Europe seeks to recover the path rocket launches into space, but wants to put aside its dependence on Russia.
In this sense, the European Space Agency (ESA) has started preliminary technical talks with SpaceX by Elon Musk.
The South African tycoon seeks to monopolize the European aerospace market, after geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
But Elon Musk does not have it so easy, since it is also obvious arianespacewhich has become a key contender alongside Japan and India.
Even when it is not fully resolved regarding the Ariane 6 rocket.
«I would say that there are two and a half options that we are discussing. One is SpaceX that is clear. Another is possibly JapanESA director general told Reuters. Josef Ashbacher.
«Japan is awaiting the maiden flight of its next-generation rocket. Another option could be India“, he added.
Aschbacher noted that a more precise timetable for Ariane 6 would become clearer in October after the current hot-start tests.
ESA will then finalize a backup plan to be presented to ministers from the agency’s 22 nations in November.
SpaceX wants the fruit on the cake
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 has already swept away other customers breaking ties with the space industry.
Therefore, the signing of Internet satellite OneWeb, a competitor of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet company, booked at least one Falcon 9 launch in March. It has also booked an Indian release.
Europe has so far relied on the Italian Vega for small payloads, the Russian Soyuz for medium missions and the Ariane 5 for heavy missions.
Its next-generation Vega C debuted last month and the new Ariane 6, designed in two versions to replace both the Ariane 5, like the Soyuz, has been delayed until next year.
The European Space Agency has begun discussions with Elon Musk’s SpaceX over the temporary use of its rockets after the Ukraine conflict blocked Western access to Russia’s Soyuz launchers https://t.co/45kNi42fWQ pic.twitter.com/EyRBjKlfPY
— Reuters (@Reuters) August 12, 2022
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Europe looks to Elon Musk’s SpaceX to cut space dependence on Russia