The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed up three businesses following its call for proposals for commercial space transportation services: HyImpulse Technologies, Isar Aerospace Technologies and Rocket Factory Augsburg.

All three German companies will prepare to offer new launch services to serve the small satellite market.
It’s part of the agency’s Boost! programme  – Element 1 of which was launched in April this year – and the idea is “to stimulate and support competitiveness and new commercial European space transportation services”.
“It is great to see this high level of entrepreneurship in Germany, targeting new commercial launch services for small payloads. Boost! offers tailored support at the pre-commercial phase to help these companies to succeed with their business and technical objectives,” said Thilo Kranz, ESA’s Commercial Space Transportation Programme Manager.
The combined value of the awards is reported to be €1.5 million euro, according to Space News.

ESA gives Boost! to commercial space transportation - SL1SL1
“HyImpulse Technologies, based in Neuenstadt am Kocher in Southern Germany is developing a three-stage small launcher. The launch vehicle, called SL1, will be powered by green hybrid propulsion technology, using liquid oxygen and paraffin as propellants.
The Boost! contract ‘HyImpulse SL1 Launch Service Development Support’ will help the company to finalise preliminary design solutions and verification plans for all key systems of the launch system and support the development of associated ground support equipment, including for critical subsystem testing.”
ESA - SpectrumSpectrum
“Munich based Isar Aerospace Technologies, initially supported by ESA’s Business Incubation Centre Bavaria, is developing a two-stage launch vehicle called Spectrum to serve the small satellite market.
The ‘Spectrum Launch Service Development Support’ contract will cover measures to advance the rocket’s ‘Reaction Control System’. It will further support the definition and build-up of the launch vehicle manufacturing line at the Isar Aerospace premises in Ottobrunn.”
RFA ONERFA ONE
“Rocket Factory Augsburg, backed by the German satellite manufacturer OHB and Munich-based venture capital firm Apollo Capital Partners, is developing a three-stage launcher system equipped with an orbital stage. The vehicle called RFA ONE will be using state-of-the-art staged-combustion engine technology for its main propulsion systems.
Under the ‘RFA One Launch Service Development Support’ contract, Rocket Factory Augsburg will receive support with the detailed design, manufacturing as well as testing of its first stage demonstrator.”
Element 2 of Boost! (“Support to Participating States” covers the assistance with the implementation of national space transportation objectives, in the field of spaceports infrastructure and related services.