Astrium Space Propulsion

Rocket engines, thrust chambers, satellite propulsion systems, thrusters, ion propulsion, propellant tanks, valves, hot-fire testing and more.

Ariane 5

Astrium's Space Propulsion Division, located in Ottobrunn, Germany, is the European centre of competence for rocket engines, thrust chambers and all related technologies.

Rocket engines and thrust chambers from Ottobrunn have contributed to the success of all versions of the Ariane launcher family. Rocket engine technologies from Ottobrunn have also contributed toward the success of the world's first reusable man-rated rocket engine used on the US Space Shuttle.

Together with our related sites at Lampoldshausen, Bremen, Friedrichshafen and Trauen, we have been specialising in the design, development, production, integration and testing of rocket engines and complete space propulsion systems for almost 50 years.

Together, the Ottobrunn and Lampoldshausen Centres supply all of the flight proven propulsive means for the access, utilisation and exploration of space. Our smallest thruster could power a model car small enough to hold in one's hand, while the thrust chamber of just one of our largest rocket engines could power a jumbo jet.

Thrust from Astrium Ottobrunn powers the core stage and upper stage engines of Ariane 5. Thrust from Astrium Lampoldshausen controls the pitch and roll of Ariane 5 during its ascent, as well as attitude control of the Ariane 5 upper stage.

The Lampoldshausen Centre also supplies the propulsion systems for many of the satellites and spacecraft launched by Ariane 5 and other international launch vehicles.

Lampoldshausen Centre
The Lampoldshausen Centre specialises in the design, development, manufacture, and testing of thrusters and complete propulsion systems for orbital satellites, interplanetary space probes, platforms, automated logistics vehicles, upper stage AOCS systems and launch vehicle roll control systems.

Expertise is within the fields of ion, cold gas, monopropellant hydrazine and bipropellant thrusters ranging from 0.02 N to 500 N thrust.

Hot-fire testing of rocket engines and thrusters is performed at the Astrium Lampoldshausen Test Centre, which is located with the ESA test facility within the German Aerospace Centre (DLR)

Examples of the different types of spacecraft propulsion systems developed, manufactured, tested and produced at the Lampoldshausen Centre are featured in the Lampoldshausen Showcase.

Amongst current responsibilities, the Lampoldshausen team are supplying much of the propulsion system and hot-fire test services for the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) - the first fully automated spaceship of its kind. The ATV will be launched every 15 months to resupply the crew of the International Space Station with equipment, fuel, food, water and air.

Using an ES ATV version of Ariane 5, the maiden flight of the ATV, named 'Jules Verne', is scheduled for March 2008.

Ottobrunn Centre
The Ottobrunn Centre specialises in the design, development and manufacturing of rocket engines and thrust chambers for launch vehicles and upper stages. Expertise is within the fields of bipropellant and cryogenic propellant rocket engines ranging from 500 N to 1350 kN thrust.

The Ottobrunn Manufacturing and Production Centre has one of the the most modern manufacturing facilities in the world, using the latest state of art robot, automated and CNC manufacturing processes. These facilities are used for the manufacturing and production of rocket engines, thrust chambers, engine nozzles, injector elements, propellant & pressurant valves, precision aerospace components and assemblies.

Amongst current activities, the Ottobrunn team are supplying the thrust chamber assembly for the 'Vinci' expander cycle engine. Unlike traditional turbopump cryogenic engines, the Vinci expander cycle engine does not need a gas generator to drive the LOX and LH2 turbo-pumps.

Vinci is the first European re-ignitable upper stage engine and will be used on the new Ariane 5 cryogenic upper stage, designated ESC-B. With an Isp of 465 sec and a vacuum thrust of 18 tonnes, Vinci will increase the performance of Ariane 5 to around 12 tonnes.

Over four decades of experience and achievement
As world leaders in space propulsion, the Ottobrunn and Lampoldshausen sites have forged the way ahead in European space propulsion development with such achievements as:

The first staged combustion cycle rocket engine in 1963.
The first green propellant rocket engine in 1963.
The first hydrogen rocket engine in 1966.
The first fluorine rocket engine in 1970.
The first pulsed hydrogen rocket engine in 1972.
The first hypersonic ram jet engine in 1992.

The green propellant rocket engine development activities that started in Ottobrunn in 1963, continue today. These activities are based on a wealth of experience, advanced modelling and analytical tools, highly efficient rocket engine technologies, the very latest manufacturing techniques and readily available test facilities.

Heritage
A pictorial synopsis of our past heritage and future milestones in space propulsion development is summarised in the following 6 decades:

1960 - 1969
1970 - 1979
1980 - 1989
1990 - 1999
2000 - 2009
2010 - 2019

Summary
The reliability and performance of our liquid propellant rocket engines, thrusters and space propulsion systems are best judged by our customers who have entrusted us with supplying the propulsive means for the fulfilment and accomplishment of their missions for almost four decades. This applies not only to launch vehicle core stage and upper stage propulsion, but also to the many hundreds of international spacecraft and satellites in orbit that are dependant on thrust from our two sites at Ottobrunn and Lampoldshausen.

We are able to provide thrust for any space mission or application through the use of our rocket engines, thrust chambers, bipropellant thrusters, monopropellant thrusters, ion engines, satellite propulsion systems and propulsion systems for interplanetary spacecraft.

Today, our space propulsion developments continue with the future evolution of Ariane 5, higher performing rocket engines and thrusters, environmentally friendly propellants, alternative space propulsion, future reusable space transportation systems, new space technologies, new materials and new manufacturing processes and procedures.

Implementation of new technologies is supported by the Bavarian Research Foundation. To enhance future developments, a company owned test centre for satellite and launcher propulsion was established in 2002.

Notable investments have also been made in production areas for high performance machining and galvanising. Astrium has also invested a total of Euro17.5M from its own funds into the Ottobrunn site. This high technology location in Bavaria will thus continue to be the centre of European propulsion systems competence in the future.

Contact for Further Information

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