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<\/p>\nEurope has just completed the first successful hot-fire test of its reusable Prometheus engine integrated with the Themis first-stage demonstrator at the ArianeGroup site in Vernon, France. The hot-fire test consisted of Prometheus performing a 12-second burn on the Themis demonstrator on June 22, 2023.<\/p>\n
The two components are part of a broader European launch program, called Ariane Next, which is focused on developing a fleet of reusable rockets that will enter into service in the 2030s. The program is a joint effort between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the French Space Agency (CNES) with ArianeGroup as the prime contractor.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Initial Testing Begins <\/p>\n
The Prometheus engine is powered by oxygen and methane, but to align with ArianeGroup\u2019s environmental innovation endeavors, the first hot-fire test included a bio-methane fuel. ArianeGroup said in a statement that carrying out these tests with Prometheus and Themis indicated the behavior of the components operating together within an extended mission profile.<\/p>\n
\u201cYesterday\u2019s test reached all the test objectives (operating points, duration) and is a crucial milestone on the long way to an operational product, confirming a viable product,\u201d J\u00e9r\u00f4me Breteau, Head of the Future Space Transportation systems at ESA, told NSF.<\/p>\n
\u201cFurther activities are planned to improve and complete the engine. For example, the engine configuration does not incorporate nozzle extension, and some combustion element manufacturing technologies are developed in parallel and not yet embarked.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prometheus engine testing is scheduled to continue at the end of 2023 at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) test bench in Lampoldshausen, Germany.<\/p>\n
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Prometheus and Themis hot-fire test lasted 12 seconds. (Credit: ArianeGroup)<\/p>\n
Ariane Next \u2013 Europe\u2019s Future Fleet <\/p>\n
Ariane Next forms the building blocks of Europe\u2019s ambitions to develop reusable launch vehicles, and Themis and Prometheus are some of the first concepts to be tested and developed.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Between 2015 and 2017, CNES and ArianeGroup conceived the idea of Prometheus, a reusable rocket engine powered by oxygen and methane. Then, following ESA\u2019s Space19+ Ministerial Conference in 2019, which focused on proposing \u2018next generation\u2019 launch technologies, Themis was born.<\/p>\n
One of the main differences between Prometheus compared to the oxygen and hydrogen-powered Vulcain engine that powered the Ariane 5 \u2014 and Vulcain 2.1 that will power the Ariane 6 \u2014 is that Prometheus will burn oxygen and methane. The transition to methane is largely because it is considered cheaper, easier to handle, and keeps liquid at a similar temperature as oxygen.<\/p>\n
According to CNES, the engine will be reusable up to five times and can deliver variable thrusts of up to 100 tonnes. Although the engine will provide lower thrust than the Vulcain 2.1, which delivers 130 tonnes in a vacuum, methane is six times denser than hydrogen and will enable \u201cmore compact\u201d rocket stages that are easier to recover. The Prometheus is re-ignitable, which makes it suitable for core, booster, and upper-stage application. The engine could also serve as a precursor for Vulcain 2.1 improvements, Breteau said.<\/p>\n