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ArianeGroup and Venture Orbital Systems: a fresh wind for space in Europe 10-07-2021 | 2 minutes
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A close-up on this young company from Reims in France with which ArianeGroup signed an agreement last May to test their rocket engines
The aim of Venture Orbital Systems (VOS) is to develop a micro-launcher for nanosatellites. Understanding that different nanosats may have different requirements do not necessarily have the same needs across the board, nor involve the same challenges with regards to access to space, Stanislas Maximin (CEO), Ilan Saidi-Bekerman (COO) and Kévin Monvoisin (CTO) saw an opportunity to offer a new, tailor-made solution for them.
“The collaboration with ArianeGroup came about quite naturally”, says Florian Randriamahaleo, VOS’ Head of Communication.
“We were looking for a partner with the necessary infrastructure, know-how and experience to help us with the test firing campaign for the Navier engines. Having a reliable partner enabling our engines to be tested in the best possible conditions is ideal for VOS.”
VOS is currently designing the six-meter Boréal demonstrator and the 15-meter Zéphyr micro-launcher, with the names taken from the long tradition of European mythology.
Both are fitted with the LOX/RP1 Navier engine which will be built by the end of the year entirely using 3D printing and will undergo some preliminary tests before being sent to the ArianeGroup site in Vernon.
ArianeGroup sees these new relationships with New Space start-ups as a very valuable means of enhancing its long-standing capabilities and paving the way for future innovations.
With this MoU signing, VOS will be able to carry out engine tests at ArianeGroup’s Vernon site facilities from February 2022.
