Prometheus

ESA to seek funding for more Prometheus reusable engines at ministerial
The European Space Agency will ask its 22 member states to fund an additional two to eight Prometheus reusable engines so that the agency can further its development.

Germany begins reusability study to capture rockets in midair and land them with a plane
The Germany space agency DLR is beginning a study this month on a reusable launcher concept that would use a winged first-stage booster captured on descent by an aircraft and towed back to land.

ArianeGroup supplier GKN to 3D print turbines for reusable Prometheus engines
European rocket builder ArianeGroup, the company leading development and production of the Ariane 5 and upcoming Ariane 6 rockets, on Sept. 4 awarded a contract to a Swedish supplier for a reusable engine program.

France, Germany studying reusability with a subscale flyback booster
A newer effort dubbed Callisto could test a European ability to launch, return and refly a rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in South America.

ESA kickstarts Prometheus reusable engine with first funding tranche
The European Space Agency began funding a reusable rocket engine anticipated to be ready for a test-fire demonstration in 2020, the same year as the first launch of the future Ariane 6 rocket.

France’s Prometheus reusable engine becomes ESA project, gets funding boost
A French reusable rocket engine program is getting a boost from the European Space Agency, which is ready to sign a contract with Airbus Safran Launchers that would lead to an engine test three years from now.