Project

Green Propulsion Free-Flight Demonstrator – The Länder

Pooling expertise for landing unit

As part of this lighthouse project, various core competencies of the DLR Institute will be bundled to develop a joint technology demonstrator. These include the development of green propellants, additive manufacturing processes, advanced control and optimal operating strategies for space propulsion systems, health monitoring and system monitoring, overall system integration and overall system analysis as well as the development of test infrastructure and diagnostics.

Green Propulsion Free-Flight Demonstrator –

The Länder

 

Duration

2022 – 2026

Field of applications

  • Development of green propellants
  • Additive manufacturing processes
  • Advanced control and optimal operating strategies for space propulsion and systems
  • Health monitoring and system monitoring
  • Overall system integration and overall system analysis
  • Development of test infrastructure and diagnostics

The aim is to symbiotically bring together the overall propulsion system from the individual areas of expertise to realize future important propulsive landing technologies in Europe as part of ESA's long-term space strategy. In addition, the flight demonstration of green space propulsion systems as well as the establishment of a test and development infrastructure for variable-thrust, reusable propulsion systems, components and their avionics systems (GNC) will be realized.

In addition to its use as a test infrastructure for new propellants and engines, the Green Propulsion Free-Flight Demonstrator will also enable the experimental investigation and verification of engine controllers, thus covering a wide range of applications that are of great importance to NewSpace companies and will also be indispensable for future orbital transportation.

DLR Institute departments involved

Department

Satellite- and Orbital Propulsion

Novel propellants such as ionic liquids, environmentally friendly and hypergolic ignition mixtures, gel-based and hybrid propellant systems, as well as improved hydrocarbon-based propellants open up promising new areas of application. In combination with propulsion systems tailored to them, they can make aviation and space flight simpler, cheaper and safer.

Department

Chemical Propellants Technology

Environmental compatibility now also plays a decisive role in space flight. The application-oriented development, characterization and testing of advanced propellants, propellant components, novel functional materials and propellant concepts for aerospace-relevant propulsion systems are therefore essential components for the future of space flight.

Department

Rocket Propulsion Systems

What makes up the "liquid rocket propulsion" system? How do the individual components interact and what happens if you replace a component? How can the system be designed to work more efficiently and cost-effectively but with the same goal?

Department

Rocket Propulsion Technology

Researching and understanding the fundamental processes in a rocket engine is essential in order to develop new technologies and bring them into application. In order to understand and see the processes, researchers go to the limits of physics.

Department

Test Bench Technology

High-performance, modern and flexible test benches and supply systems are required to test liquid-chemical space propulsion systems or entire rocket stages. The development, design and layout of these systems is one of the DLR Institute's core competencies.

Department

Safety and Facility Management

Safety and compliance with legal requirements are the basis of our work at the DLR site in Lampoldshausen. For us, the protection of people and the environment and the safe operation of the test bench facilities go hand in hand.

Research and Test Infrastructure

Research and Test Infrastructure

Test Bench Complex M11

The M11 test bench complex is used to investigate the potential uses of new, advanced propellants and propulsion types for aerospace applications.

Contact

Marius Wilhelm

Head of Test Facility
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Space Propulsion
Satellite and Orbital Propulsion
Im Langen Grund, 74239 Hardthausen
Germany

Florian Merz

Group Leader
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Space Propulsion
Satellite- and Orbital Propulsion
Im Langen Grund, 74239 Hardthausen
Germany