> 2. Isar Aerospace is the first fully private European company (a startup) to do this. Sure. But that's different from "Europe now has sovereign access to spa

> 2. Isar Aerospace is the first fully private European company (a startup) to do this. Sure. But that's different from "Europe now has sovereign access to space." don't you think? If anything, a state-owned manufacturer is more "sovereign access" than a private company who can decide who they do business with. (Even though state regulates exports but they could decide where to manufacture things.) > 3. It is the first launch to orbit from geographically European soil. French Guiana is politically part of France, but geographically obviously part of South America. Sure. Though Norway has been part of Europe for a while and their space port isn't from yesterday either. A milestone? Sure. Never seen before sovereignity? Um... I don't have answers to your other questions as I'd ask them too.