European Union seeks to boost autonomous space launch capacity

European Commissioner for Defense and Space, Andrius Kubilius, has warned that the European Union’s future in space is at risk unless the bloc strengthens its autonomous rocket launch capabilities. Speaking at the second EU Space Access Conference, Kubilius emphasized that achieving independent access to space is a top strategic priority to avoid reliance on foreign launch providers.

European demand for launches is projected to increase nearly sixfold over the next decade, driven by a surge in satellites for defense, economic activities, and large constellations. Specifically, EU programs such as Galileo, Copernicus, and the IRIS² secure communication constellation will require significant launch capacity. By 2034, approximately 62 launches may be needed for EU programs alone.

Kubilius noted that current capacities may fall short of this demand. For instance, while Ariane is expected to reach ten launches per year, demand could hit 14 by 2031. Similarly, Vega’s capacity of roughly six missions annually may be insufficient for the projected needs by 2030. To address these bottlenecks, the Commissioner advocated for better coordination of terrestrial infrastructure and the utilization of the European spaceport in French Guiana alongside emerging facilities across Europe.