Prometheus full ignition, ArianeGroup test center Vernon, France June 22, 2023. The Prometheus engine has made key development in screening, appealing low-cost and reusability for European rockets. Concurrent Themis rocket stage advancement is also underway. Credit: ArianeGroup
The advancement of a cost-efficient, recyclable Prometheus engine for European rockets has actually seen considerable progress.
An ongoing task to develop a low-cost, recyclable engine for European rockets made considerable progress over the summertime and fall, with a series of tests that achieved complete ignition and, ultimately, a 30-second burn with re-ignition of an early model of the Prometheus engine.
Work at ArianeGroups test facility in Vernon, France accomplished first ignition in June 2023 (visualized), followed by the 30-second firing and re-ignition on October 20.
Prometheus complete ignition, ArianeGroup test center Vernon, France June 22, 2023. The Prometheus engine has actually made key development in screening, promising low-cost and reusability for European rockets. Prometheus, established by ESA and ArianeGroup, is an ultra-low cost recyclable rocket engine demonstrator which utilizes liquid oxygen– methane propellants and has a thrust of 1000 kN. Work so far has actually been done with Prometheus installed in an early model of a multiple-use rocket phase, called Themis, which is being established in parallel with the engine under agreement from ESA.
Features and Benefits of the Prometheus Engine
The 100-tonne thrust class Prometheus burns liquid oxygen-liquid methane fuel. Methane is clean burning and streamlines handling, to help enable reusability and reduce the cost of ground operations before and after flight.
Extensive usage of new materials and manufacturing methods is likewise expected to minimize costs to just a tenth of Ariane 5s Vulcain 2, an updated version of which– Vulcain 2.1– powers the core stage of Ariane 6.
Prometheus, developed by ESA and ArianeGroup, is an ultra-low cost recyclable rocket engine demonstrator which uses liquid oxygen– methane propellants and has a thrust of 1000 kN. This engine is highly versatile, making it suitable for use on core, booster and upper phases of Europes future launch cars. Credit: ArianeGroup Holding
ESAs Insights and Future Testing
According to ESAs Prometheus program supervisor Jean-Noel Caruana, trial run over the previous year at Vernon have actually made “substantial” development towards resolving many of the obstacles raised by enthusiastic new innovation.
He added that testing up until now has actually been done on a single prototype engine, however the test effort ought to accelerate with the impending shipment of two additional examples. ArianeGroup, which is developing Prometheus under contract from ESA, will expand testing early next year with the installation of among these models on a test bed modified for liquid methane fuel at German aerospace company DLRs test website in Lampoldshausen, Germany.
Parallel Developments
Work so far has actually been done with Prometheus installed in an early prototype of a reusable rocket phase, called Themis, which is being established in parallel with the engine under contract from ESA. While engine screening continues, work is also underway to prepare a more advanced Themis model for a series of “hop-tests” in Kiruna, Sweden. The goal will be to take off and rise to as high as 100 m, to inspect flight and landing ability.