News Summary

• PLD Space is the first of Europe s new space launch companies to have some credible success.
• Saturday s modest flight represented the dawn of the European commercial space age.
• The launch bankruptcies we have seen in the United States with companies such as Vector and Virgin Orbit are equally likely in Europe as the competition continues.
• If the industry is to succeed it seems incumbent upon the European Space Agency and nations to provide guaranteed launch contracts to ensure the startups do not fold before flying.
• The success of Miura this week should embolden supporters of this approach.