Europe unveils reusable rocket concept to challenge SpaceX Starship

As SpaceX pushes ahead with Starship, researchers in Europe have proposed a different approach to building heavy rockets. A new study by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) presents a concept called RLV C5, a partially reusable launch vehicle that could give Europe its own super-heavy launch capability without following Starship's design.The study says Starship has already changed how the space industry thinks about heavy rocket launches. In 2023, the rocket successfully lifted off from Texas using all 33 of its engines. Later, during its fifth integrated flight test, the Super Heavy booster returned after launch and was caught by the giant mechanical arms of the launch tower, showing how reusable rocket technology is advancing.SpaceX is now developing Starship to carry more than 100 metric tonnes to low Earth orbit, the region of space closest to Earth where most satellites operate.