European Launcher Challenge

The European Launcher Challenge (ELC) is a programme of the European Space Agency (ESA) aiming to support new European space launch capabilities by funding the development of small and medium orbital launch vehicles. Within ELC, the agency plans to select companies that will be awarded contracts for launch services in the period 2026-2030 (component A) and launch service capacity upgrade demonstrations (component B). ESA has allotted a maximum of €169 million per company.^[1][2][3]

European Launcher Challenge
ESA logo
Mission statement	"to strengthen Europe's position in the global space market and ensure sustainable and competitive access to space to European and worldwide customers"
Type of project	Aerospace
Owner	European Space Agency
Established	2023; 2 years ago (2023)
Status	Active
Website	ESA.int: European Launcher Challenge

Timeline

ESA council announced the European Launcher Challenge in Seville, Spain in November 2023.^[4]

On 24 March 2025, ESA has officially published a call for proposals for ELC.^[5] By June 2025, ESA announced that it had received 12 proposals for the programme^[6] and on 7 July 2025, the agency has preselected five companies for further competition:^[7][8]

• Isar Aerospace
• MaiaSpace
• Orbex
• PLD Space
• Rocket Factory Augsburg

At the ESA ministerial council held in Bremen, Germany in November 2025, the member states confirmed major investments in ELC.^[9] The Challenge has doubled its expected subscriptions to €900 million at the council.^[10][11]

See also

• List of ESA programmes and missions
• LEO Cargo Return Service
• Commercial spaceflight