Europe may accelerate space launches to meet satellite demand

The ​European Space Agency is considering increasing the launch rate of its Ariane 6 and Vega-C rockets in the ‌coming years to overcome a potential bottleneck in satellite deployments, the agency’s chief has said. Director General Josef Aschbacher told reporters that a decision would be needed soon if forecasts of a sharp rise in demand, expected to peak around 2030, prove accurate. Operator Arianespace’s most recent projection is ​for nine or 10 launches of Ariane 6 rockets a year from 2027. Based on Europe’s own missions, as well ​as possible further interest from Amazon (AMZN. O) and other commercial activity, there is more demand than planned ⁠capacity, Aschbacher said at an event organised by the AJPAE aerospace media association. Amazon has already commissioned 18 launches. “Of course the ​question is, can we satisfy all these launches?

That’s exactly the assessment we are doing right now,” Aschbacher said, adding that no ​decisions had been made so far. “We are already advanced in some of these estimates, but it’s also clear that if we want to satisfy launch requirements in 2030 … we need to make a decision pretty soon to build up the capacities needed. ” Arianespace, a subsidiary of Airbus-Safran (AIR. PA), (SAF. PA) rocket venture ​ArianeGroup, declined to comment ahead of a regular news briefing planned for September 7. The 23-nation ESA is exploring the feasibility of ​launching humans into space on European rockets rather than hitching rides on US vehicles, though the decision would be a political one. Officials say ‌the initiative ⁠could increase ESA’s budget by about 10 per cent, depending on how it is funded. The issue is expected to feature at a space summit hosted by France next week. MERGER UNDER SCRUTINY Aschbacher also gave the clearest signal yet that…