Policy experts are warning that Europe is "stuck between a rock and a hard place" regarding space launch costs. A decade ago, Europe and the United States had comparable launch expenses, but now, European launch costs are estimated to be three times higher than those in the U.S. for similar payloads.

Researchers found that the average cost per kilogram to orbit in the U.S. is approximately $3,225. In contrast, Europe's cost is around $9,897, significantly higher than Japan ($5,287), China ($5,809), and Russia ($6,682). India's cost is nearly $15,000 per kilogram, attributed to smaller rocket sizes and fixed costs amortized over limited payloads.

The key to reducing launch expenses lies in larger rockets, increased launch frequency, and vehicle reuse. Nations relying solely on domestic rockets risk escalating costs, potentially hindering their expansion into space-based operations. Europe faces a choice between cheaper American technology and expensive, less scalable domestic options to maintain its strategic space presence. To stay competitive, countries must develop modern launch capabilities, with the U.S. and China leading in reusable rocket technology, while Europe's efforts, like the Themis program, have faced delays.