A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches an Airbus-built SpainSat satellite in January. [Courtesy: Airbus]
Key Takeaways:
Three major European aerospace companies (Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo) are forming a joint venture to challenge SpaceX's dominance in the commercial space industry.
The partnership aims to consolidate Europe's satellite manufacturing and space systems, components, and services businesses to strengthen industrial assets and ensure autonomy in space.
The new entity, expected to be operational by 2027, will exclude launch activities despite its founders' involvement in the sector.
While this venture addresses fragmentation in space services, Europe still faces significant challenges in developing competitive, reusable launch vehicles to rival SpaceX's capabilities.
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.
