25/04/2025
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The P160C qualification motor was efficiently examined on 24 April on the European Spaceport in French Guiana, on the solid-propellant booster take a look at stand (BEAP) operated by the French Area Company (CNES). The profitable take a look at firing of the primary P160C motor is a serious milestone within the improvement of the longer term upgrades of Europe’s Ariane 6 and Vega launchers.
The P160C is an improve of the P120C motor developed collectively by ArianeGroup and Avio by way of their 50/50 joint-venture Europropulsion and is likely one of the world’s largest carbon-fibre one-piece solid-propellant rocket motors. The event programme is managed and funded by the European Area Company.
The brand new motor is one meter longer than the P120C and carries over 14 tonnes extra strong gas, growing significantly Ariane 6 and Vega efficiency, their payload capability and their competitiveness.
The prolonged design of P160C included making the motor one meter longer with out affecting the connection interfaces to the Ariane 6 launcher’s central core. These improvement efforts go hand-in-hand with upgrades to industrial manufacturing at ArianeGroup, Avio and their companions, alongside the continued manufacturing and ramp-up of the P120C motor for upcoming Ariane 6 and Vega-C launches.
The P160C has three major elements. The primary is the composite construction, manufactured by Avio in Colleferro, close to Rome in Italy, obtained by filament winding and automatic layup of carbon/epoxy pre-pregs fibres. The second is the nozzle manufactured by ArianeGroup on its Le Haillan website close to Bordeaux in France, and made up of composites supplies, enabling the extraordinarily scorching gases – 3000°C – generated by the motor to be ejected at very excessive pace, thus offering thrust. The nozzle is gimballed to regulate the flight of the launcher. Propellant loading and remaining motor integration are carried out by Avio and ArianeGroup joint subsidiaries in French Guiana (Regulus and Europropulsion respectively).
The third aspect of P160C is the carbon-fibre composite aluminium igniter that ensures correct ignition of the motor. They’re manufactured by Nammo in Raufoss, Norway, below Avio accountability.
This P160C motor qualification take a look at comes barely 4 years after qualification of the P120C motor at present fitted to the Ariane 6 and Vega-C launchers, and after their first industrial flights.
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