Prometheus Reusable Rocket Engine Achieves Full Ignition
Work to develop a reusable rocket engine for European boosters is progressing, with full ignition of an early prototype of Prometheus. On June 22, 2023 at ArianeGroup’s test facility in Vernon, France the Prometheus prototype achieved full ignition during a 12-second burn.
According to ArianeGroup, which is developing Prometheus under contact to ESA, testing will continue at the end of 2023 at the German aerospace agency DLR’s test site in Lampoldshausen, Germany.
The 100-metric ton thrust class Prometheus features extensive use of new materials and manufacturing techniques designed to reduce its cost to just a tenth of Ariane 5’s Vulcain 2, an upgraded version of which – Vulcain 2.1 – powers the core stage of Ariane 6.
The reusable rocket engine burns liquid oxygen-liquid methane fuel. Methane is clean burning and simplifies handling, to help enable reusability and reduce the cost of ground operations before and after flight. A version using liquid hydrogen-liquid oxygen is also being developed.
It features variable thrust and multiple ignition capability. Additive layer manufacturing – so-called 3D printing – features extensively, reducing the number of parts, speeding up production and reducing waste.
Prometheus Engine to Undergo 'Hop Tests' in the Future
For the Vernon and Lampoldshausen tests, Prometheus is mounted in a prototype of a reusable rocket stage, called Themis, which is being developed in parallel with the engine. Later, this engine-stage combination will attempt a series of “hop-tests”, lifting a few meters above the ground to check flight and landing capability.
At the Space19+ Council meeting in Seville, Spain in 2019, ESA received full funding to bring the current engine design to a technical maturity suitable for industry. Developed by ArianeGroup, Prometheus is now seen as key in the effort to prepare competitive future European access to space.
By applying a design-to-cost approach to manufacturing the engine, ESA aims to lower the cost of production by a factor of ten of the current main stage Ariane 5 Vulcain 2 engine.
Together, Prometheus and Themis are envisioned to be common technological building blocks for a future family of European launchers.
(Source: ESA news release. Images provided)