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European Launch Startups Send Open Letter to ESA Outlining Key Priorities (europeanspaceflight.com)

submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

It is crucial to ensure that the following already agreed-upon elements remain unchanged through to implementation:
[...]
3. A Shift in Mindset – Need for Speed: To compete globally, Europe must embrace a cultural shift towards speed and innovation. Laws and regulations should be evaluated based on their ability to accelerate progress, with speed as the primary KPI. [...]

This doesn't seem like a great idea when dealing with rockets...It's wasteful, immediately hazardous to any crews, and eventually (if not also immediately) harmful to the environment with any wreckage and other pollution that may be produced. And this is from someone that supports space initiatives and research.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

It's wasteful, immediately hazardous to any crews, and eventually (if not also immediately) harmful to the environment with any wreckage and other pollution that may be produced.

Interesting, I interpret "Europe must embrace a cultural shift towards speed and innovation" in almost exactly the opposite way.

Ariane 6 was essentially an outdated design before it even launched. All of the major American and Chinese launch companies are operating or developing reusable rockets. The launch startups which wrote the open letter are some of the only European organizations actively pursuing reusability, something Arianespace has ignored for far too long.