In an ambitious step towards greater autonomy, the EU issued a call for bids to develop its own constellation of communications satellites, dubbed IRIS². This €6 billion ($6.6 billion) project aims to reduce dependence on SpaceX's Starlink after a contentious event in 2022.
Ariane 6's upcoming launch signifies a turning point for the EU, ending a crisis of dependency on SpaceX for satellite launches. The European Space Agency anticipates more ambitious space initiatives following this milestone.
"Ariane 6 marks a new era of autonomous, versatile European space travel," said ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher, reflecting on the significance of the upcoming launch for the EU's space endeavors.
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