Project

Prometheus

The P5 test bench
The main stage engines of Ariane 5 and Ariane 6 have been tested on the P5 test stand. In future, the engine tests for the next generation of European launch vehicles will take place here.

The Prometheus® programme of the European Space Agency (ESA) aims to develop a demonstrator for a reusable 100 tonnes thrust class engine for future generations of reusable, environmentally friendly and cost-effective European launcher. Prometheus® is a state-of-the-art modulated thrust engine fuelled by a combination of liquid oxygen (LOX) and methane (LCH4). A version with a thrust of 120 tonnes is being developed in parallel to the 100 tonnes thrust class. This will be operated with liquid oxygen and hydrogen (LH2) in order to also test the technological developments with this fuel combination.

Engine manufacturer

ArianeGroup

Functions & Responsibilities

Prometheus® also relies on Ariane's long-standing industrial partners, such as APP (Netherlands), AVIO (Italy), GKN Aerospace (Sweden) and Safran Aero Booster (Belgium). The French space agency CNES, which initiated the programme together with ArianeGroup, continues to contribute to the development of Prometheus® by providing technical support to ESA.

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Lampoldshausen will carry out the test campaigns for the Prometheus® engines on the P5 test stand.

Research and Test Infrastructure

Research and Test Infrastructure

Test Bench P5

The main stage engines for Ariane 5 have been tested and qualified on the P5 test stand. This includes the modified Vulcain 2.1 engine, which is used in the new Ariane 6 launcher.

Research and Test Infrastructure

Innovation Test Bench P3

The P3 innovation test bench is a modern and flexible facility for the further development of tomorrow's space propulsion systems.

The P5 test stand is ESA's largest test facility, which the DLR Institute operates on the site in Lampoldshausen. The team at the facility is now preparing the P5 test stand for its new task: the new-generation Prometheus liquid oxygen / methane engine. In future, it will be possible to test several fuel combinations and switch quickly between them. Tests can be carried out with both the traditional liquid oxygen / liquid hydrogen combination and the liquid oxygen / methane combination. After the conversion and expansion, P5 will be the most modern and flexible test facility of its kind.

Related projects

Project

ETID

The ETID engine model is to be used for next-generation heavy-lift rockets and is a demonstrator for a liquid oxygen / methane upper-stage engine with 100 kilonewtons of thrust.

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Contact

Michael Wohlhüter

Project Leader
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Space Propulsion
Test Facilities
Im Langen Grund, 74239 Hardthausen
Germany