Why UK and Most European Countries can't launch their Own satellite, Let alone going to Moon or on Mars? ?

Question

Soteris · Accepted Answer

They are. For example Europe has the Galileo satellite constellation which is their version of the American GPS. That said, they generally dont launch satellites from Europe itself because you want very specific conditions to make it safer and more efficient. Unlike how in China and Russia where rocket debris routinely fall on peoples homes Europe wants to not endanger people and as such its important to launch over the sea. Furthermore, you want to launch near the equator because that makes it much more fuel efficient.

USA happens to have some perfect locations due to its geography so a lot of satellites are just launched from there because it is convenient. The place Europe prefer to launch from is in French Guiana which is located in Southern America and has similar benefits to USA's launch sites but is more remote from Europes perspective. As such, Europe has launched hundreds of rockets from that location.

There are also smaller launch sites all over Europe like the one in Sweden but they are never intended to handle heavy duty rockets that goes beyond satellite orbit because those pretty much has to be launched from the equator to be realistic.

As for not going to the Moon or Mars? It is incredibly expensive and you dont technically gain anything from it either. It is like a first step sort of mission you do to build up capabilities for further exploits which Europe simply do not really care about at the moment.

Astarlessnightsky · Accepted Answer

Its probably a money issue.

Its better to build international spacestations or collaborate on James Webb Telescope or Mars Rovers than do it on your own.

And for the Moon, there is nothing gained from landing on it. No one landed on the moon after USA proved, it can be done.

purplepoppy · Accepted Answer

It's not that they can't it's just easier to use preexisting set ups in America. The space sector brings in about £14billion to the uk and employs a lot of people but there's never been any serious interest to launch our own rockets.

https://www.hiraethog.cymru/welshspaceagency/the-welsh-space-agency/

BCA6010 · Answer

Money, mostly. They can't even half-ass their commitments to NATO without hefty subsidies and a blind eye from the USA, so how in the world would they be able to fund an independent space program?

DryGermanGuy · Answer

I shall be impressed when the Indian explorers are visiting Uranus! 🧐

KostasKouvalis · Answer

As the Red Hot Chilli Peppers sang, "Space may be the final frontier, but it's made in a Hollywood basement"

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