News

The development of a cost-effective and reusable engine, known as the Prometheus engine, for European rockets has made significant progress. This ongoing project has achieved key milestones in testing, including full ignition and a 30-second burn with re-ignition of an early prototype of the engine.

The tests, conducted at ArianeGroup’s test facility in Vernon, France, began with the first ignition in June 2023, followed by a 30-second firing and re-ignition on October 20. The Prometheus engine is designed to be a low-cost and reusable solution for European rockets, offering potential benefits for space exploration.

One of the key features of the Prometheus engine is its use of liquid oxygen-liquid methane fuel, which offers cleaner burning and simplified handling. This use of methane fuel enables reusability and reduces the cost of ground operations before and after flight. Additionally, the engine incorporates new materials and manufacturing techniques, which are expected to significantly reduce costs compared to previous rocket engines.

Developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and ArianeGroup, the Prometheus engine has a thrust of 1000 kN, making it highly versatile for use on various stages of Europe’s future launch vehicles. The engine is suitable for both core and booster stages, as well as upper stages.

ESA’s Prometheus program manager, Jean-Noel Caruana, stated that the tests conducted so far have made significant progress in addressing the challenges presented by this new technology. While testing has been done on a single prototype engine, the upcoming delivery of two more prototypes will accelerate the test effort. ArianeGroup, working under contract from ESA, plans to expand testing early next year at the German Aerospace Center’s (DLR) test site in Lampoldshausen, Germany, using a test bed modified for liquid methane fuel.

In parallel with the engine development, work is underway to develop a reusable rocket stage called Themis. This stage has been used in the early prototype testing of the Prometheus engine, and further advancements are being made to prepare a more advanced Themis prototype for hop-tests in Sweden. These tests will focus on testing the flight and landing capabilities of the rocket stage.

Definitions:
– Prometheus engine: A low-cost and reusable engine for European rockets developed by ESA and ArianeGroup that uses liquid oxygen-liquid methane fuel.
– Liquid methane: A form of fuel used in rocket engines that offers clean burning and simplified handling.
– Thrust: The force generated by a rocket engine that propels the rocket forward.
– Reusability: The ability to reuse components of a rocket, reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

Sources:
– ArianeGroup: https://www.ariane.group
– European Space Agency (ESA): https://www.esa.int

The post The Progress of the Prometheus Engine: A Cost-effective and Reusable Engine for European Rockets appeared first on Fagen Wasanni Technologies.