Europe is the historical engine of innovation, and although the rise of superpowers like the USA, Russia, China, and India create a frenzy of competition, they are mere blips on a historical timeline.
The European space industrial base is set to accelerate from a passive period of post-Cold-War and European Union civility, into an innovative, pro-active, assertive, multinational and unified force: We call it Space Fortress Europe.
The European Space Ventures investment case for Space Fortress Europe is to:
- Invest alongside companies that are aligned with developing and securing Europe’s sovereignty in space, including launch for European countries, secure communications, earth observation and surveillance, and building out space infrastructure in all orbits.
- Building and co-managing joint-ventures that add layers of technical space innovation to Fortress Europe.
Activity in Europe
Various European programs, spearheaded by ESA and local space agencies, are enhancing a European sovereign space capacity.
There are several European space sector developments developed or underway, each enhancing Fortress Europe.
Reliable Launch Vehicles
Ariane 6: ESA’s new heavy-lift launch vehicle program, designed to provide reliable and versatile launch capabilities for a wide range of payloads, building upon the heritage of the Ariane family.
Vega-C: ESA’s enhanced small to medium-lift launch vehicle program, offering reliable and flexible launch options for lighter payloads and demonstrating European expertise in this launch class.
BOOST!: ESA’s program specifically aimed at fostering the development and commercialization of new and existing European space transportation services, contributing to a more diverse and potentially more reliable launch landscape through support for various launch vehicle developers.
New European Launch Players are gradually being developed to provide Europe, and its main countries, with a sovereign capacity for launch: Latitude, HyImpulse, Isar Aerospace, Orbex, Rocket Factory Augsburg.
Secure Communications
Europe is innovating advanced and secure satellite communication technologies and systems, in partnership with private industry to ensure commercial viability and address security needs.
This includes quantum encryption, and in orbital terminology, includes low-earth orbit (a European rival to Starlink), and extends to the Moon and via ground stations, Deep Space Network.
Space Logistics
Various programs have developed European space logistics capabilities, such as:
Space Rider, an un-crewed robotic laboratory designed for in-orbit experimentation and autonomous return to Earth. Its capability for reusable in-space operations positions it as a potential platform for future in-space logistics missions, including transportation of supplies and retrieval of assets.
ESPRIT (Lunar Gateway): Beyond refuelling and telecommunications, ESPRIT also includes a pressurized volume with a logistics area for storing cargo and supplies destined for the Lunar Gateway, directly contributing to lunar space logistics.
In-Space Proof-of-Concepts: While focused on propellant transfer, the technologies developed under this initiative are foundational for future in-space logistics capabilities, enabling the movement and management of resources in orbit.