https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/policy-experts-europe-stuck-between-rock-and-a-hard-place-on-launchContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/policy-experts-europe-stuck-between-rock-and-a-hard-place-on-launchhttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/policy-experts-europe-stuck-between-rock-and-a-hard-place-on-launch#u44441Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:36:11 +0000European policy experts describe the region as being stuck between a "rock and a hard place" regarding launch capabilities. This struggle occurs as the global industry races to lower spaceflight costs, which some projections suggest could drop 90% by 2040. While cheaper launches reduce the impact of spacecraft mass, they shift the technical bottleneck toward surface area. However, the drive for affordability faces a significant hurdle in the form of access to launch infrastructure.Why it mattersThe transition from early rockets like Sputnik to modern systems like Starship demonstrate