Research and Test Infrastructure

Upper Stage Test Stand P5.2

Flexible, adaptable and cost-efficient

The highly complex and extremely powerful P5.2 upper stage test stand is the latest test stand at DLR in Lampoldshausen and completes the portfolio of the DLR test site with its ability to qualify entire upper stages. The test stand was developed and built as part of the development of the future European launcher Ariane 6 on behalf of the European Space Agency ESA.

Video: Hot run test of the Ariane 6 upper stage at DLR in Lampoldshausen
With the successful test on September 1, 2023 at DLR in Lampoldshausen, the newly designed upper stage of Ariane 6 has taken an important step towards qualification and first launch. With two ignitions of the Vinci engine and two ignitions of the APU, a highly complex requirement profile was mapped on the P5.2 test stand.

Video: Hot run test of the Ariane 6 upper stage at DLR in Lampoldshausen

Your consent to the storage of data ('cookies') is required for the playback of this video on Quickchannel.com. You can view and change your current data storage settings at any time under privacy.

Video: Hot run test of the Ariane 6 upper stage at DLR in Lampoldshausen
With the successful test on September 1, 2023 at DLR in Lampoldshausen, the newly designed upper stage of Ariane 6 has taken an important step towards qualification and first launch. With two ignitions of the Vinci engine and two ignitions of the APU, a highly complex requirement profile was mapped on the P5.2 test stand.
Credit:

ESA/ArianeGroup/DLR - Hill Media 2023

Areas of application

    • Low-pressure test bench for testing entire upper stages under ground conditions with the engine running
    • Fueling and defueling tests of cryogenic upper stages

Fuels

 

Liquid hydrogen

maximum 2.7 kilograms per second

Liquid oxygen

maximum 10.3 kilograms per second

Number of test positions

    • one test position

Current test object

The P5.2 test stand was specially designed and built by DLR to test the Upper Liquide Propulsion Module (ULPM) of the Ariane 6 upper stage. The upper stage consists of the Vinci engine, which can be ignited several times, the tanks for liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, pipes, valves and the electronic and hydraulic monitoring and control systems.

Geplantes Testobjekt

Project

PHOEBUS

ArianeGroup is working with MT Aerospace on behalf of the European Space Agency ESA to develop the PHOEBUS upper stage demonstrator for the new Ariane 6 upper stage made of super-lightweight composite materials based on carbon fibers.

Facts & Figures

Building

 

Surface area

5.000 Quadratmeter

Length

35 meters

Width

45 meters

Height

30 meters

Test cell

 

Width

14 meters

Depth

14 meters

Height

24 meters

Maximum thrust

250 kilonewtons

Firing axis

Vertical

Supply

 

Helium (expandable)

8 cubic meters

Nitrogen (expandable)

40 cubic meters

Liquid oxygen (from P5)

180 cubic meters

Liquid hydrogen (from P5)

600 cubic meters

Measurement signal acquisition

about 1,000

Financing

The test stand is financed from the German ESA contributions to the Ariane 6 development program. The DLR Space Agency is responsible for providing and coordinating these funds on behalf of the German government.

Publications

Upper Stage Test Facility P5.2

553.3 KB | PDF

Contact

Daniel Leiß

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