OneWeb is in deep trouble. Other than tiny Vega, Arianespace has done only 3 launches on its own rockets vs. 10 on Soyuz since 2021. Sounds like it's time for the EU to actually build a space program. The era of hard power is back.<p>With Vulcan waiting on years delayed BE-4 (and New Glenn on BE-4 and rest of the rocket as well), SpaceX launching Starlink constellation on its own reusable rockets is looking like the only game in town for a while.<p><a href="https://www.arianespace.com/launch-log/" rel="nofollow">https://www.arianespace.com/launch-log/</a>
It would be a good thing coming from a bad thing if space get more funding in the EU.<p>Now, without the Soyuz, maybe there is a chance of a manned spaceflight program. Starting from the Space Rider (1) all the components are there, I think.<p>1 - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Rider" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Rider</a>
Is seems like people have forgotten any lesson the cold war gave us. About the principles of peaceful coexistence that allowed us to be alive today.<p>Anything that can further the mutual understanding in culture, art and science between peoples is a good thing. It is our duty to do anything to ensure the peace.<p>People seem to prefer to advertise their moral rightfulness even at the risk at dooming humanity. After all, everyone who doesn't agree must be a Putin-loving traitor.<p>Putin's Russia might be a fact of live for many years still to come and we will need to live with them. I know people wish otherwise but that is not how the world works.
At this point are ESA and Rocosmos even relevant?<p>SpaceX completely dominates the launch market and has a 15 years lead on everyone. Short of countries bared from purchasing launch services due to ITAR and nationalist job programs everyone is seriously lagging behind America.
I'm mildly concerned in the next 20 years Russia will blow up a few satellites and cause a huge amount of LEO space debris that makes it harder for everyone else to launch, just because they can't compete. I imagine something like offering internet access that gets around their firewall might be a precipitating event. Space is getting more important and with their space program in precipitous decline but still having some capabilities, the winning move for them might be to deny it to everyone. Fits their scorched earth approach to adversaries. I feel it rests on what their post-Putin leadership is like and whether their relationship with China is maintained or takes a turn for the worse.