UK-based Orbex amongst the five orbital launch companies shortlisted by the European Space Agency to take part in ELC
Orbex, the UK-based orbital launch services company, has been pre-selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to take part in its prestigious European Launcher Challenge (ELC).
Initiated in November 2023, the ELC programme aims to support the development of new sovereign European launch capabilities. It was created by ESA to promote better European access to space and to increase the competitiveness of European launch services. It provides contractual and financial commitments to launch contracts for ESA programmes and possibly other institutional customers from 2026 to 2030.
Phil Chambers, CEO of Orbex, said:
“Being pre-selected as part of the European Launcher Challenge is a milestone moment – not just for Orbex, but for the UK space sector as a whole.
“The benefits go far beyond our own operational roadmap. This recognition strengthens the UK’s global competitiveness, helps create high-value jobs and attract investment, and takes us closer to delivering sovereign launch capabilities – reducing reliance on overseas providers and building real strategic autonomy in space.
“For Orbex, it’s a major opportunity to accelerate launch vehicle development and play a central role in shaping Europe’s future in space.”
Orbex was selected against a range of criteria including the suitability of its launch vehicle, the robustness of its business case, and the quality and credibility of its technical approach.
What is the European Launcher Challenge?
The European Launcher Challenge is part of ESA’s preparation for future European space transportation services, promoting a greater choice of European launch services and increased competitiveness. The European Launcher Challenge selection process is a two-stage competitive tender. Successful Challengers may be awarded contracts for two distinct components:
- Component A: launch services for ESA to be performed in the period 2026-2030.
- Component B: launch service capacity upgrade demonstration, including at least one flight demonstration of the upgraded launch service capacity.
ESA has earmarked a target maximum of €169 000 000 per Challenger, covering all activities under Components A and B.
Preselected Challengers
ESA has just completed the first stage of the European Launcher Challenge, where Challengers were invited to submit proposals via esa-star tendering. The evaluation criteria include technical maturity, business maturity and sustainability, institutional market planned to be served as well as compliance to procurement rules. After a thorough evaluation, ESA preselected the proposals of the following Challengers:
What’s next?
Now, ESA will start a dialogue phase with preselected Challengers and iterations with concerned ESA Member states to consolidate the European Launcher Challenge programme proposal and legal documentation in terms of funding, related content and/or phasing of the project, with the envisioned subscriptions to CM25 (i.e. the moment Member States commit funding).
The European Space Agency will consolidate the proposals for the ESA Council at ministerial level (CM25) happening in November 2025.
The second stage of the tender will open after CM25, restricted to the preselected challengers. Signature of the European Launcher Challenge contracts will follow.
Read more about the European Launcher Challenge here.
