The Ariane 6 launch is good news for Europe
Europe’s space launch industry has reopened for business.
Siôn Geschwindt in The Next Web reports that the first commercial launch of the Ariane 6 rocket will ‘bolster Europe's access to space’:
‘The progress of European rocket startups — and veterans like Arianespace and Avio (the company behind Vega-C) — couldn’t come at a better time. European states have long sought to strengthen their security autonomy, a priority that has gained renewed urgency following the Trump administration’s thawing relations with Russia.
However, Europe might not be able to replace SpaceX altogether. Ariane 6, unlike SpaceX rockets, is not reusable. And while Europe is fostering private companies with reusable, light-lift rockets, it likely won’t have a reusable heavy-lift option until the 2030s, when a successor to Ariane 6 may emerge.
Nevertheless, while not a panacea for Europe’s autonomy in space, the boost in local capabilities is still good news for the region’s broader space tech sector.’
In Space News, Alexander MacDonald argues that NASA needs to lead, not just fund, the future of space exploration and development:
‘As United States government agencies go, NASA is unique. It remains the only entity in the world to have landed humans on the moon. It sent robotic probes to every planet, advancing our understanding of the solar system. It flew a helicopter on Mars, the first aircraft to achieve powered, controlled flight on another planet. It flew the Parker Solar Probe closer to study the sun than any previous spacecraft.
NASA’s achievements are technical and scientific marvels.
Beyond these achievements — or perhaps because of them — NASA has long been voted the best place to work in the federal government and it is regularly ranked by Americans as one of the most trustworthy of federal agencies. Globally, NASA is one of the most recognized and beloved brands. It is, in short, a special part of the American identity.’
Will Rogers-Coltman, in the Evening Standard, reports that the UK’s space industry is ‘quietly booming’:
‘“The UK space tech industry makes up 7 percent of the global market,” Whitehorn says, “but far more importantly, we have some of the greatest minds in the industry and a fantastic technological heritage. You would be hard-pressed to find a space mission that hasn’t got a bit of tech invented by a British company.”
A staggering 16 percent of the UK’s GDP is dependent on space technology, the UK Space Agency say. It shows just how reliant we are on satellites for crucial technologies such as weather monitoring, mobile connectivity, TV broadcasting, and even WIFI.
It drives advancements in AI infrastructure, with data centres in space to power artificial intelligence expected within ten years; climate solutions, including plans for off-planet solar panels that bypass cloud interference; and defence systems, where satellites are crucial for GPS and surveillance.
Liddle agrees, saying, “By having one foot in the European Space Agency–as its fourth biggest contributing nation–and the other in the US–with a close defence budget relationship that shares data and resources with our friends across the pond–the UK is in a strong position and the future looks bright.”’
And Jason Rainbow writes in Space News that pent-up deal activity from 2024 looks set to spill into 2025, potentially making it ‘the busiest period for space mergers and acquisitions in years’:
‘Several factors stalled M&A activity last year. Among the reasons were delayed government contracts, high interest rates and valuation concerns from sellers unwilling to accept lower bids.
… Hoyt Davidson, managing partner at space M&A adviser Near Earth, told SpaceNews his firm is already seeing increased interest in acquisitions across the sector. This buzz is driven by two major trends, he said:
First, an expectation of higher U.S. government spending on early-stage defense technology and national security satellites, particularly as the country seeks to match China’s growing space capabilities. And second, a growing level of interest from well-financed commercial space companies looking to grow through acquisitions.’
President Trump now says going to Mars is ‘not a priority’ – which is just as well, because getting to Mars during his second and final term in office is ‘effectively impossible’, reports Space News’s Jeff Foust:
‘The next window for sending missions to Mars opens in the fall of 2026, and even SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk, a close adviser to the president and major advocate for human Mars missions, said that his company would be ready, at best, to send only uncrewed Starships to Mars in that window. The following window, in late 2028, would allow a landing in 2029, after Trump leaves office.
A human Mars mission, regardless of the launch schedule, would have to overcome many technical challenges, from landing large vehicles on the surface of Mars than can be refueled for trips home to keeping astronauts alive for missions lasting up to three years.’
And finally, reports Space, a total lunar eclipse or ‘Blood Moon’ on 13th to 13th will be visible across Earth's night side:
‘The first total lunar eclipse since 2022 is set to grace the night sky on March 13-14, 2025 — but only for those on Earth's night side. During this celestial event, the moon will slip into Earth's shadow for 65 minutes, taking on a deep reddish hue in what’s often called a "blood moon."
While the eclipse will be visible worldwide at the same universal time, the best views will be in North and South America. Observers in parts of Europe may catch a glimpse at moonset, while those in East Asia will see it as the moon rises. The point of greatest eclipse falls over the Pacific Ocean, making it an unforgettable sight for skywatchers across the Americas.’