ESA contracts ArianeGroup to press ahead with full-scale demonstrator of carbon fibre “black stage” to boost launch performance

By reducing the mass of rocket stages, ESA hopes to increase payload-to-orbit performance. That is the objective of a programme called PHOEBUS (Prototype of a Highly OptimisEd Black Upper Stage), which aims to produce upper stage tanks and structures in carbon fibre. Now, following completion of the project’s preliminary design review, ESA has contracted prime contractor ArianeGroup to build a full-scale upper stage demonstrator.

#launchers #space #science #esa #europeanspaceagency
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