EU Bets €10.6B on Iris² to Rival Starlink

The EU has committed €10.6 billion to launch Iris², a 290-satellite constellation set for 2031, aiming to outshine Elon Musk’s Starlink. Spearheaded by Eutelsat and backed by major aerospace firms like Airbus, 61% of the funding is public. Iris² will bolster Europe’s digital sovereignty with secure gov and commercial communications. Meanwhile, the UK dances to its own space tune post-Brexit. It’s a stellar example of unity… with a dash of friendly rivalry!