That’s why the EU is supporting multiple launch vehicles developed, manufactured and launched from Europe. These launch vehicles meet government needs by ensuring that Galileo, Copernicus, Iris2 and other European satellites make it to space and generate data independently and safely. The EU also encourages European launcher companies to be competitive worldwide and be able to launch an expected 50,000 satellites into space over the next decade! By using European-made launchers and by supporting the growth and development of both established and new European companies, the EU will help ensure autonomous, resilient, and competitive access to space for the decades to come.
The EU is not only backing European launch solutions but also fostering cutting-edge space research and innovation in areas such as reusable and responsive launch solutions. One example of this is a recent project on Mobile Responsive Launch Systems: rockets which can launch from anywhere in the world and within a very short time window, with both civil and defence applications.