Anicet Mbida 06:51, September 21, 2022

Anicet Mbida delivers to us every morning what is best in terms of innovation.

This Monday, he is interested in a big change in the space field.

Europe has three reusable rocket projects: the Maïa project from ArianeGroup, the Muria rocket from the Spaniards from PLD Space and the mini space shuttle called "Susie".

The Americans have been sending reusable rockets for almost 10 years.

But this time, there it is!

Europe will catch up.

And rather three times than one.

Because it is not one, but three projects that are in progress.

By 2030, two reusable launchers are planned.

That is to say that they will not fall back to be damaged at sea, but return to the launch pad so that they can be reconditioned and sent back.

This significantly reduces costs.

On the one hand, there will be the Maïa project from ArianeGroup and the Muria rocket from the Spaniards from PLD Space.

Enough to start returning to the race against the American SpaceX with its Falcon rockets (already reused 14 times, a record).

And then, surprise… there will also be a kind of mini space shuttle called “Susie”.

It is a module sent by a traditional rocket, but which will come back to land on its own, gently, on a track.

And he will have no competition.

Europe will be the only one to offer this type of vehicle.

And what is the point of having this kind of machine?

This will finally give independence to Europe.

Today, if we want to send astronauts into space, we have to use American or Russian modules.

With the Susie shuttle and its Ariane launcher, this will no longer be necessary.

This mini-shuttle will also have unprecedented versatility: it will be able to supply the international space station as well as repair satellites or even take tourists around in space.

A demonstrator should be operational in 2025. And the missions could start as early as 2030… if all goes well.

There has already been a European shuttle project (Hermès).

He was abandoned.

Does this one have a better chance?

Everything will depend on what the member states will vote for.

A meeting is scheduled for November.

It is she who will give (or not) the real starting signal.

But this time, the project has a good chance of being completed.

As a reminder: since the war in Ukraine, Europe has put an end to its collaboration with Russia in the field of space.

Ariane, who was the star of the launchers, is getting cruppers cut by SpaceX.

Europe needs autonomous access to space, it is strategic.

It has industrialists and technology.

So it's time for her to catch up.