SpaceX Rockets ‘To Replace’ Roscosmos' Soyuz, ESA Says

After the Ukraine war prevented Western access to Russian Soyuz rockets, the European Space Agency (ESA) has started preliminary technical conversations with Elon Musk's SpaceX that may result in the temporary use of its launchers.

Along with Japan and India, the private American rival to Europe's Arianespace has emerged as a leading candidate to fill a temporary vacuum.

Still, Reuters mentioned that the final choices depend on the still-undetermined timeline for Europe's delayed Ariane 6 rocket.

Will SpaceX Rockets Replace Roscosmos' Soyuz? Japan, India Waiting For Go Signal

Director General of the European Space Agency Josef Aschbacher stated that the ESA is now debating two possibilities.

These are stated utilizing SpaceX rockets and depending on Japan's launch infrastructure.

"Japan is waiting for the inaugural flight of its next-generation rocket. Another option could be India," said Aschbacher in a CNBC report.

He continued by saying that SpaceX is their primary choice since its launch technologies outperform rival manufacturers.

The ESA representative underlined that, before drawing any conclusions, they would examine the compatibility of SpaceX's rockets. The aerospace business must, of course, concur with the European Space Agency.

One of their worries is whether SpaceX's rockets can connect with ESA satellites. However, other payloads shouldn't be impacted by the launcher vibrations created by SpaceX.

ESA Depends on Soyuz

According to Channel News Asia, ESA has relied on Roscosmos' Soyuz rockets for the past few years.

The European Space Agency uses these advanced rockets to launch medium-sized payloads.

However, it also uses other spacecraft, such as the Vega from Italy. However, this rocket architecture is only capable of orbiting tiny payloads.

On the other hand, the current Ariane 5 carries large space payloads for ESA. Officials from the space agency are still awaiting the Ariane 6 as of the time of publication.

Around 2023 is when this new launch mechanism is anticipated to be finished. However, the effectiveness of the development will continue to be important.

(Photo : KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
The Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft is seen on the launchpad shortly before the blast off at the Baikonur cosmodrome on December 8, 2021. - Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa and his assistant Yozo Hirano, led by Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, will blast off to the International Space Station (ISS) onboard the Soyuz MS-20 spacecraft from the Russia-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 0738 GMT.

ALSO READ: Roscosmos Is Officially Leaving NASA, International Space Station by 2024, Tells Vladimir Putin Russia Will Make Own Orbiting Lab

SpaceX's Accomplishment in Helping Competitors

A high-profile European mission may be hailed as a huge success for SpaceX, reports said.

Financial Post wrote that SpaceX's Falcon 9 has already swept up other clients cutting connections with Moscow's increasingly isolated space sector after the Ukraine crisis.

OneWeb, a rival to SpaceX's Starlink satellite broadband project, has at least one Falcon 9 launch scheduled for March. It has also scheduled a debut in India.

To transport NASA cargo to the International Space Station, Northrop Grumman scheduled three Falcon 9 flights on Monday. In the meanwhile, the company is developing a new Antares rocket because Moscow withdrew the engines for the original model due to sanctions.