A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches an Airbus-built SpainSat satellite in January. [Courtesy: Airbus]
Key Takeaways:
Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo have formed a new joint venture to combine their satellite manufacturing and space services businesses, operational by 2027.
This collaboration aims to challenge SpaceX's dominance in the commercial space industry and enhance Europe's industrial and technological autonomy in space.
The move comes as European aerospace companies have struggled against SpaceX's efficient and reusable launch capabilities, leading to market share loss and job cuts.
The joint venture will initially exclude launch activities, although Europe is separately funding new domestic launch providers who currently lack the reusability and capacity of SpaceX's rockets.
A trio of European aerospace companies are pooling their resources in a bid to eat at SpaceX’s share of the commercial space industry.
Last week, Airbus joined forces with France’s Thales and Italy’s Leonardo to create an as-yet unnamed joint venture, combining the firms’ satellite manufacturing and space systems, components, and services businesses.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
