The European Space Agency (ESA) has chosen SpaceX to replace Russia's space agency as the launcher of two of its high-profile missions in the next two years.
The two ESA missions chosen for SpaceX Falcon 9 launches are the dark-matter-hunting Euclid space telescope and the Hera probe, which will follow up on NASA's successful DART asteroid mission. The launches atop SpaceX rockets will take place in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Both missions were originally planned for launches by Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, aboard Soyuz rockets, but strained relationships in the wake of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine have prompted ESA to look for other launch vendors.
The announcement was made by ESA chief Joseph Aschbacher during an information session following an ESA Council meeting streamed on the agency's YouTube channel. "We've also made large progress on a number of decisions, all together 18 decisions which were made at this council," Aschbacher told reporters at the information session. "One was on launches [...] Today a decision was made on the launch of Euclid, Earthcare and Hera. Just for everyone's information: We, the member states, have decided that Euclid and Hera are proposed to be launched on Falcon 9, and Earthcare will be launched on Vega C."
Related: Dark-matter hunter and 4 other European spacecraft need rockets after Russia invasion
"As you all know, this is a temporary measure that we do need to launch in other launches, because of the tap out of Soyuz in particular," Aschbacher continued. The ESA chief later tweeted that "Decisions were taken to proceed with launches for #Earthcare, #Euclid and #Hera missions."
Earthcare is an ESA Earth-observing satellite that will join Europe's Copernicus program, a constellation of climate-monitoring spacecraft. As Aschbacher noted, Earthcare will now launch not on a Soyuz but on Vega C, a rocket operated by French company Arianespace that debuted this past July.
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ESA's announcement stems from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and resulting sanctions that have strained relationships between Western space agencies and Roscosmos. In February 2022, Aschbacer asserted that ESA would continue to cooperate with Russia in light of the Ukrainian invasion, although space policy experts had their doubts.
Those doubts now appear to be well-founded. Aside from the Euclid, Hera, and Earthcare missions, the European Space Agency had already ended cooperation with Roscosmos on a life-hunting Mars rover program scheduled to launch later this decade.
"The circ*mstances which led to the suspension of the cooperation with Roscosmos — the war in Ukraine and the resulting sanctions — continue to prevail," Aschbacher tweeted at the time.
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Brett is curious about emerging technologies, alternative launch concepts, anti-satellite technologies and uncrewed aircraft systems. Brett's work has appeared on Scientific American, The War Zone, Popular Science, the History Channel, Science Discovery and more. Brett has English degrees from Clemson University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In his free time, Brett enjoys skywatching throughout the dark skies of the Appalachian mountains.
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As an enthusiast and expert in space exploration, I possess comprehensive knowledge about space missions, rocket technologies, international collaborations, and recent advancements in the field. My expertise is rooted in keeping up-to-date with developments, insights, and significant events in space agencies, including the European Space Agency (ESA), NASA, SpaceX, and other key players.
Regarding the recent article about the ESA's decision to select SpaceX as the launcher for two high-profile missions, I can delve into various concepts and terms associated with this news:
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European Space Agency (ESA): The ESA is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to space exploration, research, and applications. It collaborates with various member states to conduct missions, develop technology, and explore outer space.
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SpaceX: SpaceX is a private aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company founded by Elon Musk. It's renowned for developing the Falcon series of rockets, including the Falcon 9, used for satellite launches, crewed missions, and more.
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Euclid Space Telescope: Euclid is a space telescope designed to investigate dark matter and dark energy, essential components shaping the universe's structure and expansion.
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Hera Probe: Hera is a mission intended to follow up on NASA's Double Asteroid Redirect Test (DART) mission. It aims to study the impact and effects of a deliberate collision with an asteroid, gaining insights into planetary defense against potential asteroid threats.
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Soyuz Rockets and Roscosmos: Soyuz rockets, operated by Russia's space agency Roscosmos, have been a reliable means of launching various missions. However, strained geopolitical relationships due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine prompted the ESA to seek alternative launch providers.
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Earthcare and Vega C: Earthcare is an Earth-observing satellite that will join the Copernicus program, monitoring climate-related data. Vega C is a launch vehicle operated by Arianespace, a French company, used for smaller payloads like Earthcare.
The decision to opt for SpaceX's Falcon 9 for the Euclid and Hera missions, along with Vega C for Earthcare, reflects the ESA's response to geopolitical tensions affecting space collaborations and the need for alternative launch solutions amid strained relations with Roscosmos.
This move underscores the significance of international cooperation in space exploration and the flexibility required to adapt to changing geopolitical landscapes while ensuring continuity in scientific missions and exploration endeavors.
