Air Liquide is advancing space exploration having signed a contract with space propulsion expert Avio to design the new generation of cryogenic tanks for the upper stage of the future Vega-E launcher, a project coordinated by the European Space Agency (ESA).
The launcher will use cryogenic tanks filled with a mixture of oxygen stored at -182C and methane stored at -161C to act as propellant for the oxygen-methane engine.
Earlier this year, Avio successfully carried out the first test of its new M10 liquid oxygen-liquid/methane engine, which will be used to power the launcher.
A key part of the new launcher’s development, the engine will provide ten tonnes of thrust and is manufactured with extensive use of additive layer manufacturing technologies.
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