Launch Tour
on the road with Commissioner for Defence & Space, Andrius Kubilius
LAUNCH TOUR: Protect What Matters. Access To Space
Across Europe and beyond, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, will meet the people, companies and public authorities shaping Europe’s launcher ecosystem. Through visits to industrial facilities, launch sites and testing centres, alongside political and stakeholder dialogues, the Tour will build the conditions for Europe to secure reliable, competitive and resilient access to space for the years ahead.
Why now?
Space is essential to Europe’s security, competitiveness and independence. But these capabilities depend on reliable, affordable and autonomous access to space.
Europe must be able to launch when it needs to, from European soil, using European technologies and industrial capabilities.
From vision to action
The Launch Tour supports the implementation of Europe’s Long-Term Vision for autonomous access to space by the European Commission, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Member States. By visiting key strategic sites across Europe, it will showcase the capabilities, infrastructure and industrial partnerships needed to secure Europe’s future in space and help shape upcoming policy and investment decisions, including under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034).
How the tour works
The Launch Tour will connect Member States and selected partner countries, showcasing the strategic sites and industrial capabilities that underpin Europe’s ability to launch. It will combine industrial engagement with political dialogue and public outreach, including exchanges with young people, highlighting the technologies, people and infrastructure needed to develop competitive European launch services and respond to growing global demand.
From established European companies to emerging launch providers, these visits will showcase the engineering expertise, innovation and industrial capacity behind competitive European launch services. They will also explore how the sector can meet growing demand, accelerate technological development and compete in a rapidly evolving global market.
Europe needs reliable and diversified infrastructure from which to access space. Visits to established and emerging launch sites will highlight their strategic importance, operational requirements and potential contribution to Europe’s future launch capacity.
Before a launcher can reach the launchpad, it must be tested, validated and qualified. Public and private testing facilities are therefore essential to industrial development, technological progress and the readiness of Europe’s launcher ecosystem.
Tour Timeline
