LUMEN (Liquid Upper Stage Demonstrator Engine)

Initiation of the LUMEN demonstrator
The successfully tested and commissioned LUMEN technology demonstrator paves the way for a wide range of applications. It not only advances scientific expertise within DLR but also establishes a cutting-edge test environment which offers space industry stakeholders the opportunity to efficiently test and validate components and engine technologies in a flexible, modular environment.
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Oxygen turbopump
The DLR-developed oxygen turbopump after successful qualification.
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Animation: LUMEN technology demonstrator
DLR researchers are developing a pump-fuelled liquid oxygen (LOX) and methane engine as part of the LUMEN (Liquid Upper Stage Demonstrator Engine) project. It focuses on the behaviour of a complete liquid-fuelled rocket cycle and its individual components in a typical test environment. The tests are taking place at the European Research and Technology Test Bench P8.3 at DLR’s site in Lampoldshausen.
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The Liquid Upper Stage Demonstrator Engine (LUMEN) is a pump-fuelled liquid oxygen (LOX) and methane engine developed by the DLR Institute of Space Propulsion. It was put into operation in March 2024 at the European Research and Technology Test Bench P8.3 in Lampoldshausen. The LUMEN demonstrator is used to validate technologies that can only be tested in a complete rocket engine – a unique capability in Europe.

The focus with LUMEN is to investigate the behaviour of a complete liquid rocket cycle and its individual components in a typical test environment, from the combustion chamber to the turbopumps and valves. The demonstrator’s design, which is optimised for operation on the test bench without restrictions on weight or installation space, ensures excellent accessibility of all individual components for the intended measurements.

LUMEN offers a far more detailed insight into operating behaviour than would be possible with real rocket engines. DLR researchers are also investigating methods for AI-based engine control and health monitoring, which enable conclusions to be drawn about the service life of individual demonstrator components – necessary steps towards developing reusable rocket engines. As such, the project is an essential building block in the creation of a 'virtual engine'.

The main objectives of LUMEN are to increase DLR’s expertise in the field of rocket engines and to provide a modular environment for testing engine components up to a relatively high level of technological maturity. LUMEN also offers industrial companies and start-ups a broad range of potential applications, enabling the swift transfer of innovations for industrial use.

Kontakt

Sarah Dommers

Institute communication
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Space Propulsion
Management and Institut Office
Im Langen Grund, 74239 Hardthausen
Germany

Volker Speelmann

Head of Research Infrastructures
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Executive Board department for Innovation, Transfer and Research Infrastructure
Linder Höhe, 51147 Cologne