S8 Ep161: European Space Agency Increases Budget and Shifts Toward Commercial Model — Bob Zimmerman — The European Space Agency approved record budget allocations, increasing funding by approximately one-third to facilitate systematic transition toward commercial s

1. European Space Agency Increases Budget and Shifts Toward Commercial Model — Bob Zimmerman — The European Space Agency approved record budget allocations, increasing funding by approximately one-third to facilitate systematic transition toward commercial space operations. Zimmerman documents that the ESA has established a "launcher challenge" incentivizing startup rocket companies, and transferred operational control of the Vega C rocket from centralized Arianespace to manufacturer Avio, enabling independent launch commercialization while the global commercial space sector expands with new entrants including Australianstartup At Space successfully conducting suborbital test flights.

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