European Launch Industry: Praise, Questions, and Strategic Ambitions
European governments and launch companies have praised the recent agreement on the future of Europe's launch industry, which includes financial support for the Ariane 6 and Vega C rockets. The European Space Agency plans to transition to a services model and introduce competition among private companies for launches. However, the details of this competition are still unclear, and concerns have been raised about the demand for larger launch vehicles and the need for multiple heavy launchers. The agreement is seen as a significant step towards Europe regaining its position as a global space power.