The DLR project ATHEAt (Advanced Technologies for High Energetic Atmospheric Flight of Launcher Stages) is concerned with heat protection elements and the development of technologies for the high-energy flight range of future space transport systems. Several DLR institutes are involved in the project.
The Responsive Space Cluster Competence Center is supporting ATHEAt in the design and production of the VISERION airworthy hybrid rocket engine. The engine is being tested at the engine test facility in Trauen. The ground infrastructure required for launching the rocket is also being developed. The ground infrastructure includes the MoHyPer. The aim of the project is to use the VISERION hybrid rocket engine to power a single-stage rocket. This represents a promising possibility for future controllable upper-stage engines in order to enable the realisation of new flight trajectories for hypersonic research in the future.
