The European Space Agency (ESA) is advancing on its ambitions for future space transportation. This week, the agency has shortlisted five companies in the first stage of its European Launcher Challenge, aimed at igniting competition as well as increasing the availability of launch services in Europe.
Meanwhile, the agency’s restartable Prometheus engine has recently completed another round of multiple-ignition test firings, while the Themis reusable first stage prototype they will power has arrived in Sweden for a test campaign of its own.