Develops, manufactures and tests chemical and electric space propulsion systems, engines, tanks and components for satellites and spacecraft.
ArianeGroup GmbH
Lampoldshausen · Taufkirchen (Ottobrunn) · Bremen · Trauen/FassbergNew on Amplifa
About ArianeGroup Orbital Propulsion
Through its Orbital Propulsion Centre division in Lampoldshausen, ArianeGroup GmbH is a provider of orbital space propulsion. The European centre of excellence for space propulsion, located on the DLR site, has been developing, producing, integrating and testing chemical monopropellant, bipropellant and electric propulsion systems (radio-frequency ion technology), subsystems and components for over 50 years, for satellites, orbital and interplanetary spacecraft, re-entry vehicles, ISS resupply missions and the NASA/ESA Orion European Service Module. Customers receive a single point of contact for the complete propulsion system across the entire value chain, from system design to after-launch services; all key components such as engines, tanks and fluid components are manufactured in-house. Propellant tank production is located in Bremen, the Trauen centre produces the RESUS submarine rescue system, the TEXUS and MAXUS sounding rockets and ultra-pure hydrazine. In Lampoldshausen, green, non-toxic propellants are additionally researched and additive manufacturing (3D printing) is used for engines.
- Site
- Lampoldshausen
- Processes
- Monopropellant hydrazine engines (1N, 20N), Bipropellant engines (10N, 200N, 400N), Apogee motors (400N), Radio-frequency ion engines (RIT μX, RIT 10 EVO, RIT 2X), Propellant tanks (surface tension, diaphragm, bladder, high pressure), Additive manufacturing (3D printing/ALM) of rocket and spacecraft engines, Green alternative propellants (ADN, H2O2, GOX/GH2, ionic liquids, HAN), Hot-fire testing (vacuum and sea-level conditions)
- Materials
- Hydrazine, MMH, MON, Xenon, Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), ADN-based propellant (LMP-103S), GOX/GH2, Ionic liquids
- Certificates
- Hot-fire tests (vacuum and sea level, mN–3000 N), Vibration testing and thermal-vacuum testing, Leak testing and end-to-end verification, High-vacuum facilities for electric propulsion
- Industries
- Space (satellites, orbital and interplanetary spacecraft), Human spaceflight (ISS, Orion), Launch vehicles (Ariane 5, Vega), Defence and navy, Microgravity research
- 01
System design and engineering
- 02
In-house manufacturing of engines, tanks, valves and fluid components
- 03
Integration of propulsion systems and modules
- 04
Hot-fire and environmental testing
- 05
Propellant supply, fueling and launch support
- 06
LEOP and IOT support after launch
Propellants and Processes
Hydrazine (monopropellant)
Monopropellant engines 1 N, 20 N and 400 N as well as PM25 modules and ultra-pure hydrazine from Trauen.
MMH/MON (bipropellant)
Hypergolic bipropellant for 10-N, 200-N and 400-N engines and apogee motors.
Xenon
Propellant for the radio-frequency ion engines RIT μX, RIT 10 EVO and RIT 2X.
ADN-based propellant (LMP-103S)
Green, non-toxic alternative to hydrazine, qualified with partner ECAPS for small LEO platforms.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
Monopropellant and hybrid propellant; 3D-printed H2O2 engines with only two parts.
GOX/GH2
Propellants produced by water electrolysis as a green alternative.
Solid propellant (S-30, S-31)
Solid propellant of the TEXUS and MAXUS sounding rockets.
Additive manufacturing (3D printing)
Additive Layer Manufacturing for green engines; reduces development time and cost and improves the buy-to-fly ratio.
Sites
Lampoldshausen
DEDesign, development, manufacturing, production, integration and testing of spacecraft propulsion systems
- Materials
- Hydrazine, MMH/MON, Xenon, green propellants
- Rocket test facility (vacuum and sea-level testing, mN to 3000 N)
- Test stand for Vega upper stage
- ATV propulsion test facility
- Engine test facility
- High-vacuum facilities for electric propulsion
Taufkirchen (Ottobrunn)
DEAdministrative offices, contracts, business development, strategy and project management
Bremen
DEPropellant tanks, roll control and attitude control systems for launch vehicles; integration of crewed spacecraft and
- Materials
- Hydrazine, MMH/MON, helium
Trauen (Fassberg)
DEDevelopment and production of the RESUS submarine rescue system and the TEXUS and MAXUS sounding rockets; production of
- Materials
- Hydrazine, solid propellant (S-30, S-31)
Products and Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monopropellant hydrazine engines (1N, 20N)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Hydrazine |
| Bipropellant engines (10N, 200N, 400N)Engineering | – | – | – | – | MMH, MON |
| Apogee motors (400N)Engineering | – | – | – | – | MMH, MON |
| Radio-frequency ion engines (RIT μX, RIT 10 EVO, RIT 2X)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Xenon |
| Propellant tanks (surface tension, diaphragm, bladder, high pressure)Joining | – | – | – | – | Hydrazine, MMH, MON, Helium |
| Additive manufacturing (3D printing/ALM) of rocket and spacecraft enginesAdditive | – | – | – | – | H2O2, Hydrazine |
| Green alternative propellants (ADN, H2O2, GOX/GH2, ionic liquids, HAN)Engineering | – | – | – | – | ADN/LMP-103S, Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), GOX/GH2, Ionic liquids, HAN |
| Hot-fire testing (vacuum and sea-level conditions)Testing | – | – | – | – | Hydrazine, MMH/MON, H2O2 |
| Environmental testing (vibration, thermal vacuum)Testing | – | – | – | – | IPA, HFE7100, Deionised water, Helium, Argon |
| Test facility design, engineering, operation and maintenance (0.5 N to 1000 kN thrust)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Storable propellants, Cryogenic propellants, LOX/HC |
| Propellant supply and delivery worldwide (transport containers 250 to 4000 litres)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Hydrazine, MMH, MON |
| Satellite fueling and launch support worldwideEngineering | – | – | – | – | Hydrazine, MMH, MON |
| Ground support equipment and safety equipmentEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| RESUS submarine rescue systemEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| TEXUS and MAXUS sounding rocketsEngineering | – | – | – | – | Solid propellant |
| Production of ultra-pure hydrazineEngineering | – | – | – | – | Hydrazine |
| Integrated orbital propulsion modules (Unified Propulsion System, UPS)Assembly | – | – | – | – | MMH, MON, Helium |
| Launch support for roll control systems (A5 SCA, VEGA RACS)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Valves for propulsion systems (pyro valves, shut-off valves, fill/drain valves)Joining | – | – | – | – | – |
6 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocket test facility (vacuum and sea-level testing) | ArianeGroup | – | Thrust from mN to 3000 N; facilities for 0.5 N to 1000 kN | – | Lampoldshausen, Germany |
| Test stand for Vega upper stage | ArianeGroup | – | – | – | Lampoldshausen, Germany |
| ATV propulsion test facility | ArianeGroup | – | – | – | Lampoldshausen, Germany |
| Engine test facility | ArianeGroup | – | – | – | Lampoldshausen, Germany |
| Rocket engine test facility | ArianeGroup | – | – | – | Lampoldshausen, Germany |
| Propellant transport containers (250 to 4000 litres) | ArianeGroup | – | 250 – 4000 litres | – | Lampoldshausen, Germany |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality and Testing
The production and test facilities in Lampoldshausen are among the most modern in Europe and include both proprietary and ESA facilities; hot-fire tests are performed under vacuum and sea-level conditions from mN to 3000 N, complemented by vibration testing, thermal-vacuum testing and leak testing.
| Evidence | Lampoldshausen | Bremen | Trauen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot-fire tests (vacuum and sea level, mN–3000 N) | |||
| Vibration testing and thermal-vacuum testing | |||
| Leak testing and end-to-end verification | |||
| High-vacuum facilities for electric propulsion |
History
- 1972
Start of spacecraft fueling and launch support services with a 100% success record at international launch sites.
- 1976/1977
Start of the TEXUS sounding rocket programme; first TEXUS mission on 13 December 1977.
- über 30 Jahr
RESUS submarine rescue system in service with the German Navy and other nations.
- 2014
Significant expansion of the Orbital Propulsion Centre Lampoldshausen with a new integration hall and enlarged production area.
- heute
Qualification of LMP-103S (ADN) with partner ECAPS for small LEO platforms; use of additive manufacturing for green engines.