Verified Editor-read European Space Agency, 27 August 2026
What it does not test. Does not establish that any provider reaches orbit; the contracts require an orbital launch before 2028 to unlock further milestones.
How this item counts. Towards autonomy: it changes who operates, who made the parts. Binding 2 of 3 (agreed or funded), scale 3 of 3 (large), Verified counts in full: weight +12 of 36 possible. ESA contracts 3 EU rocket firms, pan-European; signed, pre-orbital-launch milestone. European Sovereignty Index
How this item was made. Drafted by an AI system (Claude (Anthropic)) from the source cited above; read and approved by the editor on 2026-08-27. How the record is made