What Happened
Surging Satellite Demand Threatens Continental Launch Capacity
The European Space Agency has warned that Europe could face a shortage of rockets to launch its satellites by 2030 due to surging demand for access to space. The region’s expanding satellite ambitions, including the planned secure satellite internet constellation Iris2, are putting pressure on the continent to boost its launch capacity. According to the European Space Agency’s director-general, Josef Aschbacher, the region is heading for a crunch as new satellite constellations and major space programs come online, with the ESA forecasting a peak of launch requirements around 2029-2031. This was reported by RFI.