ESA Unsure About Launching Themis Before End of 2026
ESA's Director of Space Transportation Géraldine Naja stated she is unsure whether Themis's first flight will be completed before the end of 2026, as winter approaches at Esrange.
Géraldine Naja, Director of Space Transportation at the European Space Agency, stated on October 22 that she is unsure of the agency's ability to complete the first flight of the Themis rocket before the end of the year.
Naja attributed the doubt to approaching winter conditions at Sweden's Esrange base, where the vehicle is being developed.
She noted that a go or stop decision will be made before the end of coming November.
The development timeline stipulates conducting a hop test before June 2027.
What do these terms mean?
Themis: A European reusable launch vehicle under development, aiming to reduce the cost of access to space.
Hop test: A short test flight in which the vehicle rises to a limited altitude and then returns to land, testing its engines and control systems.
Esrange: A European launch base located in northern Sweden, used for spacecraft testing.
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