P160C
| Manufacturer | Europropulsion |
|---|---|
| Country of origin |  Italy European Union |
| Used on | Ariane 6, Vega-E, Vega-C+ |
| Derived from | P120C |
| Launch history | |
| Status | In development |
| Technical details | |
| Height | 14.38 m (47 ft 2 in) |
| Diameter | 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in) |
| Propellant mass | ≈15,200 kg (33,500 lb) |
| Propellant | HTPB / AP / Al |
The P160C is a solid-fuel rocket engine designed for use as the first stage of the Vega-C+ mid-life upgrade,[1] the next generation Vega-E, and as the boosters of the Ariane 6 Block 2 launch vehicles. The solid rocket motors were developed by Europropulsion, a joint venture of Avio and ArianeGroup, for the European Space Agency. The "160" in the name refers to the approximately 160 tonnes of solid rocket fuel capacity, while the "C" in the name signifies its "Common" use across these vehicles.[2]
History
[edit]The pedigree of the P160C includes the P80 and P120C.
In 2022, development began on the P120C+ variant, which evolved into the P160C. This extended version adds 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) to the motor's length and an additional 14,000 kilograms (31,000 lb) of propellant.[3] This upgrade translates to a roughly 2,000-kilogram (4,400 lb) improvement in lift performance on the Ariane 64 with four boosters.[4] Notably, 16 of the planned 18 Kuiper launches by Ariane 6 will utilize this enhanced booster.[4]
The first P160C motor case was shipped to the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana in June 2024 in preparation for fueling and static fire tests.[5]
The European Space Agency will begin testing the P160 solid-fuel booster in March 2025, with the first hot-fire test to be conducted on a test stand at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.[6]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Parsonson, Andrew (25 January 2025). "ESA Member States to Vote on Future of Space Rider in November". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ Richard Priday (11 June 2018). "This is the fastest rocket on Earth". Wired. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ "ESA-developed P120C solid rocket motor enters production". Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ a b Foust, Jeff (5 April 2022). "Amazon launch contracts drive changes to launch vehicle production". SpaceNews. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ "Avio Ships First Upgraded Ariane 6 Booster". 19 June 2024.
- ^ https://europeanspaceflight.com/testing-of-key-ariane-6-upgrade-to-begin-in-march/
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