The European Commission has launched a call for studies to examine the potential of a mobile responsive launch system, a capability that would enable the rapid deployment of satellites into orbit from non-permanent (mobile) ground platforms.
In the preamble to the call published on 10 July, the Commission notes that due to an increasing number of threats, both human and natural in origin, spacefaring actors must not only develop sovereign access to space but also create “systems capable of placing satellites into orbit quickly to meet urgent demands.”
In an effort to develop this capability, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space will commission three parallel studies. The primary objectives of the ten-month studies are to identify the commercial and institutional needs for such a capability within the EU, define suitable and affordable solutions across ground and launcher systems, and outline a roadmap towards achieving an operational service. The total budget for the call is €1.95 million, with up to €650,000 available for each study.
While the Commission launches its Mobile Responsive Launch System pilot project, progress is also being made on a complementary programme.
On 29 August, the DLR Responsive Space Cluster Competence Center (RSC³) announced the completion of a Final Concept Review for the Responsive European Architecture for Space (REACTS) initiative. Funded by the European Commission under its European Defence Fund, REACTS aims to lay the groundwork for a European responsive launch network capable of placing satellites in low Earth orbit within 72 hours to meet strategic, operational, and tactical needs.
RSC³ is leading the €19.3 million REACTS project, which brings together 35 companies and organisations from across Europe, including Airbus Defence and Space, Andøya Spaceport, ArianeGroup, Rocket Factory Augsburg, PLD Space, and D-Orbit. According to RSC³, synthesis teams are now working to harmonise the outputs from the project’s different segments, a phase of the project that is expected to be concluded by the end of November 2025.
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