• On behalf of the start-up Pangea Aerospace, DLR tested a MethaLox aerospike engine for the first time.
• The team from DLR and Pangea Aerospace successfully carried out several hot-run tests on the European research and technology test stand P8.
• Aerospike technology promises a much higher degree of efficiency compared to conventional drives.
• The unique test bench infrastructure at DLR’s Lampoldshausen site is a prerequisite for the development of future-oriented European space propulsion systems.

LAMPOLDSHAUSEN, Germany (DLR PR) — Unique test stands, extensive know-how and decades of experience – the Lampoldshausen site of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) specializes in developing and testing drives for space travel. Whether for the large launchers of the Ariane family or the growing market of start-ups for smaller rockets, so-called micro-launchers: That DLR Institute for Space Propulsion tests and qualifies technology demonstrators as well as entire engine stages for launch into space. In November 2021, a DLR team commissioned the Spanish start-up Pangea Aerospace examined a very special engine: At the European research and technology test bench P8, they successfully carried out hot-run tests on the world’s first additively manufactured MethaLox aerospike engine. Overheating tests are comprehensive functional tests – they are an important step in preparing for a first flight.

TOULOUSE, France (CNES PR) — After meeting in Munich in early September, SpaceFounders, CNES ‘100% space-based Franco-German acceleration program, moved to Toulouse, from October 11 to 15, for a week of intensive work with the 10 winning European startups. The program entered its “Boost” phase, which aims to accelerate each startup, in particular by establishing relationships with customers, partners, suppliers and key resources from European aeronautics and space capitals.

Soon, the winning startups will enter the third phase of the program, that of seeking funding, in particular through the organization of Demo Days. The Paris Demo Day will take place on November 25 at the Hôtel de la Marine and will be organized in two stages. Privileged meetings with investors, partners or large institutional clients will be followed by a sequence on CNES’s commitment to support the European ecosystem of space startups to face space giants and startups from the United States and from Asia.

PARIS (CNES PR) — On Thursday, October 14, 2021, there was held the Pitch Day of the Launchers R&D Challenge proposed by the CNES Launchers Department on the theme “technological breakthroughs and advanced concepts of launch systems”. 

Start-ups, SMEs, associations, laboratories and large industrial groups presented their innovation proposals to an audience bringing together experts from the space fabric, partners, supervisors, manufacturers.

In total, 550,000 euros in CNES contracts were won by the winners, each with 50,000 or 100,000 euros, to advance their solution. The winners are:

• DLR supports the increasing demand for engine tests for new, innovative propulsion technologies in space travel.
• DLR and the Spanish start-up Pangea Aerospace agree on a collaboration. The focus is on tests with a technology demonstrator of an additively manufactured aerospike engine from October 2021.
• At the Lampoldshausen site, DLR offers a test infrastructure that is unique in Europe for space propulsion systems of all sizes and types.

LAMPOLDSHAUSEN, Germany (DLR PR) — In order to ensure Europe’s independent and competitive access to space, the Federal Government is also relying on efficient start-ups. With their ideas and visions, they can accelerate the development of new technologies in the carrier market. Against this background, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) at the Lampoldshausen site has signed a contract with the Spanish start-up Pangea Aerospace in the summer of 2021.