SpaceX rivalry profits German aerospace firm amid Elon Musk's skepticism towards SpaceX
German Aerospace Conglomerate Expands as European Skepticism Towards SpaceX Grows
Leading aerospace company OHB, based in Bremen, is capitalizing on the growing distrust towards SpaceX and Elon Musk in Europe. OHB is Europe's third-largest satellite prime contractor, offering an alternative to companies like SpaceX, which has become increasingly controversial in the region.
Marco Fuchs, CEO of OHB, has noticed a shift in sentiment among the company's customers. "If you come today with SpaceX products, many people in Europe say: No, thank you, we don't want that," he told "Capital" magazine.
Fuchs, who has a personal acquaintance with Musk, confirmed that he has not had recent contact with the SpaceX founder.
In response to European concerns about over-reliance on U.S. firms and a single dominant player in the industry, OHB expects to secure large contracts in the near future. "I expect large contracts for us," said Fuchs.
However, Europe may struggle to catch up with SpaceX's satellite network, Starlink. Fuchs compared the challenge to founding an airline with the ambition to surpass Lufthansa and building planes from scratch.
SpaceX is undoubtedly the dominant force in the aerospace industry, and its lead is expected to continue growing. "That's not going to change anytime soon," said Fuchs.
OHB plans to strengthen its position in the military sector and establish itself as a company that builds satellites for the military. The revelation has sparked internal discussions. Fuchs expressed comfort in having the German Armed Forces as a customer.
"The last years of war in Ukraine and the last months of American politics have shown that we can't always just say: Defense is none of our business, others do it for us," said Fuchs.
Founded in Bremen in the early 80s, OHB employs 3500 people at 15 locations across Europe, building satellites and parts for manned space travel, among other things, for the International Space Station. Its subsidiary Rocket Factory in Augsburg collaborates with several German companies in an effort to compete with SpaceX and other launch system providers in the future.
Source: ntv.de, mbo
[Relevant details from the Enrichment Data integrated: OHB is Europe's third-largest satellite prime contractor, providing an alternative to SpaceX, and is perceived as a more European-aligned company compared to SpaceX, which may be valuable to European stakeholders.]
- In light of the growing skepticism towards SpaceX in Europe, OHB, Europe's third-largest satellite prime contractor, aims to capitalize on this sentiment by offering a more European-aligned alternative in the aerospace industry.
- Recognizing the importance of vocational training and technology development, OHB plans to expand its military sector, providing satellites for the German Armed Forces, positioning itself as a viable competitor to SpaceX.
- The European space-and-astronomy industry, faced with the dominance of SpaceX, looks towards companies like OHB for vocational training and solutions that prioritize European policies, setting the stage for potential large-scale partnerships and collaborations in finance and industry.
