During the European Space Conference (Brussels), MaiaSpace CEO Yohann Leroy highlighted the necessity to reduce costs by at least a factor of 3 compared to traditional methods, in order to counterbalance scale effects unfavourable to micro-mini launchers and to align with heavy launchers in terms of price per kilo deployed in Space.
๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐:
- ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐: Thanks to disruptive development methods combined with the existing expertise developed in the European space sector over 4 decades, MaiaSpace takes up the challenge to develop its reusable launcher in 4 years, with a first flight in 2026 from Kourou (French Guiana), to accelerate market entry and return on investments.
- ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ: With 2 launchers (reusable and expendable) for the development costs of 1 and the Colibri kick-stage added as an option, MaiaSpace addresses a larger satellites market segment compared to other projects of this category;
- ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ: MaiaSpace leverages technologies (i.e. high and variable-thrust engine, technological bricks enabling the vertical recovery of the first stage on a barge at sea) that can be implemented on heavier launch vehicles for a fraction of the costs necessary to develop new rockets;
- ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ: Integrating from Day 1 technologies that minimize the environmental impact of space activities (i.e. LOx/Bio-sourced Methane, reusability, in-orbit servicing) will become a competitive advantage. No doubt that commercial or institutional customers will soon select launch service providers also depending on their environmental performance.
Thanks to the other panelists for the fruitful discussion Ricardo Conde, Christian Hauglie-Hanssen, Xavier Llairo and Miguel Bello Mora.