ESA’s director of Space Transportation, Toni-Tolker Nielsen, said, “These two contract riders are a significant investment that will take Europe further to having a low-cost re-useable rocket, that will have far-reaching benefits for people in our Member States, including creating highly skilled competencies in Europe.”

“European cooperation is ArianeGroup’s core DNA and these new steps in the development of reuse technologies in Europe are boosting the motivation of our teams and our partners”, said Philippe Clar, the new Head of Civil Programs at ArianeGroup, “Signing these two contracts so soon after taking up the job is exciting and I wish to thank the European Space Agency for its confidence and its commitment.”