{"id":271732,"date":"2025-07-18T09:56:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T09:56:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/271732\/"},"modified":"2025-07-18T09:56:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T09:56:17","slug":"france-names-space-rocket-orbital-baguette-one-and-can-you-spot-the-clever-nod-to-star-wars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/271732\/","title":{"rendered":"France names space rocket Orbital BAGUETTE One (and can you spot the clever nod to Star Wars?)"},"content":{"rendered":"

By KEVIN ADJEI-DARKO<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 04:19 EDT, 18 July 2025 | Updated: 04:34 EDT, 18 July 2025 <\/p>\n

France<\/a> has officially entered the space race with a rocket named Orbital Baguette One.<\/p>\n

The country known for wine, cheese and existential cinema is now hoping to take over the cosmos with a crusty carb-themed spacecraft.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The name is not just a nod to one of France’s most iconic exports, but also a wink to Star Wars,\u00a0with the OB-1 abbreviation paying a playful tribute to Jedi Master\u00a0Obi-Wan Kenobi.<\/p>\n

While rockets steeped in fantasy, such as Pegasus, Antares, and Atlas V, have dominated the space race, the French have decided to take a more boulangerie chic approach when choosing a name.<\/p>\n

Backed by President Emmanuel Macron<\/a> and developed by a start-up called HyPrSpace, founded in 2019, Baguette One is a small, reusable suborbital launcher that promises cheap and eco-friendly satellite transport.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A test flight is scheduled from a French military base, with a bigger version, Orbital Baguette One, to follow.<\/p>\n

Co-founder Sylvain Bataillard said the company wanted to be ‘serious but not sinister’ when picking the name.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The rocket uses what HyPrSpace calls ‘revolutionary hybrid propulsion,’ powered by a mix of liquid and solid propellants, some made from recycled plastic.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"An <\/p>\n

An artist impression of the rocket, which is said to use\u00a0‘revolutionary hybrid propulsion,’ powered by a mix of liquid and solid propellants, some made from recycled plastic<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The name is not just a nod to one of France’s most iconic exports but also a wink to Star Wars, with the OB-1 abbreviation paying playful tribute to Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi<\/p>\n

There are no turbo-pumps, and the chamber is pressurised with helium, which the company says helps keep costs low.<\/p>\n

Despite the playful branding, the project has serious backing. France’s government has already handed over \u20ac35 million, with another \u20ac400 million up for grabs if initial launches succeed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The defence ministry is giving up military bases in southwest France and Provence for testing, making this the first rocket launch from mainland France.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to The Times, TV presenters on TF1 had a hard time trying to keep a straight face when reporting on the project this week, especially after showing an AI image of a baguette on a launchpad.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But with global demand for satellite launches booming, no one is laughing at the potential.<\/p>\n

The Novaspace consultancy predicts more than 26,000 satellites will be launched by 2032.\u00a0<\/p>\n

HyPrSpace wants to corner a slice of that market with its microlauncher, which it describes as a satellite ‘taxi’ offering flexible lift-off dates at half the usual cost.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Most small rockets charge \u20ac40,000 per kilogram. Baguette One aims to do it for around \u20ac20,000.<\/p>\n

\"France <\/p>\n

France President Emanuel Macron has given the launcher his full backing\u00a0<\/p>\n

While SpaceX continues to dominate and Europe lags behind, France is hoping its crusty challenger will rise to the occasion.\u00a0<\/p>\n

OB-1 may sound like a bakery joke, but Macron’s government is betting it could be the future of French space travel.<\/p>\n

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