Airbus Safran Launchers has submitted its formal bid to design and build Europe's next-generation rocket, a contract to be valued at around 3.2 billion euros ($3.6 billion) that the European Space Agency hopes to sign by the end of June. The contract does not include a new Ariane 6 launch pad, a contract with an estimated value of about 600 million euros that is under the responsibility of the French space agency, CNES, not the industry team. Airbus' bid, submitted May 7, will be put on a fast-track evaluation at ESA, which with Airbus Safran Launchers has already determined most of the details. The goal is to develop the vehicle in time for an inaugural launch in 2020.
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