\tEnabling & Support<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t19\/12\/2025
\n\t\t\t\t14 views
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1 likes<\/p>\n
\t\tIn brief<\/p>\n
The P160C solid propellant rocket motor passed its ground qualification review<\/p>\n
The upgraded rocket motor will increase performance and competitiveness for the Ariane and Vega rockets<\/p>\n
Teams are working on the first four flight units and on industrial ramp-up production to 35 or more motors a year<\/p>\n
\tIn-depth<\/p>\n
After firing up on ground at Europe\u2019s Spaceport during a hot-fire test in April, the P160C solid propellant rocket motor has been thoroughly analysed, with a qualification review confirming its use for flight.<\/p>\n
This review concludes over three years of intense development work involving engineers in continental Europe and French Guiana.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEurope’s largest solid-propellant rocket motors<\/a><\/p>\n The P160C is an upgrade of the P120C motor developed jointly by ArianeGroup and Avio through their 50\/50 joint-venture Europropulsion, and it is one of the world\u2019s largest carbon-fibre one-piece solid-propellant rocket motors. The development programme is managed and funded by the European Space Agency.<\/p>\n The P120C is currently used as a booster for the Ariane 6 rocket, and as the first stage for the Vega-C launcher. The upgraded P160C carries over 14 tonnes more solid fuel, increasing both rockets\u2019 performance, increasing their payload capacity and competitiveness.<\/p>\n \u201cPassing the qualification review is always a huge milestone in space design: independent teams have assessed the data packages, analysed the technical files and confirmed our design is robust,\u201d says Alessandro Ciucci, ESA\u2019s Programme Manager for both P120C and P160C.\u201d<\/p>\n \tFirst flight and increased production<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tAriane 6 evolutions <\/a><\/p>\n The first time P160C will be used is on Ariane 6, in a four-booster configuration providing the most powerful liftoff for Ariane 6 so far and scheduled for next year. \u00a0The first four P160C solid-propellant rocket motors will now be integrated into four Ariane 6 boosters, ready for its flight.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tVega, Vega-C and Vega-E comparison<\/a><\/p>\n Its debut on the Vega-C rocket is currently planned in 2028 with Space Rider.<\/p>\n With more launches foreseen, the ramp-up of production is building up to an industrial capacity of making 35 or more of the solid-propellant rocket motors a year.<\/p>\n