CRYOGENIC ROCKET ENGINE TEST

Abstract

Since twenty years Europe successfully operates a cryogenic main stage on its largest launcher Ariane 5. A propulsion system running on cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen demands a great deal of special systems and processes on the launcher and on the test facility for the propulsion system. The earning is a high specific impulse of the rocket engine and a high payload factor of the launcher. On Europe’s test facilities for large cryogenic rocket engines at SNECMA, Vernon (France) and DLR, Lampoldshausen (Germany) the systems and processes to operate the cryogenic engine and the dedicated test facility were systematically developed and optimized. The large test facilities PF50 (SNECMA) and P5 (DLR) are full available for the qualification and development tests of the propulsion system Vulcain within the Ariane 5 program. Furthermore the facilities have the potential to be modified for tests of a future high thrust engine (HTE).