Reusable Strategic Space Launcher Technologies & Operations

Funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe programme, SALTO project will accelerate the development of the first reusable launchers in Europe. The project’s consortium combines Europe’s expertise of the major groups, research institutes, innovative start-ups and SMEs to reach the next stage of the development of the Europe’s first reusable rocket.

The SALTO project is coordinated by ArianeGroup, selected by the European Commission following a call for project in the frame of Horizon Europe. It started in December 2022 and will be testing vertical landing of a reusable launcher stage prototype. The SALTO project aims to validate the landing phase, which is particularly complex but essential in order to be able to recover a launcher. Two test campaigns of the Themis reusable launcher stage prototype will be conducted in Kiruna, Sweden. During the vertical hop tests the launcher will be lifted up to 30 m -250 m high, using Prometheus® reusable engine demonstrator.

Themis is a European Space Agency (ESA) programme, leaded by ArianeGroup. Eight ESA Member States are participating in the programme: France, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, Spain, Netherlands, Poland and Hungary. SALTO enables perfectly synchronised acceleration of the two ESA programmes Themis reusable stage and Prometheus® reusable engine for which ArianeGroup is lead contractor.

The SALTO project and the foreseen tests are complementary and coherent with ESA’s Themis reusable stage programme. These developments are the key technological building blocks for the next generation of reusable European launchers that aims to reduce significantly the costs of space launches when compared with the current European rocket fleet. As a result, it will reinforce European Union’s strategic autonomy and competitiveness and, will contribute to reducing the environmental footprint from space launches.

SpaceForest sp. z o o., an SME from Poland will be responsible for design of the GFCS (Green Flip Control System) subsystem for the Themis VTVL (Vertical Takeoff Vertical Landing) rocket. GFCS system will be an auxiliary rocket engine responsible for performing the “flip” maneuver (turning the rocket) before the first stage returns to earth. The subsystem’s control will be integrated with Themis’ flight computer.