25/02/2026
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In short
- New European rocket engine Greta has accomplished a hot-fire check marketing campaign, demonstrating secure operations, shutdowns and a number of restarts on a cellular check stand developed by ArianeGroup for the European House Company at ArianeGroup’s Trauen website in Germany.
- Greta runs on extra sustainable propellants than conventional rocket engines in the identical thrust class.
- The engine may very well be used on lunar landers or on massive kick levels similar to Ariane 6 add-on Astris.
In-depth
The Greta challenge, a part of the European House Company’s Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP) is growing a 5 kN thrust class rocket engine that may be restarted reliably a number of instances.
Greta makes use of hydrogen peroxide and ethanol as propellants, a extra sustainable different with a decrease carbon footprint in comparison with monomethyl hydrazine propellant utilized by most conventional rocket engines on this thrust vary.
Take a look at success
Greta was ignited a number of instances from July to November 2025 and confirmed secure operations, together with managed shutdowns. Through the check marketing campaign the engine fired repeatedly for over 40 seconds at a time.
Greta was examined on a brand new, low-cost and versatile cellular check stand with devices measuring information similar to strain and temperature, which will likely be used to additional optimise the engine.
Laser melting manufacturing strategies
Greta’s 30-cm excessive combustion chamber is constructed up in layers by melting metallic powders with a laser. This system permits for complicated shapes to be made that may be tough to realize with typical metallurgy. For instance, the Greta engine is cooled by passing fluid via complicated channels constructed into the engine as shut as potential to the internal wall of the chamber which is in touch with the new – over 2000°C – combustion gases.
Onwards and upwards
ArianeGroup in Ottobrunn, Germany is the prime contractor for Greta. These exams had been a part of a €3M contract to additional enhance data on constructing and working hydrogen peroxide engines of this thrust class. The sort of engine may very well be used on lunar landers or on kick levels, similar to Astris that’s being developed for Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket.
On 6 February 2026 the next phase was kicked off with Arianegroup to additional enhance Greta, taking all the teachings discovered from the check marketing campaign and different work to make a design for a flight-engine. For this subsequent stage of the challenge the next subcontractors will present components for the flight-like motor design – Safran Aero Boosters in Belgium, the Institute of Aviation in Poland and InPraise Systems from the Czech Republic.
This subsequent evolution of Greta will likely be examined on the identical cellular check bench in Trauen on the finish of 2027.
