ESA will pay an Italian company nearly $50M to design a mini-Starship
a day ago
- #ESA
- #Space Exploration
- #Reusable Rockets
- The European Space Agency (ESA) signed a contract with Avio to design a reusable upper stage for rockets.
- The contract is worth 40 million euros ($47 million) and aims to develop technology for safe return and reuse of the upper stage.
- Avio will deliver a preliminary design for the reusable upper stage and necessary ground infrastructure within two years.
- The design resembles SpaceX's Starship, featuring flaps for control during reentry.
- This initiative is part of ESA's effort to catch up with SpaceX's advancements in reusable rocket technology.
- The preliminary design review is a key milestone, but actual implementation may take many years, similar to the Ariane 6's timeline.