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Small Launch Vehicles Forge Ahead, Defying Market Challenges

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Small Launch Vehicle Developers Push Ahead Despite Setbacks and Competition




PARIS — Despite strong competition from SpaceX rideshare services and a few high-profile failures, small launch vehicle companies are still forging ahead, aiming to carve out a niche in the space market. During World Space Business Week on Sept. 18, several companies provided updates on their progress, arguing that they offer flexibility by delivering satellites on demand, unlike SpaceX's rideshare program.

“We offer flexibility,” said Miguel Belló Mora, executive chairman of the UK-based small launcher developer Orbex. “We can’t compete on price per kilo.” Orbex is working on its Prime launch vehicle, which is set for an initial test launch in summer 2025 from the Sutherland Spaceport in northern Scotland, with commercial launches planned for 2026.

Other European companies are also moving forward. Stanislas Maximin, CEO of French startup Latitude, said the company expects its Zephyr vehicle to be ready for a test launch by the end of 2025. Another French company, Sirius Space Services, is developing the Sirius line of vehicles, with the smallest, Sirius 1, having a payload capacity of 175 kilograms. Test flights for Sirius 1 are planned for mid-2026, followed by its upgraded Sirius 13 and Sirius 15 models in 2027.

Sirius has also secured an agreement with Equatorial Launch Australia to launch from ELA’s Arnhem Space Centre.

However, significant demand is needed for these companies to break even, with estimates ranging from six launches per year for Sirius to 20 per year for Latitude. Currently, only Rocket Lab’s Electron is launching at that frequency, with 10 launches so far this year, though it had originally projected up to 22.

Other companies have faced challenges, such as ABL Space Systems and Rocket Factory Augsburg, both of which recently experienced pad test failures. Astra withdrew its Rocket 3 from the market in 2022 after multiple failures, and Virgin Orbit ceased operations in 2023 following a failed UK launch.

Despite these hurdles, the startups remain optimistic about demand. Latitude’s Maximin noted interest from European governments and international commercial customers, though he admitted that the European market alone might not sustain both Orbe and Latitude. Still, he believes global demand will help both companies secure customers.

“There are a lot of small launch vehicles worldwide,” said François Maroquin-Froissart, CEO of Sirius Space Services, acknowledging the crowded field. However, he expects some competitors to drop out, leaving room for at least a few successful European ventures.

Other Updates:

  • Isar Aerospace: Chief commercial officer Stella Guillen announced that the company is preparing its Spectrum rocket for launch from Norway’s Andaya Spaceport. Final tests are underway, and the company hopes to launch by the end of the year.
  • PLD Space: Raul Verdú, chief business development officer, confirmed the Spanish company's Miura 5 rocket is on track for a 2024 launch from a repurposed pad in French Guiana.
  • Space One (Japan): Yasushi Tabei of IHI Aerospace, an investor in the company, said a second launch attempt for its Kairos rocket is planned for December. The first launch in March failed when the rocket exploded shortly after liftoff.

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