ArianeGroup selected by the French Space Agency, CNES, to prepare technologies for next-generation high performance engines

ArianeGroup has signed a contract with the French Space Agency (CNES) in order to prepare and validate the technologies for a new generation of very high thrust engines.

Aiming to reach between 200 and 300 tons of thrust, the new engine will be twice as powerful as the current Vulcain 2.1 main stage engine that propels Ariane 6.

“Under this new contract, ArianeGroup will be preparing the space technologies of the future, and expanding its range of liquid propulsion engines. In the evolving launcher market, payload capacity requirements are increasing. Launch vehicles will be bigger, and their engines more powerful. In anticipation of this need, ArianeGroup’s engineers are leveraging the company’s fantastic legacy in liquid propulsion technology to overcome today’s technical obstacles and develop the next-generation high-thrust engine for tomorrow’s heavy-lift launchers,” explains Valérie de Korver, VP Head of Liquid Propulsion Programs at ArianeGroup.

To achieve these goals, ArianeGroup will develop its expertise in the full-flow staged combustion cycle, the key technology needed to achieve very high thrust and propulsive efficiency.

As part of this development work, ArianeGroup’s team will continue their efforts to transition to smaller, more cost-effective engine architectures. To accelerate the process, a ‘test & learn’ approach will enable evaluation of the designs in real-life conditions directly on the engine, thereby shortening development cycle times.

The multi-stage roadmap includes R&T activities, sub-system and engine system design, manufacturing, and the hot-fire demonstration of a first engine version followed by a second demonstrator fully representative of the final engine.

In addition, ArianeGroup will give manufacturers the opportunity to integrate their parts as passengers on the demonstrator, to test them in extreme environments.