In an unprecedented move, SpaceX has clinched a deal to dispatch four of Europe’s paramount navigation and encrypted communication satellites into space. This revelation comes as a significant breakthrough in international space collaborations and was reported on Monday by The Wall Street Journal.
While the green light from the European Commission, the European Union’s Executive arm along with the EU member states is yet awaited and they must also give the final approval for the deal, the collaboration has generated significant buzz in the space sector. The European Union’s executive arm will be instrumental in giving this partnership the final nod, as highlighted by official sources.
Taking the collaboration a step further, the European Space Agency recently launched a deal with SpaceX for a duo of launches in the upcoming year. These launches will each transport two Galileo satellites, as informed by Javier Benedicto, the agency’s esteemed director of navigation.
Elaborating on the launch specifics, Benedicto confirmed the deployment of the Falcon 9 rocket, one of SpaceX’s flagship launch vehicles, from American soil. As of now, both SpaceX and the European Commission have chosen not to comment on this recent development.
This collaboration emerges at a pivotal time. European space authorities, just last month, pointed out the imminent and crucial decisions regarding Europe’s principal space launchers’ return to flight, especially after a succession of postponements.
The prospective SpaceX-European venture can potentially redefine the dynamics of space collaborations, further strengthening the bridge between the US and European space ambitions.