Trump really issues nice sound bites every time.

(Shoulda seen his NATO press conference today)

These rockets were also likely unable to meet the required launch time table.

Sad to say, I think *this* was the overwhelming reason why they inked the contract with Rocket Lab. Because I think ESA would pay just about any price for a European launcher, if there is one available.

But as you say, there ain’t one. Ariane 6 and Vega are achingly slow, and have big backlogs, and none of the commercials have reached the finish line yet.

But Rocket Lab on the other hand can get their satellites up into orbit THIS YEAR. It is the same reasoning they reluctantly followed when they moved EUCLID and HERA over to Falcon 9’s — they just were not willing to wait years for a launch if they did not have to!

As you put it so well, Bob, “reality trumps nice sound bites every time.”