Mar 23, 2021 23:00:00

European space exploration lags far behind private space exploration company SpaceX

European countries have been working on complex space exploration for a long time, but foreign countries, especially

SpaceX led by Elon Musk , will build an Internet connection environment using artificial satellites placed in the orbit of the earth. It is a private space company known for providing 'Starlink ' and developing the reusable rocket ' Falcon 9 ' and the manned spacecraft ' Crew Dragon' launched by NASA. Overseas media Ars Technica points out that European countries that have been working on pioneering space development for many years are lagging behind such SpaceX. I will explain the reason.

Europe is starting to freak out about the launch dominance of SpaceX | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/03/european-leaders-say-an-immediate-response-needed-to-the-rise-of-spacex/

On March 11, 2011, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced an initiative to study 'future space transport solutions.' In this initiative, ESA will conclude research contracts with space development companies Aliane Group , Rocket Factory Augsburg , and Avio for about 500,000 euros (about 65 million yen) each, aiming to build a space transportation system after 2030. With goals, ESA's Space Transport Leader Daniel Neuenswander said, 'Through the new European Space Transport Initiative, we are laying the foundation for the future. These initiatives will lay the foundation for the future of the European Space Program. We will be able to take advantage of the needs and develop services that can meet the needs of the global market. '

ESA is developing for the launch of Ariane 6 and Vega C , which were approved for development in 2014. However, there is growing concern in Europe these days that Ariane 6 and Vega C will lose their influence in the space race.

Ars Technica attributed this to the rise of SpaceX. SpaceX has developed a reusable low-cost rocket ' Falcon 9 ' and successfully launched it for the first time in 2010. Since then, we have been steadily improving it, and we are now able to offer the air transportation business that Ariane 6 and Vega C will be responsible for at a lower cost.

by

thaddeus cesari

In addition, SpaceX has successfully launched the first civilian manned spacecraft in the United States as of 2020 in partnership with NASA. France, where the Ariane 6 project started, and Italy, where the Vega C project started, are calling on European countries to 'technically and industrially respond' to the rise of SpaceX. Ars Technica points out that it is unclear whether it will produce results or how quickly European countries will act.