A number of companies are working to become the first to launch satellites into space from European soil, with several planning on using #SaxaVord Spaceport. Germany’s #RFA is thought to have the most advanced plans https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/lanarkshire-scottish-north-lanarkshire-iceland-european-b1211534.html

Starting in 2025, at least two #European launch startups (#IsarAerospace and #RocketFactory Augsburg) expect to offer more choices for both institutional and commercial customers. The field will continue to widen toward the close of the decade, with #MaiaSpace, #Latitude, #HyImpulse, #HyPrSpace, #Orbex, #PLDSpace, and #Skyrora all working toward an inaugural flight of their respective vehicles. https://europeanspaceflight.com/arianegroup-already-working-to-secure-iris2-launch-contract

The new #Ariane 6 rocket, which is running four years late and still hasn't flown, should be the last #LaunchVehicle developed by #ESA, which will launch a competition of #launchers without weight class limitations. The field of startup launch companies in #Europe includes German firms like #HyImpulse, #RocketFactory Augsburg, and #IsarAerospace; British companies such as #Skyrora and #Orbex; and Spain's #PLDSpace. #ESA will use around 75 million euros to pay for the early stages of the #cargo challenge, which #Aschbacher expects will result in three companies competing with one another https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/11/after-the-sting-of-ariane-6-europe-finally-embraces-commercial-rockets/