Toni Tolker-Nielsen, the European Space Agency (ESA) Director of Space Transportation, expressed skepticism about SpaceX's Starship, stating that he does not believe it will be a game-changer or a real competitor. Tolker-Nielsen explained that the ESA decided against making the Ariane 6 rocket reusable due to the low volume of their launch needs, which would not make economic sense. He also mentioned that Starship, a huge launcher, is designed to fly people to the moon and Mars.
European Space Agency Director of Space Transportation Toni Tolker-Nielsen on @SpaceX's Starship: "I don’t think Starship will be a game-changer or a real competitor. This huge launcher is designed to fly people to the moon and Mars; We made the choice of not being reusable with… https://t.co/LVrhKZd0ok
Toni Tolker, ESA's director of space transportation about Starship 😳 “I don’t think Starship will be a game-changer or a real competitor.” https://t.co/QiN7d3eP18 https://t.co/x0n4UjV2vx
"I don’t think Starship will be a real competitor." is the new "Reusability is a dream" https://t.co/y1U5PqpIeP
Remarks of Toni Tolker, ESA's director of space transportation about Starship. "I don’t think Starship will be a game-changer or a real competitor." He also doubts the economics of reusability. @elonmusk https://t.co/yK0VAyL4HS
.@ESA director of space transportation Toni Tolker-Nielsen: "I don’t think Starship will be a game-changer or a real competitor." "We made the choice of not being reusable with Ariane 6" because "our launch needs are so low that it wouldn’t make sense economically."… https://t.co/pcDkIQIlwh