Arkadia Space’s ARIEL Engine Aims to Redefine Rocket Steering

Spanish company Arkadia Space has unveiled the ARIEL, a new 250 N thrust mono-propellant engine designed for steering reusable launch vehicles. Developed as part of the European Space Agency’s Future Launchers Preparatory Programme, the ARIEL utilizes hydrogen peroxide as fuel, making it more environmentally friendly and less toxic than the widely used hydrazine orientation systems. According to the developers, it is one of the first European mono-propellant engines of this size working on hydrogen peroxide.

The 250 N thrust is sufficient for spacecraft orientation or rocket steering.

The engine’s development from contract signing to the first fire tests took only seven months, with the entire development process spanning two years. Testing was carried out at Arkadia Space’s Castellón Airport test center in Spain. During testing, ARIEL showcased the following features: specific impulse in vacuum over 178 seconds, stable operation up to 5 minutes, operation in short impulses lasting only 40 milliseconds, more than 2000 impulses per engine, and consumption of over 100 kg of hydrogen peroxide per engine.

Compared to hydrazine, the use of hydrogen peroxide simplifies the control system, eases ground maintenance, and reduces costs. Additionally, hydrogen peroxide has a higher energy density (specific impulse) and can reduce atmospheric emissions by up to 40% when considering the life cycle assessment.

Arkadia Space has secured a contract to supply ARIEL as a steering management engine for MaiaSpace’s spacecraft orientation system. The company has seen growing interest from other space agencies due to ARIEL’s eco-friendly characteristics and efficiency. As hydrogen peroxide continues to be explored as a clean alternative for space propulsion, innovations in fuel stabilization and combustion efficiency are expected to further enhance its efficacy, positioning it as a viable competitor to traditional fuels like hydrazine.