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). The programme was initiated in November 2023 and a funding decision is expected at ESA Council of Ministers in November 2025. 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
Country	European Union, 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]

Preselection

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

See also

• List of European Space Agency programmes and missions
• Commercial spaceflight