European Space Agency sets sights on developing super-heavy rocket for space missions

The European Space Agency (ESA) has revealed plans to commission a study for the creation of a reusable rocket designed to carry 60 tons to low Earth orbit.

In a tender for open competition published on November 20 and later removed the same day, ESA introduced its European 60T LEO Reusable Launch System Pathfinder initiative, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The proposal emphasized that such a launch system is essential to meet "critical European space exploration needs beyond LEO," while also supporting broader space opportunities, including mega satellite constellations. The European 60T LEO Reusable Launch System Pathfinder initiative appears to build on the agency's previous PROTEIN studies, though this connection is not explicitly mentioned in the call.

The initiative's main objectives focus on several crucial tasks aimed at laying the foundation for a future European reusable launch system. These include identifying and consolidating mission and system requirements, highlighting key enabling technologies, exploring public-private risk-sharing models, and creating a detailed pathfinder plan. 

The project is expected to produce several key deliverables, such as consolidated high-level requirements, an industrial early launch system design, a comprehensive development roadmap, and a programmatic master plan. At first glance, this proposal seems significantly more detailed than the previous PROTEIN initiative.

The more refined plan is likely to be presented to member states at the upcoming ESA ministerial-level council meeting in late 2025, where funding for its implementation will be decided.

By Naila Huseynova