Opus Aerospace will launch a rocket from Kourou in 2025

Based in Essonne, the French startup Opus Aerospace has signed a contract with CNES, the French national space agency, to launch its small Mesange sounding rocket (4.7m) from Kourou in 2025. This initial launch is meant to test the technologies embodied in the startup’s future micro-launcher, Sterne, and to test a heat shield developed by Opus under contract with CNES. If the schedule for the first launch of Mésange is met, Opus could become the first New Space player to launch from the Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG) in French Guiana. Including Germany’s RFA, Isar and Hyimpulse, France’s Latitude, ArianeGroup subsidiary MaiaSpace and Italy’s Avio, the other players selected to launch from Kourou will not be ready to launch from French Guiana before 2026-2027. Opus Aerospace was incubated by Incuballiance Paris-Saclay from 2022 to 2024.