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| Image courtesy of ESA |
The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded a contract to develop Europe’s first reusable rocket stage recovery vessel, marking a major milestone in the continent’s push toward sustainable and cost-efficient space launch operations.
The contract was awarded to a consortium led by Naval Group (France) in partnership with CMN Shipyard, Airbus Defence and Space, and CNES, France’s national space agency. The vessel will be designed to recover and transport reusable rocket first stages after launch, supporting ESA’s long-term reusability strategy under its Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP).