TheAriane集团has signed a new contract with the European Space Agency for a next generation rocket engine.
该合同于12月14日签署，将看到普罗米修斯发动机的开发，被描述为“非常低成本的引擎”，旨在从2030年开始发布。
The economics of space are changing with enterprises such as Rocket Labs, Space X andAerojet Rocketdyneaiming to produce launch vehicles that lower the cost of missions. Other companies such as相对性空间are also using additive manufacturing as part of a vision of“scaling and sustaining an interplanetary society”。
普罗米修斯发动机将以液体氧和甲烷运行，预计将花费大约100万欧元。这比当前的火箭发动机（例如Vulcain®2）少10倍。
To achieve such a cost-saving Ariane Group will use, “an entirely new approach [including] the use of innovative design and production methods and tools.” Specific details of the production techniques are still under wraps, however the company has confirmed that 3D printing will be used – with the gas generator named as one of the 3D printed components.
Testing scheduled for 2020 at DLR
The contract was signed by Daniel Neuenschwander, Director of Space Transportation at the European Space Agency (ESA), and Alain Charmeau, CEO of ArianeGroup. It covers the design, manufacturing and testing of the first two examples of the Prometheus demonstrator.
Once construction is complete the Prometheus is scheduled for testing in 2020, using the P5 test bed of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Lampoldshausen, Germany.
The Prometheus engine marks a switch from previous propellants used by Ariane. The current liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen combination will be replaced by a mix of liquid oxygen and methane. Other changes will include the “digitalization of engine control and diagnostics, and manufacturing using 3D printing in a connected factory environment.”
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