ESA Funds Four Startups To Support Space Wahana Development

ESA add funds through the Boost program! (photo: dock. ESA)

JAKARTA - The European Space Agency (ESA) extended the Boost contract! on Tuesday, November 19. With the extension of this contract, ESA will provide additional funds to four startups who receive assistance.

The four startups that received funding assistance from this space agency are HyImpulse, Isar Aerospace, Orbex, and Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA). The total additional funds handed over reached 44.22 million euros (Rp740 billion).

ESA did not explain how much funds were allocated to each company, but Isar Aerospace said that they received 15 million euros (IDR 251 billion). Meanwhile, Orbex received 5.6 million euros (IDR 93.8 billion).

Unlike HyImpulse and RFA, these two companies said they needed 11.8 million euros (Rp197 billion) to develop their projects. Apparently, the funds they received were the same as those needed.

The four companies have different development focuses. Isar Aerospace will test the first of two Spectrum launch rides, Orbex will test the Orbex Prime launch vehicle, HyImpulse will build a SL1 vehicle, and will create the first stage of the rocket and test it.

"Penyia layanan peluncuran komersial baru di Eropa tengah berupaya keras untuk melakukan peluncuran perdana mereka," kata Direktur Transportan Antariksa ESA Toni Tolker-Nielsen. "Kami sangat tertarik untuk melihat roket mereka berhasil."

Meanwhile, Orbex as one of the companies that receive funding says that Boost! really helps them in moving forward. That way, advanced space technology can be developed optimally.

"This extension of funding will allow us to take the next important step on our way to our premiere micro launcher, Orbex Prime, next year," said Orbex Chief Executive Phil Chambers.