Posted: Sun, Aug 30, 2026, 8:14 PM ET (0014 GMT)
ESA awarded contracts Thursday to three European launch startups. The contracts, with a combined value of 543.6 million euros ($632.9 million), went to Isar Aerospace, PLD Space and Rocket Factory Augsburg as part of the European Launcher Challenge. The contracts will support the companies as they introduce their new launch vehicles and work on upgrades. The contracts require the companies to perform an orbital launch by the end of 2027. A fourth award, to MaiaSpace, remains in contract negotiations.

Related Links:

•  SpaceNews article
•  European Spaceflight article
•  ESA article