Comments on: French official lauds Ariane 6 launch; demands Europe have its own launch capability

By: Mubashir Hales

Mubashir Hales — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 14:06:55 +0000

Great powers. LOL! We are talking Euroweenies with delusions of grandeur.

By: Jeff Wright

Jeff Wright — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 19:03:39 +0000

It’s the same with having a car—you could have–say–a well to do neighbor who would volunteer to drive you to work every weekday…for free even!

But if you are any kind of MAN–you want your own ride….even if it is more expensive.

By: Mike Borgelt

Mike Borgelt — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 03:04:07 +0000

Great powers. LOL! We are talking Euroweenies with delusions of grandeur.

By: Richard M

Richard M — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 00:05:28 +0000

There’s nothing wrong with Europeans desiring having indigenous European access to space. Any great power that takes space access seriously at all (and that should be every great power) *should* want it.

But it’s become clear to all but the most obtuse that having this capability developed and operated by genuinely private launch providers produces far more cost effective — and capable — launch architectures.

In the meanwhile, Ariane 6 can provide a European capability for institutional payloads — just very expensively, and slowly — while these commercial capabilities mature and reach market. Meanwhile, European commercial customers will have to decide if they’d rather swallow their dislike for Elon Musk or America generally in order to get timely and low cost launches for their payloads, or wait and pay a lot more to indulge their animus. That is, unless EU governments take legal action to yank away the former option.

By: Ronaldus Magnus

Ronaldus Magnus — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 22:18:24 +0000

“”Note Baptiste’s focus on having the European Union (EU) run things, with a focus on Ariane-6, despite its high cost.””

Next thing you know, Baptiste will pursue space partnerships with SLS, Virgin Galactic, and Boeing Aerospace.

By: Richard V Reese

Richard V Reese — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 17:32:37 +0000

It’s not cheaper.
It’s not more reliable.
But at least it’s not American.

So there.