Per Aspera ad Astra

The rocket age may have started in China in the 12th century with cardboard and powder, but it was only in 1944 that the German V2 rocket programme launched the first ever object to reach the 100km altitude considered to be the limit between atmosphere and space. The age of orbital flight began in 1957 with Sputnik 1 paving the way to the orbital launch golden years that emerged in the 70s: a period of pioneers dominated by governmental institutions.?

It was in 2010 with SpaceX that the launch world entered a new commercial era with high production cadences and a focus on reliability and cost metrics. The launch price of $k/per kilo decreased by 40% and continues to fall.?

Private actors like SpaceX and Blue Origin are shaking the well-established playground of institutions. In the heavyweight category, Falcon Heavy will soon be replaced by Starship, and New Glenn will arrive sooner rather than later. Ariane 6 will be launched in 2024 with a modular and reusable fleet, the NESTS initiative has plans for space transport for up to 2050, and Ariane Ultimate is already on the drawing board.?

But the launch revolution race is speeding up. Modular and reusable launchers are already considered yesterday's technology; nano and cube-sat (10cmx10cmx10cm) satellites have appeared, and what was once called “new space” has now been replaced with “fast space”.?

Soon solid propulsion rockets with big burning plumes will be no more than childhood memories. Aevum has designed Ravn X, an autonomous reusable drone that looks like an air fighter and can launch 500kg satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO: between 500km and 2,000km). At the same time, other fast space companies such as Latitude are designing mini-rockets like Zephyr, a 17m-long rocket able to launch nanosatellites above a 600km altitude. The first launch is planned for 2025. California-based start-up SpinLaunch has spent ten years developing a catapult that will enable frequent launches with less environmental damage. SpinLaunch conducted its first test at New Mexico's test pad in October 2021.

New Zealand's Rocket Lab, founded in 2006, has developed Electron, a rocket capable of putting a 300kg satellite into LEO for a cost of US$7.5 million. Electron incorporates many design innovations, including 3D printing and high-density batteries, to power its electro pumps, which feed propellant into its combustion chambers. Rocket Lab has 500 employees and has launched more than 100 satellites. It has recently announced the development of a new and more powerful rocket: Neutron.?

Will the launcher of the future be mono stage with low carbon impact, with a nuclear cell, catapulted, hydrogen, or hybrid? Will it self-destruct or come back? There will be new launch methods, new launchers, and no burning plumes in the future. That will be the vision in less than a decade. Research is not only focusing on systems and products, but also on propulsion.?

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. We expect an ad-hoc mix of different approaches depending on the orbit (Low Earth Orbit, Medium, or beyond) and for human-crewed or uncrewed missions. For example, using a catapult launcher for nanosatellites but not for human-crewed missions. For long-distance missions like Mars, solutions in the works include prepared hubs or gateways that can be used for reloading or space tugs that will put the object on the correct trajectory.?

The space race has changed significantly in the 21st century. Now, players focus on speed, affordability, sustainability, and reliability rather than the number of achievements. The old saying per aspera ad astra is true of the new space business. Even if the space conquest is arduous, we will reach the stars, and may the best rocket win.?

…Ad Astra

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