ESA backs five rockets in Launcher Challenge – only some have exploded
- Reference: 1752057553
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/07/09/esa_elc_challengers/
- Source link:
The three yet to shower fiery debris over a launch platform or its surrounding area are MaiaSpace, PLD Space, and Orbital Express Launch (aka Orbex).
PLD [1]launched its Miura 1 suborbital rocket in 2023 from Spain, but the booster only managed to reach 46 kilometers before falling back into the Atlantic Ocean and sinking.
[2]
The two with form for explosions are Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), which [3]memorably blew up its RFA ONE rocket during a firing at SaxaVord in Shetland, Scotland, and Isar Aerospace, which sent its orbital-class Spectrum rocket to a [4]rendezvous with the sea .
[5]
[6]
Isar Aerospace CEO and co-founder Daniel Metzler called the launch attempt a "great success." RFA's co-founder and COO, Dr Stefan Brieschenk, said of the SaxaVord incident at the time: "Enjoy the footage. It is very spectacular, and it has cost us quite some money to generate."
[7]Financial 'stretch' for UK to join Europe's Starlink rival, says minister
[8]Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter learns new trick at the age of 19: 'very large rolls'
[9]There's no international protocol on what to do if an asteroid strikes Earth
[10]ESA's XMM-Newton finds huge filament of missing matter
ESA's [11]initiative has taken on greater significance thanks to geopolitical shifts, meaning that previously trusted partners can no longer be relied upon. The [12]ELC was announced in November 2023, and each challenger stands to receive up to €169,000,000. This covers launch services to be performed for ESA between 2026 and 2030, and a "launch service capacity upgrade demonstration, including at least one flight demonstration of the upgraded launch service capacity."
According to ESA, successful challengers can be awarded contracts for the two distinct components.
All the challengers seem likely to manage launches in the required time frame. Isar's orbital-class rocket left the pad (even if the flight could only be measured in seconds), and Spanish outfit PLD has flown the Miura 1. The first flight of Miura 5, which should be capable of deploying just over 1,000 kg of payload into orbit, is expected in 2026.
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Phil Chambers, CEO of Orbex, said: "Being pre-selected as part of the European Launcher Challenge is a milestone moment – not just for Orbex, but for the UK space sector as a whole." The maiden flight of Orbex's Prime rocket is also expected to go ahead in 2026.
ESA currently has a gap in its rocket line-up. Arianespace has the heavy-lifter Ariane 6 in its inventory, as well as the Vega C, but no domestic options for lighter payloads. One of the goals of the ELC is to address this with something homegrown rather than opting for alternative launch providers. ®
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[1] https://www.pldspace.com/en/news/pld-space-successfully-completes-first-private-space-rocket-launch-in-europe.html
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aG6SIpzUfJJn7Ygri1m06gAAAEs&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/28/rocket_factory_augsburg_saxavord/
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/01/failure_in_new_space/
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aG6SIpzUfJJn7Ygri1m06gAAAEs&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aG6SIpzUfJJn7Ygri1m06gAAAEs&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/05/uk_budget_to_join_iris_not_there/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/27/mars_reconnaissance_orbiter_new_trick/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/27/mps_space_asteroid_strike/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/19/esas_xmmnewton_finds_filaments/
[11] https://www.esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Releases/European_Launcher_Challenge_preselected_challengers_unveiled
[12] https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Prepare_for_the_European_Launcher_Challenge
[13] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aG6SIpzUfJJn7Ygri1m06gAAAEs&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[14] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Cheaper and faster launches
You are aware that Ariane 6 & Vega launch almost exclusively from French Guyana? (so that's a South American east coast launch from France... ;) )
Re: Cheaper and faster launches
Yes but there are also other parts of France and Netherlands (sometimes both) in the region.
Re: Cheaper and faster launches
Yes, I'm aware of where Kourou is and it's a pretty good place for launching. But getting stuff there, servicing and maintenance isn't so easy. Brazil's northern coast would seem ideal for a couple more sites and we might look at expanding cooperation with Chile and Argentina if we want polar orbits, though Australia also covers those bases.
Re: Cheaper and faster launches
ESA already in South America. What about Kenya?
But any transpolar orbits can be launched from north or south coasts.
You can use a westward launch, but it's less efficient.
Faster & Cheaper
I can't help wonder what engineering compromises these "faster and cheaper" companies are making to achieve those KPIs.
Re: Faster & Cheaper
I imagine a lot comes from being single-minded and keeping all their eggs in one basket.
ESA by it's nature has a lot of conflicting missions and has to diversify it's approach for both technical and political reasons. Being able to do one very specific thing and not worry about going out of business if it doesn't work allows for speed.
Win-Win
I consider all launches a win-win situation. If successful, the rocket goes soaring into space, if not, we are in most cases treated to a good old-fashioned RUD
capable of deploying just over 1,000 kg of payload
LOL - I read that as "capable of destroying just over 1,000 kg of payload".
Seriously though, good luck to them all.
Cheaper and faster launches
Ariane 6 is now entering scale up phase – there should be 4 commercial launches this year and 10 a year from next year – but that seems to be the limit. So, it's nice to see attempts to find alternative launchers but also launchsites, though only having a west coast does limit us a bit. Cooperation with South America and elsewhere would seem to make sense, so that we can all launch our own spy satellites.