ESA wants diversification for launches
November 25, 2024
By Chris Forrester
The European Space Agency (ESA) has for a couple of years been talking about alternative launch contractors. It has now fleshed out its plans. It is commissioning a study to detail the potential development of a reusable rocket capable of delivering 60 tonnes to low Earth orbit.
A tender document for open competition published on 20 November (although then removed later the same day) ESA outlined its European 60T LEO Reusable Launch System Pathfinder initiative. According to the invitation, a launch system of this kind is necessary to fulfil “critical European space exploration needs beyond LEO, while providing wider space exploitation potentials to answer the growing market opportunities (e.g. mega constellations).”
According to European Spaceflight, the agency has confirmed that the initiative is still being pursued. A ESA spokesperson explained that the call had simply been released prematurely, before going through the usual steps.
Currently, only two rockets can deliver 60 tonnes or more to low Earth orbit: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy and NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS). Blue Origin’s New Glenn, expected to debut shortly, will be capable of delivering up to 45 tonnes to LEO. SpaceX’s Starship, currently being tested, aims to carry over 100 tonnes, while China’s new Long March 9 design, which bears a striking resemblance to Starship, is planned to match its payload capacity with a debut flight around 2033.