With the last #Ariane5 #launch expected tomorrow...
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWIKtG5HKbk)
I'd like to give you a quick overview of the possible next generation of #European Launchers, or more specifically Private #Spaceflight Companies and their Microlaunchers... a 🧵
#ESA #Space #SpaceX #Microlaunchers #Europe #europeanspaceflight #EndofanEra
Next up is "Spectrum" from the #German Company 🇩🇪 "Isar Aerospace".
2 Stages, 28m tall and 2m in diameter. Fuel will be Propane and LOX and a Payload of up to 1t into LEO. A total of 10 Aquila Engines which have already been rigorously tested in Esrange, Sweden will power the Rocket 9 on the first and 1 on the second stage
First flight is already planned for the 2nd half of 2023
the second 🇩🇪 #German Company is "Rocket Factory Augsburg" and the "RFA One" Rocket
3 Stages, 30m tall and also 2m in diameter. Capacity to LEO will be up to 1,6t. Notable is also the abysmally low cost of just 3million € per Launch or 1875€/kg. 9 Helix Engines powered by RP-1 and LOX will power the first stage, with 1 more on the second Stage, 1 Orbital Stage Engine will power the last stage.
First launch is scheduled for the End of 2023
last of the #German 🇩🇪 launchers is "SL1" (Small Launcher 1) by "HyImpulse Technologies"
3 Stages, 27m tall, 2.2m in diameter and Powered by LOX and Paraffin (aka Candle Wax!!!) its designed to carry 675kg to LEO. Thanks to the Wax an #explosion is near impossible and the emissions aren't toxic. 16 Engines will be used in total: 8 on the first, 4 on the second and 4 smaller ones on the last stage.
First launch scheduled for 2024...
Then we have the 🇬🇧 #UK based Start-up "Orbex" and their relatively smaller but still impressive "Prime" launch vehicle.
2 Stages, 19m tall and 1.3m wide it's designed to carry 220kg into LEO. It will be powered by LOX and bioLPG. 6 Engines on the first and 1 on the second stage.
A first launch is planned in 2023 from the Sutherland spaceport
Last but not least we have "Skyrora XL" by "Skyrora" also based in the #UK 🇬🇧
It's 3 Stages are designed to bring a Payload of 315kg into a 500km high Orbit around earth. It will be powered by nine hydrogen peroxide–kerosene engines, the same used in the "Skylark L".
It's development is a little behind some previous mentions and first Hot-Fire tests are scheduled for mid-2023
Zenit