After considerable deliberation, a consensus has been formed within Europe regarding the necessity for the continent’s space industry to pursue the development of reusable rockets. Despite this agreement, discussions are ongoing about the specifics of implementation and the financial commitments required.
A significant part of the dialogue around Europe's transition to reusable rockets involves creating a new rocket model that could eventually succeed the Ariane 6. This rocket, which made its debut less than two years ago, adheres to the traditional single-use approach that has dominated the launch industry for most of the Space Age.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is facilitating this shift by providing financial incentives to emerging European rocket companies, encouraging them to prove that their small satellite launchers are viable. Additionally, ESA is offering funds to promote rocket upgrades capable of delivering heavier payloads into orbit. Alongside the ESA, the European Commission and national governments are investing in projects that involve rocket hoppers to test vertical takeoff and landing technologies. Despite substantial financial backing, these initiatives are fragmented, resulting in slow progress.
In response to these challenges, a proposal has been put forward to modify the existing Ariane 6 rocket design to enable partial reuse. ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus and Safran, has secured a contract under the European Space Agency’s Boosters for European Space Transportation (BEST!) initiative as of late 2024.
Europe’s first Ariane 6 rocket embarked on its maiden flight on July 9, 2024. (Credit: ESA – S. Corvaja)
Delving into the past, the design of the Ariane 6 rocket traces back to 2014, when Airbus and Safran revealed the architecture now operational since 2024. The rocket utilizes an expendable model featuring a cryogenic core stage complemented by two or four strap-on solid rocket boosters, contingent on mission requirements.
During this period, SpaceX had publicized its ambition to retrieve and reuse its Falcon 9 boosters, achieving its first successful recovery in 2015 and subsequent reuse in 2017. European officials initially underestimated SpaceX's prospects, a stance that proved misguided. Meanwhile, Blue Origin achieved a successful orbital-class booster landing last year, and various Chinese companies are nearing similar accomplishments.