Carbon fibers for a super-light upper stage of Ariane 6
ArianeGroup is working with MT Aerospace on behalf of the European Space Agency ESA to develop the PHOEBUS (Prototype for Highly OptimizEd Black Upper Stage) upper stage demonstrator for the new Ariane 6 upper stage made of super-lightweight composite materials based on carbon fibers.
The PHOEBUS upper stage demonstrator consists of a tank for liquid hydrogen mounted on a tank for liquid oxygen. For the first time, the tanks are made of carbon fibers and operated with cryogenic fuels, in particular hydrogen. This will be the world's largest demonstrator of a carbon fiber cryogenic tank to date. The PHOEBUS project is part of the "Future Launchers Preparatory Programme" of the European Space Agency ESA.
Functions & responsibilities
Together with MT Aerospace, ArianeGroup will develop, build and test the PHOEBUS upper stage demonstrator made of carbon fiber composites.
In future, the PHOEBUS upper stage demonstrator will be tested on the P5.2 upper stage test bench at DLR in Lampoldshausen. The tests include the filling and refueling cycle, the pressure build-up and the emptying of the tanks.
