The True Cost of Space: Reflex Aerospace on Building Europe’s NewSpace Future

In an episode of “a founders podcast” hosted by Thimo Gleitsmann, Walter Ballheimer, Co-Founder and CEO of Reflex Aerospace, sits down to unpack one of the most fascinating and misunderstood questions in the European space industry: What does a satellite really cost?

Ballheimer’s story reflects the evolution of NewSpace in Europe. Having founded one of Germany’s first small-satellite companies in the early 2010s, he helped launch more than a hundred satellites before founding Reflex Aerospace in 2021. Today, Reflex builds custom, high-performance satellite platforms designed to be delivered faster, smarter, and more affordably than traditional systems.

From CubeSats to Complex Missions

In the podcast, Ballheimer explains that while early “CubeSats,” small satellites the size of a shoebox, cost only tens of thousands of euros, truly operational spacecraft start at several million. “At Reflex, we build satellites the size of a washing machine or even a small car,” he says, “capable of serving defense, communications, and scientific missions that require real performance.”

This shift captures the essence of Europe’s NewSpace movement: bridging the gap between university-scale projects and the large, state-funded spacecraft of established aerospace giants. Reflex Aerospace represents the next generation of satellite manufacturers - agile, privately financed, and mission-driven, helping Europe achieve sovereign capability in orbit.

A Changing Industry

Ballheimer discusses how the global space sector is transitioning from state-driven to commercially driven innovation. Companies like SpaceX transformed what was once government-exclusive technology into a fast-moving, investor-backed market. Europe, he argues, must follow suit. “Space isn’t just exploration anymore,” he notes. “It’s infrastructure - as essential as energy or telecommunications.”

That belief drives Reflex’s approach: combining German engineering precision with startup agility to deliver satellites on timelines measured in months, not years.

A Vision for European Sovereignty

The conversation ends on a forward-looking note: Europe needs its own solutions. “It’s not enough to rely on global providers,” Ballheimer says. “We need European technology for European missions.” Reflex Aerospace is already making that vision real and proving that innovation, efficiency, and ambition can thrive within the continent’s borders.

The full discussion, rich with insight into startup growth, funding challenges, and the future of orbital sustainability, is available on “a founders podcast” by Thimo Gleitsmann. Listen here.