Antitrust regulations would have kept the Elon Musk reusable satellite-launching SpaceX rocket system more earth-bound had it been operating in Europe, Guillaume Faury, head of the aerospace group Airbus, suggested in an address to aviation experts in Frankfurt yesterday. The American and SpaceX achievements were “amazing”, the Airbus CEO acknowledged. Nonetheless, the “super-concentrated” SpaceX production methodology was something “we are not allowed to think of” since it would have broken “some of the rules” the European aerospace industry must operate under in accordance with the prevailing antitrust laws, he said.
Because of the SpaceX reusable Falcon 9 rocket, launch costs had been slashed. As a result, a soaring commercial industry has so far been able to put almost 7,000 satellites into orbit whereas, despite plans for up to ten flights a year, Europe’s Ariane 6 launcher, which is partly built by Airbus, has yet to make its first commercial flight. Airbus and other manufacturers have long complained that Europe’s space industry is held back by rules that require the work to be shared between countries like France involved in funding Ariane.
Faury observed that SpaceX is free to choose where to invest and manufactures 80% of what it needs, while the opposite applies in Europe, which must find a way to adapt. “We make 20%, we buy 80%. And by buying 80%, you have a large supply base, which is pleasing everybody. Well, Elon Musk’s space is not pleasing anybody except Elon Musk.”
Airbus is currently cutting 2,500 jobs in loss-making satellite projects. Its defence and technology rival, Thales, is in a similar position, cutting 1,300 jobs. According to Faury, SpaceX is a super-competitive model. “If we don’t move in launchers and satellites, if we just stay with where we are, we’re going to be obsolete.”
With its rapid development and deployment, Starlink has disrupted the satellite communications industry and significantly influenced contemporary military strategies. NASA looks to deploy SpaceX to land humans on the moon this decade. This is a relationship that could blossom under President-elect Donald Trump. Earlier this year, SpaceX was reportedly selected to build a constellation of U.S. spy satellites.
NASA and Pentagon officials are reportedly concerned about U.S. over-reliance on SpaceX and would like to see more competition when it comes to launch and satellite competition. So far, antitrust concerns among SpaceX competitors have made little headway.
SpaceX and Musk supporters maintain that the company soars highest because of innovative and commercially risky technologies that its rivals are unwilling to emulate.
