As with everything European there’s a bewildering number of acronyms, national, and pan-national agencies involved. The French space agency CNES is leading this, though all ESA member states pool resources, and the Ariane rockets.
Europe is behind the US and China on reusable rockets, but its space program will benefit from the world’s move towards protectionist economic policies. It has always been helped by the ‘buy European’ policies of European governments, & geo-political changes make this approach likely to become stronger.
As with everything European there’s a bewildering number of acronyms, national, and pan-national agencies involved. The French space agency CNES is leading this, though all ESA member states pool resources, and the Ariane rockets.
Confusingly, there is another ESA reusable rocket initiative centered around building a brand new rocket with a new type of engine, though it doesn’t start launch testing until 2026.
Europe is behind the US and China on reusable rockets, but its space program will benefit from the world’s move towards protectionist economic policies. It has always been helped by the ‘buy European’ policies of European governments, & geo-political changes make this approach likely to become stronger.