DLR's RLV C5 Aims for 74% Payload to Orbit, Challenger to Starship
Germany's DLR proposes the RLV C5, a European next‑gen rocket that would use a SpaceLiner booster with built‑in wings and mid‑air capture, powered by liquid hydrogen and oxygen to deliver up to about 74% of its mass to low‑Earth orbit—far higher than SpaceX's Starship. The concept, outlined in a May 2025 paper and based on publicly logged telemetry, is still conceptual and would face development hurdles and Europe’s ability to outpace SpaceX's rapid iteration; Europe’s current players like Arianespace (Ariane 6), Isar Aerospace, and MaiaSpace are active but have not matched Starship’s performance.