Launch of the European Flight Ticket Initiative

Today, the European Commission and the European Space Agency are officially launching the Flight Ticket Initiative.

This initiative will stimulate new European launchers systems through open competition and access to procurement of launch services for European missions starting with In-orbit Demonstration and Validation (IOD/IOV) needs. The tendering action published today will allow to identify a pool of launch service providers ready to offer launch services in the period 2024 – 2026 for needs of the European Commission and ESA, that will act as anchor customers. Retained providers will sign a frame contract and will be able to compete for specific work orders up to a €5 million ceiling, for identified launch service needs.

The initiative will be operational as of early 2024.

The Flight Ticket Initiative for IOD/IOV missions will use exclusively EU manufactured launchers co-funded through the EU Horizon Europe programme and the ESA Boost! programme.

This initiative is an important milestone for EU Space and for the launcher ecosystem, including to enhance competition. It also showcases the willingness of the European Commission and ESA to join forces ensuring autonomous and sustainable EU access to space by relying on both established and new space actors.

Interested launch service providers are invited to submit their offers here until 20 November 2023, 13:00 CET. This procurement process will be repeated, as necessary, with a view to expanding the pool of available launch service providers to address future needs.