esa

burble, wczoraj w [Stephen Clark] Sizing up the 5 companies selected for Europe’s launcher challenge

I don’t think Europe will get a SpaceX, but I could see some of these companies being their Rocketlab and Firefly.

burble, 7 dni temu w European Launcher Challenge: preselected challengers unveiled

I’m glad that a bunch of startups made the cut. It makes sense that Maiaspace got in, as an arm of Ariane, but they’re probably less strapped for cash. And thank goodness at least two have reusable concepts, PLD and Maia.

threelonmusketeers, 5 dni temu

Yeah, it’s a solid bunch. We’re coming up on ten years since the first Falcon 9 booster landing. Multiple chinese companies are developing F9 clones. Europe really ought to be testing reusable boosters by now. Hopefully at least one of these will work out.

burble, 4 dni temu

As much crap as I give the incumbents, Maia is looking like Europe’s best bet at the moment.

It’s a bad sign that PLD isn’t targeting a Miura Next launch until 2030. Hopefully Miura 5 goes well for them in 2026.

BevelGear, 9 dni temu w ESA tracks rare interstellar comet

Thank you for sharing this. This is truly a rare event

threelonmusketeers, 9 dni temu w ESA tracks rare interstellar comet

Neat! It seems like interstellar objects pass through our solar system pretty often. The more we look, the more we find.

witx, 10 dni temu w ESA prepares downselect for European Launcher Challenge

So who do you think gets booted? It’s a pity though because I think Europe needs as many eggs it can get

threelonmusketeers, 10 dni temu w ESA prepares downselect for European Launcher Challenge

I hope MaiaSpace are successful. A launch vehicle with a reusable booster would be great for Europe.

burble, 26 dni temu w Arianespace and Avio Call for Enforced European Launcher Preference

Europe calls on them to have rockets available to launch.

Complaining that SpaceX stole their lunch is a bit of an own goal when Ariane 6 was so delayed, Vega scrapped some tanks they needed, and Vega C was grounded for 2 years.

the_mighty_kracken, 27 dni temu w ESA and India Agree to Cooperate on Human Spaceflight - European Spaceflight

Hold my Kevin

burble, miesiąc temu w OLM Plans to Offer Commercial Launch Services from Sardinia - European Spaceflight

Suborbital

Starlight is designed to carry a payload of up to 50 kilograms to an altitude of around 130 kilometres.

Still neat to see another European launch site open up.

buggy-pull-buggy, miesiąc temu w ESA and India Agree to Cooperate on Human Spaceflight - European Spaceflight

Is it only because they both hate Muslims?

burble, miesiąc temu w ESA Launches Phase 2 of Reusable Upper Stage Demonstrator Project

That’s cool that they’re funding it and moving forward. More downmass capability and reuse is vital for viable orbital manufacturing.

threelonmusketeers, miesiąc temu w ESA Launches Phase 2 of Reusable Upper Stage Demonstrator Project

first phase began in the second half of 2024 and focused on identifying the technology maturation needs

also included an assessment of potential commercial applications

While the call did not provide much additional detail, it does note that Phase 2 will involve early long-lead technology maturation and demonstration activities.

I hope they build some hardware soon :)

AllNewTypeFace, 2 miesiące temu w Poland Launches Demonstration of Suborbital Research Rocket - European Spaceflight

I wonder how dual-use the technology is. A submarine-based nuclear strike capability could be useful to a country in Poland’s location, as could the hint of one, or the suggestion of being able to contribute to a joint European one.

0x0, 2 miesiące temu

I’d wager the line between “single-staged suborbital rocket” and ICBM is blurry af.

Palacegalleryratio, 2 miesiące temu

I would suggest that this project, that is part ran by the Military Institute of Armament Technology, is not particularly dual use - in that the research benefit of suborbital single stage rockets is vanishingly slim. It is however immediately apparent how much military utility such a launch system has…

Edit: actually on reflection its research capability has become clear to me - it will be extremely useful for researchers who are trying to advance the technology in the fields of ICBM guidance, control, navigation, targeting etc modules.

Zero22xx, 2 miesiące temu w ESA and India Agree to Cooperate on Human Spaceflight - European Spaceflight

Agree to Cooperate on Human Spaceflight - European Spaceflight

Glad to hear that the humans and the Europeans have decided to work together.

threelonmusketeers, 2 miesiące temu

Ah, the old spaceflight lemmaroo!

BevelGear, 2 miesiące temu w NASA cuts: ESA in talks about the 'full repercussions' – DW – 05/07/2025

It said it would achieve its objectives by cutting NASA’s workforce and IT services, NASA Center operations, facility maintenance, construction and environmental compliance activities. Other climate and environment-focused initiatives would also be eliminated.

Using this logic, the we’ll be landing on Mars by next week if they fire everybody, except for that one person who decided to go on an early break.