Horizon Europe awards €4.9m to Suas Aerospace for modular space launch project
Space start-up Suas Aerospace has been awarded €4.9 million under Horizon Europe for a project to develop interoperability between space launch test infrastructures and launch systems.
Suas was established in 2022 to develop a European space launch facility in Ireland.
Funded by the European Commission, EU-BEST (European Bench for Engine and Stage Testing) will simplify access to space by designing, developing, and testing reuseable, modular launch equipment and test services. The project will be working on mobility and adaptability of ground infrastructure, with the ability to carry out industrial-scale testing.
EU-BEST is focused on developing a plug-and-play system where components from different manufacturers can be tested on the same infrastructure, from prototyping through to production and re-use. EU standardisation will mean significant cost savings and increased competitiveness for European aerospace design, manufacturing and launch companies, enabling them to change both scale and approach to testing rocket engines and stages. The project will culminate with a test firing of Pangea Aerospace’s ARCOS aerospike rocket engine on EU-BEST infrastructure at the Aeroports de Catalunya. Suas will provide the secondary location, proving the compatibility of the infrastructure with SUAS’ rocket engine test site in Ireland.
“This team brings together established space industry leaders with several European NewSpace companies,” explained Edward Harris, chief operations officer, Suas Aerospace. “The invitation to be part of the consortium and the ultimate success of the bid is a significant endorsement of Suas and our role in the developing European launch sector.”
Former Taoiseach and current chairman of the board Enda Kenny said: “This company is poised to lead the burgeoning European launch services sector, providing Europe with autonomous access to space.”
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