Themis programme
{{short description|European Space Agency programme to develop a prototype reusable rocket first stage }}
{{primary sources|date=December 2020}}
The Themis programme is an ongoing European Space Agency programme carried by prime contractor ArianeGroup, aiming to develop a prototype reusable rocket first stage and plans to conduct demonstration flights. The prototype rockets will also be called Themis. As of 2025, two prototypes are being developed: Themis 1-Engine Hop (T1H) and Themis 1-Engine Evolution (T1E). Later, a three-engine variant (T3) will be built.{{Cite web |title=Themis demonstrations |url=https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2020/12/Themis_demonstrations |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}
Themis is expected to provide valuable information on the economic value of reusability for the European government space program and develop technologies for potential use on future European launch vehicles.{{Cite web |date=14 December 2017 |title=Prometheus to power future launchers |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Prometheus_to_power_future_launchers |access-date=15 December 2020 |work=ESA}}{{primary source inline|date=January 2021}} Themis will be powered by the ESA's Prometheus rocket engine. Eventually, lessons learned with Themis' development will pave the way for developing the European reusable launcher Ariane Next, which should first fly in the 2030s.{{cite conference |last1=Patureau de Mirand |first1=Antoine |date=July 2019 |title=Ariane Next, a vision for a reusable cost efficient European rocket |url=https://www.eucass.eu/index.php/component/docindexer/?task=download&id=5506 |format=PDF |conference=8th European Conference for Aeronautics and Space Sciences |doi=10.13009/EUCASS2019-949 |access-date=18 August 2021}}
Themis is distinct from a similar project CALLISTO under development by CNES, DLR, and JAXA.
Background
Two possible landing sites have been mentioned in discussions surrounding the project:{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/ESA_plans_demonstration_of_a_reusable_rocket_stage |title=ESA plans demonstration of a reusable rocket stage |work=ESA |date=15 December 2020 |access-date=24 September 2021}}
- The former Diamant launch complex, which will be used for the flight testing phase;{{cite web |url=https://www.ariane.group/en/news/diamant-in-the-rough-in-kourou-the-old-launch-complex-gets-a-facelift-for-themis/ |title=Diamant in the rough – in Kourou, the old launch complex gets a facelift for Themis |work=ArianeGroup |date=24 September 2021 |access-date=24 September 2021}}
- The Ariane 5 launch complex, which will become available after the transition from the Ariane 5 to Ariane 6.
The estimated program timeline, {{as of|2020|12|lc=on}}, was as follows:{{Cite web|last=Payer|first=Markus|date=30 November 2020|title=ArianeWorks on European reusable rocket prototype Themis|url=https://spacewatch.global/2020/11/arianeworks-on-first-european-reusable-rocket-prototype-themis/|access-date=15 December 2020|website=SpaceWatch.Global|language=en-US}}
- 2020: Basic stage testing, composed of tank filling and ground support equipment tests.{{cite web |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2021/02/26/cnes-arianegroup-move-forward-on-themis-reusable-rocket-project/ |title=CNES, ArianeGroup Move Forward on Themis Reusable Rocket Project |work=Parabolic Arc |date=26 February 2021 |access-date=24 September 2021}}
- 2021: Prometheus engine testing
- 2022: Low-altitude hop tests (short flights up from and down to the launch site)
- 2023: Initial flight test
- 2023–2024: Loop tests (repeated flights of the reusable demonstration vehicle)
- 2025: Full flight envelope test
Suborbital flight tests were slated to begin as early as 2023 at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, but have been delayed.
Timeline
- On 15 December 2020, ESA signed a contract worth €33 million with ArianeGroup in France for the "Themis Initial Phase". This first phase of the Themis programme involves development of the flight vehicle technologies and test bench and static fire demonstrations in Vernon, France. It also includes the preparation of the ground segment{{clarify|date=January 2021}} at the Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden, for the first hop tests and any associated flight vehicle modifications.{{primary source inline|date=January 2021}}
- In December 2021, ESA completed a series of tanking tests on the steel propellant tanks for Themis.{{Cite web |last=Beil |first=Adrian |date=2021-12-08 |title=Themis tanking test marks milestone in ESA's path to reusability |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/12/themis-tanking-test-esa/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}
- On 22 June 2023, the first hot-fire test of the Prometheus engine, as a part of the Themis first stage demonstrator, was successfully conducted in Vernon, France.{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Bella |date=2023-06-23 |title=Themis, Prometheus complete first hot-fire tests in France |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/06/themis-prometheus-hot-fire-test/ |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}
- Landing leg testing began in July 2024.{{Cite web |last=Parsonson |first=Andrew |date=2024-07-29 |title=MT Aerospace Begins Testing Themis Landing Leg |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/mt-aerospace-begins-testing-themis-landing-leg/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en-US}}
- In November 2024, ESA has awarded a contract to ArianeGroup to build a second Themis demonstrator (T1E){{Cite web |last=Parsonson |first=Andrew |date=2024-11-21 |title=ESA Awards Another €230M to ArianeGroup for Themis Demonstrator |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-award-another-e230m-to-arianegroup-for-themis-demonstrator/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en-US}} and announced that testing of the Themis main systems has been completed and the assembly of the first demonstrator was underway.{{Cite web |last=Parsonson |first=Andrew |date=2024-11-07 |title=ESA Shares Rare Update on Themis Reusable Booster Demonstrator |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-shares-rare-update-on-themis-reusable-booster-demonstrator/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en-US}}
- In December 2024, ArianeGroup has brought the main elements of Themis (T1H) together for the first time during a full-fit check in Les Mureaux, France.{{Cite web |last=Parsonson |first=Andrew |date=2024-12-17 |title=Themis Reusable Rocket Takes Shape as ArianeGroup Completes Fit Check |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/themis-reusable-rocket-takes-shape-as-arianegroup-completes-fit-check/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en-US}}
See also
- List of European Space Agency programmes and missions
- {{annotated link|Future Launchers Preparatory Programme}}
- {{annotated link|CALLISTO}}
- {{annotated link|Prometheus (rocket engine) }}
- {{annotated link|Ariane Next}}
- SpaceX reusable launch system development program
- {{annotated link|Miura 5}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/ESA_plans_demonstration_of_a_reusable_rocket_stage ESA Themis website]
{{Reusable launch systems}}
{{European launch systems}}
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Category:European space programmes
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Category:Reusable launch systems