ArianeGroup and CNES sign Agreement on Prometheus® testing 01-15-2021 |  3 minutes

The agreement signed on January 12th aims to consolidate the development of Prometheus®, in particular by conducting testing at the Vernon site commencing in 2021. It is funded through the space component of the France Relance recovery plan, which also includes specific funding for Ariane 6 and a dedicated investment allocated to capacity-building at the ArianeGroup site in Vernon. CNES has been appointed operator of this component on behalf of the French Government.

This agreement was signed against a backdrop of heightened global competition in the field of launch vehicles, with a view to developing French expertise in liquid propulsion systems. The goal is to accelerate the Prometheus® schedule by beginning the first tests on the Vernon site at the end of 2021. The France Relance recovery plan also provides for an investment to support projects for the diversification of the Vernon site in hydrogen technologies.. 

The Prometheus® engine is at the heart  of the European strategy to prepare future launchers. It is intended to equip the Themis reusable stage demonstrator, and then the new family of European launchers which will succeed Ariane 6 and Vega-C.

In 2016, Prometheus® became a European project within the framework of the Future Launcher Preparatory Program (FLPP) within the European Space Agency (ESA). Eight countries are participating in this project: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. ESA recently awarded the contract for the initial development phase of Themis to ArianeGroup, building on ArianeWorks, the Innovation accelerator created by CNES and ArianeGroup.