The European Space Agency has announced that it has opened a new round of funding opportunities for startups and consortia developing launch and in-orbit transportation services through its Boost! programme.
Boost! is an ESA initiative that aims to foster new European commercial space transportation services. It was adopted by Member States at the 2019 ESA ministerial-level council meeting in Seville, Spain with the first open call for proposals published in April 2020. The programme provides co-funding and requires companies to pitch in. Those that receive Boost! awards also gain access to agency expertise and facilities.
The German space agency DLR utilized the initiative to fund its microlauncher competition. As part of the competition, an initial €500,000 in Boost! Funding was awarded to HyImpulse Technologies, Rocket Factory Augsburg, and Isar Aerospace to support the development of the individual launch vehicles. This was followed by two €11 million prize awards in 2021 and 2022 to Isar Aerospace and Rocket Factory Augsburg. As a requirement to receive their €11 million prize, the two companies are required to carry 100kgs of institutional payloads for free aboard two flights each of their respective vehicles.
In March 2021, ESA awarded €10.45 million in Boost! funding to a pair of UK-based launch startups. Orbex received €7.45 million and Skyrora €3 million.
At the 2022 ESA ministerial-level council meeting in Paris, Member States voted to expand the scope of the Boost! programme. It received more support with additional Member States signing on to participate in the programme.
ESA published the newest call for proposals on 13 March with this round of the Boost! programme expected to continue through 2025.
