On Thursday 25 June, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission invited European launch service providers to apply to the European Flight Ticket Initiative. The initiative promotes European launch service solutions through open and competitive calls for tenders.
To take part in the Initiative, a launch service operator must first be awarded a framework contract, which will allow them to bid for future missions under the Initiative. Avio, Isar Aerospace, PLD Space and Rocket Factory Augsburg all hold these contracts with the ESA, following an initial selection process in 2024.
The ESA and the European Commission are now expanding this pool by inviting other European providers to apply. Companies who plan to be ready to launch satellites before 2028 are encouraged to take part.
The second part of the call for tender concerns the assignment of launch opportunities for the fifth batch of In-orbit Demonstration and Validation satellite missions. Six missions, which were pre-selected in a previous call for tender, are now ready for launch. Current providers and newly selected companies will be able to submit bids.
The flight tickets will be awarded to European launch services and are funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe programme and ESA’s Boost! programme.
Bids must be submitted before 13:00 CEST on 17 July 2026 via the following portal: https://aeur.eu/f/mk2 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)