Avio tested a new LNG rocket engine

• 10 Dec 2018

Recently, in Colleferro (Italy), Avio successfully tested the prototype of the new M10 liquid oxygen-methane engine, developed by Avio in partnership with the European Space Agency within the Vega E (Vega Evolution) program. The prototype is a scaled model of the third stage propulsion engine which will equip the Vega launcher starting from 2024.

The test, successfully completed, represents an European and World record, as recognized by the French media as well comparing the Italian prototype’s performance with the ArianeGroup’s one, the only continental aerospace company similar to the Italian counterpart.

Part of the new engine’s research and field testing will take place in the new technological facility known as “Space Propulsion Test Facility” within the territory of Sarrabus (South Eastern Sardinia), thanks to a partnership between Avio, the Italian Space Agency, the Aerospace District of Sardinia and the Sardinia Region report the local media.

The facility, which involves an investment of about 28 million of euro, parts of the Vega launcher will be developed, as well as experimentation and research activities that will employ 35 people from 2020, mostly engineers, chemists, measurement experts, IT specialists and specialized technicians.

The technology adopted represents a true innovation for both propulsion efficiency and environmental sustainability, given its reduced emissions and combustion waste. The prototype has been structured through additive manufacturing following Avio’s SMSP (Single Material Single Part) patent, exploiting advanced 3D-laser printing technologies.

To realize this Engine an European Industrial team has been created with Italy (and AVIO) to lead an Organization that involves industries from Belgium, Czech republic, Switzerland, France, Austria and Romania. In the Italian company’s plan, the first European engine natural gas fuelled will pave the way for a new generation of launchers (Vega E and Vega E Light) with the aim of increasing the small European launchers’ competitiveness exploiting technologies and infrastructures already developed for Vega and Vega C launchers.

M10 is a cryogenic LOX/LCH4 10-tons class liquid rocket engine and it will be the Upper Stage of the Vega E launcher. M10 is based on an expander closed-cycle and it consists in a multiple-start regenerative cooled single chamber. Combustion is initiated by a torch igniter, which is fed by gaseous propellants. Among the project’s objectives there is also the possibility to adopt the new generation of “green fuels” (with the likelihood to use bioLNG fuels).

VEGA E, the launcher that will use the new engine, today in the early stages of development, will be the devoted vector for small satellites starting from 2024. Thanks to its innovative three-stage architecture and to the revolutionary CNG, and liquid oxygen engine for the highest stage, it  will be able to release various satellites in different orbits during the same mission at a competitive cost while maintaining the standards of reliability and precision of Vega.

Giulio Ranzo, CEO of Avio, commented: “Avio is very satisfied with the M10 test result, the first European prototype of a LOx-Methane engine, a truly cutting-edge technology with extremely low environmental impact, available to very few players worldwide. In the medium term, this engine will allow to replace the last two propulsion stages (Z9 and Avum) with a new cryogenic propulsion stage far more efficient and flexible. Our objective is to keep on increasing Vega’s cost competitiveness and maneuverability to orbit small satellites in low earth orbit, while the possibility to launch bigger satellites in geostationary and medium orbits will be ensured by Ariane 6”.