European Launcher Challenge

European Launcher Challenge visual.

The European Launcher Challenge was announced in Seville, Spain, in November 2023. This initiative was the result of the ESA Council deciding to prepare the future of European space transportation by promoting a greater choice for European access to space, to increase competitiveness of European launch services. ESA Member States will decide on the exact parameters of the Challenge and fund it at the ESA ministerial Council in 2025. This Request for Information is a key element towards achieving this goal that foresees a competition between European launch service providers to serve European institutional launch demands.

It is foreseen that winners of the challenge will get ESA support for the demonstration of their ability to develop and fly a service and have opportunities to bid for institutional launch service contracts.