The ESA previously used SpaceX to launch two scientific missions.
Will this benefit European space tech startups?
How this will play out in practice will be interesting to see.
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Will this be enough to champion startups and ensure their tech gets a chunk of the funding and opportunity?
This is great news if you want real products to market.And Germany has some startups with compelling use cases.
Constellruses microsatellites to monitor the earths surface temperature, mapping the water need and availability for agriculture.
Similarly,LiveEOprovides satellite-based monitoring of critical infrastructures such as power grids, pipelines and rail networks.
It uses hybrid rocket engines which burn solid paraffin with the help of liquid oxygen.
This reduces the cost, making them safe, low-cost, and thus suitable for rapid market entry.
And thats if you even think they could catch up with Space X.
Story byCate Lawrence
Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin.
