The P6.1 cold gas test facility at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Space Propulsion in Lampoldshausen is a rocket engine test facility used to evaluate a variety of propellants including gaseous hydrogen, oxygen, and gaseous and liquid methane. These modern fuels are attractive alternatives for reducing the environmental impacts of rocket propulsion.
P6.1 complements the portfolio of P8 test facilities by operating in the low-flow and -pressure ranges. Both large-scale DLR facilities are unique within Europe.
When constructing P6.1 the focus was on diagnostic access and accurate, flexible measurement technology; the size of the test infrastructure is tailored to these objectives; there are very few equivalent facilities in the world.
Environmentally friendly fuels for rocket engines
P6.1 makes it possible to test rocket engines, conduct investigations into different engine working cycles and perform optical evaluations of combustion processes to verify modelling programmes.
Significantly, P6.1 is the only facility in Europe capable of testing rocket engines with subcooled fuels, including liquid oxygen and liquid natural gas. PhD students are also able to carry out various experiments with the facility.
