European Space Company OHB Sees Growing Skepticism Toward SpaceX, Aims to Capitalize on It
German space company OHB Systems is noticing a growing skepticism in Europe toward SpaceX, the private space company founded by Elon Musk and is planning to capitalize on this trend. OHB has been working with SpaceX for years, but its own customers are increasingly hesitant to use the American company’s products, according to Marco Fuchs, the company’s CEO.
Fuchs, who knows Musk personally, believes that European alternatives to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network are being developed to reduce reliance on the US. “I expect big orders for us” he said. Although Europe may not be able to match the scale of Starlink, OHB is confident in its own capabilities and sees an opportunity to grow in the military sector, where it will be building satellites for military clients.
Fuchs acknowledged that SpaceX is the dominant player in the space industry, with a significant lead over its competitors. However, he believes that this dominance will not change quickly and the gap will only continue to grow.
The shift in sentiment toward SpaceX has led to internal discussions within OHB, with some employees questioning the company’s strategy of building satellites for the military. Fuchs, however, is confident in the company’s ability to work with the German military, citing the recent conflict in Ukraine and the changing global political landscape as reasons why European countries should take a more active role in their own defense.