Reinforce EU capacity to access and use space

Objective: Two specific challenges stand out. Firstly, the highly competitive global launch service market landscape characterised by an increasing number of competitors with new capacities from USA, Japan, China, India, etc., proposing attractive launch service prices on the commercial market. Secondly, the emerging opportunities in space transportation that are not yet seized by European actors characterised by new uses of space (e.g. small satellites, larger constellations), new services (e.g. direct orbit injection, in-orbit servicing) and in-space transportation. This will require, amongst others, new concepts for reducing the production and operation cost such as reusability of launcher components, low cost, high thrust and green propulsion, micro launchers and modern and flexible launch facilities.