups. Walther Pelzer, head of the space division of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), said…
-
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) looks to mid-year 100-second firing of staged-combustion engine & fresh financing
PARIS — It’s not every day you hear a small-launch vehicle startup say rockets are becoming commodities and that small rockets are particularly difficult business cases. But that’s how Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) Chief Executive Stefan Tweraser sees his company. “We need to focus on price and cost leadership,” Tweraser said, addressing the commodity problem.…
-
German government gives benediction to North Sea orbital spaceport, but won’t finance its development
PARIS — The outgoing German government endorsed a small-satellite launch platform to be operated aboard a ship stationed in German territorial waters in the North Sea. But, in keeping with Germany’s past policy on small-launch vehicles, the government limited its financial involvement to offsetting part of the cost getting regulatory approval. German Federal Economics Minister…
-
Isar Aerospace wins German government’s 1st-round launcher competition; $13.3M & an ESA entry
PARIS — The German government’s selection of Isar Aerospace as the winner of the first-round competition among three German smallsat launch startups is not about the money — just 11 million euros ($13.3 million). It’s about this particular German government’s determination to impose a new reality on what others in Europe say are immutable laws…
-
Norway’s Andoya spaceport signs multi-year exclusive-access deal with German rocket startup Isar Aerospace
UPDATE April 28: Andoya Space and Germany’s Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) signed a contract giving RFA access to an Andoya launch pad for the RFA One vehicle, joining fellow German startup Isar Aerospace, which earlier in the month contracted for the exclusive use of an Andoya launch pad for 20 years. Andoya Space said it…
-
Sweden commits to satellite-launch capability, says expanded Esrange will support orbital missions in 2022
PARIS — The Swedish government’s formal decision to build a spaceport at its long-operational Esrange suborbital facility in northern Sweden puts pressure on other proposed European spaceports to speed up their decision making. Sweden has been discussing for years the idea of using its inherent advantage from more than 500 sounding-rocket launches since the late…
-
Micro-launcher startup Rocket Factory Augsburg roadshow highlights backing of OHB and former ESA chief Dordain
PARIS — German smallsat launcher startup Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) is starting a roadshow to attract financial investors to a project that has already secured investment from space system prime contractor OHB, the head of OHB’s majority-owned MT Aerospace and the former director-general of the 22-nation European Space Agency (ESA). OHB SE Chief Executive Marco…
