Europe’s aerospace giants are joining forces to launch a new chapter in the space race! Airbus, Leonardo, and Thales are in advanced talks to create a joint satellite venture dubbed ‘Project Bromo’ 🌋—a bold move to rival Elon Musk’s SpaceX and tap into the booming market for low-orbit satellites.
🌌 What’s the Big Deal?
Named after an Indonesian volcano, the project aims to merge resources and expertise to produce affordable, next-gen satellites. The goal? To compete with SpaceX’s Starlink and meet growing demand from military and civilian clients for cost-effective space tech. Think faster internet, better Earth monitoring, and maybe even sci-fi-level connectivity! 📡
⏳ Why the Delay?
While Italy’s Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani initially eyed a July deal, negotiations hit speed bumps. Airbus Defence and Space CEO Michael Schoellhorn told Corriere della Sera that ‘national and transnational complexities’—aka red tape and big egos—slowed things down. But he’s confident a deal will land this year. 🤝
🛰️ Merging Titans
Sources say the venture could combine Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio (existing Leonardo-Thales partnerships) into a single powerhouse. Toulouse, France—Airbus’s HQ—is the likely home base, blending French and Italian space legacies. Imagine a European ‘Avengers’ team for satellites! 💥
With SpaceX dominating headlines, this collab could reshape the space economy. Stay tuned as Europe aims for the stars—literally! ✨
