Lower thirds:

00:02 Report by / Kerstin Schweizer
00:34 Toni Tolker-Nielsen / Director of Space Transportation ESA
01:01 Toni Tolker-Nielsen / Director of Space Transportation ESA
01:51 Sabine von der Recke / Board Member OHB
02:30 Sabine von der Recke / Board Member OHB

Script:

00:00 - 00:29
It's a new chapter for European space exploration. For the first time ever, a privately funded rocket has reached orbit. German startup Isar Aerospace now plans to launch satellites into space regularly from Norway as soon as possible.

Until now, rockets have been funded by the European Space Agency (ESA). But they've just ushered in a new era.

00:29 - 00:41
+++ SOT Toni Tolker-Nielsen, ESA, Director of Space Transportation +++
"We are moving away from ESA-developed launchers to privately developed launchers. We really want to foster competition and a more resilient access to space in Europe."

The German rocket is 28 meters long and can carry a payload of up to 1000 kilograms. It is suitable for small and medium-sized satellites. While larger rockets are more efficient, there is still a market for these so-called micro-launchers.

00:58 - 01:15
+++ SOT Toni Tolker-Nielsen, ESA, Director of Space Transportation +++
"Small launchers have advantages. You can compare it to taking a taxi or a bus. It´s always cheaper to take the bus than to take the taxi. But sometimes you need to take the taxi. When you need to go now and you need to go to a specific place where there is no bus going."

Security, communication, observation. Space is becoming increasingly important. But Europe is experiencing bottlenecks in its access to space.

01:26 - 01:39
+++Graphic+++
Of the 315 successful rocket launches last year, 61 percent originated in the US. Almost a third came from China. All other countries combined accounted for only 11 percent.
++++Graphic+++

German space company OHB regularly has to resort to American launchers. So far, this has worked well. But unease is growing.

01:49 - 02:13
+++ SOT Sabine von der Recke, Board Member OHB +++
"Of course, we are dependent. Let's assume the geopolitical situation changes, and America had a greater short-term need for missiles. Then we would get dropped. That's why it's important to have our own capacities, especially for strategically relevant satellites, for security, and for the German Armed Forces."

The need for launch capacities will continue to grow. New satellite constellations are planned, for military and for commercial use. OHB hopes that private rocket companies will revitalize the market.

02:28 - 02:34
+++ SOT Sabine von der Recke, Board Member OHB +++
"More competition, more launch opportunities, that's good for the market. It's good for prices."

Besides Isar Aerospace, there are other European startups developing rockets. However, none of them are yet ready to compete with the Americans. 

END