Meet the 5 space tech firms vying to be Europe’s next launch provider

ESA has chosen five rocket firms to compete for €169mn contracts, aiming to restore Europe’s independent access to space

Five rocket companies will compete for contracts to provide Europe’s next launch services — and boost the continent’s troubled access to space.

The European Space Agency (ESA) selected the quintet, who will now contend for two types of contracts:

• Providing launch services for ESA between 2026 and 2030.
• Demonstrating upgraded launch capabilities, including at least one flight test.

The initiative — named the European Launcher Challenge (ELC) — aims to expand Europe’s pathways into the cosmos. In recent years, these routes have been painfully limited.

When the Ariane 5 rocket was retired in July 2023, ESA was left with no independent access to space. The agency instead relied exclusively on SpaceX for its launches, leaving it with no autonomous control over its flight paths ...