In recent years, the miniaturisation of satellites has allowed access to high quality space applications with small satellites. Until now main/y launched in clusters or as secondary payloads, these small satellites are even more effective when they benefit from a dedicated launch. Many actors have therefore initiated projects for small launchers and new launch sites, seeking to offer a dedicated launch to each customer at a price that remains competitive with the largest launchers

The Air and Space Academy (AAE) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DGLR) decided to contribute to this debate by publishing this joint dossier, which presents an analysis of the market prospects in the world and in Europe, an inventory of ail existing projects and key recom-mendations to enable Europe to remain at the forefront of the world’s small satellite launch market.