ESA awards €543.6 million in European Launcher Challenge contracts

(SpaceEnergy) The European Space Agency has awarded three contracts worth €543.6 million to launch providers developing new orbital rockets under its European Launcher Challenge.

The European Space Agency (ESA) said Rocket Factory Augsburg, PLD Space and Isar Aerospace have signed the first contracts under the programme, with funding released as agreed development milestones are met.

German launch company Rocket Factory Augsburg received €186.9 million for its three-stage RFA One launcher. The current configuration uses nine engines and targets deployment of up to 500kg to a 500km sun-synchronous orbit from SaxaVord Spaceport in the UK.

Spanish launch company PLD Space received €158.9 million to develop upgraded capabilities for its Miura 5 rocket, which is designed to place up to 540kg into sun-synchronous orbit from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

German launch company Isar Aerospace received €197.8 million for its two-stage Spectrum launcher, which uses ten engines and targets payloads of up to 1000kg to low Earth orbit. Its second vehicle is being prepared for a qualification flight from Andøya Spaceport in Norway.

The European Launcher Challenge requires participating providers to achieve an orbital launch before 2028. ESA said the contract award process with reusable-launcher developer MaiaSpace is nearing completion.