Some European Launcher Challenge funding remains in limbo

WASHINGTON — Nearly 140 million euros ($162 million) that European Space Agency member states allocated to a program to support launch vehicle development remains in limbo and could be lost.

At a March 19 briefing after an ESA Council meeting, agency officials said they were still working with member states to redirect funding for the European Launcher Challenge that had either been allocated to a now-defunct company or was not allocated in the first place.

Member states subscribed more than 900 million euros to the European Launcher Challenge at ESA's ministerial conference in November. The funding would go to five companies previously selected by the agency: Isar Aerospace, MaiaSpace, Orbex, PLD Space and Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA). The funding would be used by ESA to buy launch services from the companies, known as Component A, or support development of upgraded vehicles, known as Component B.