Europe’s Reusable Rocket Program Finally Shows Signs of Life
368Europe’s efforts to develop reusable rockets have been slow and sometimes frustrating. For years, the European Space Agency (ESA) and its contractors lagged behind other space powers like the US. But recently, there’s been some real progress.
This week, ArianeGroup, a big player in European aerospace based in France, announced it had finished integrating its prototype rocket called Themis on a launch pad in Sweden. Themis is designed to test landing tech that could eventually let rockets land vertically after reaching space. The company says they might start low-altitude hop tests by late this year or early next. These tests are a key step before trying full landing maneuvers.
The Significance of Themis’s Progress
Getting Themis into a testing phase marks a major milestone for Europe. For years, European space efforts focused mainly on building traditional rockets like Ariane 6, which doesn’t include reusable parts. Meanwhile, countries like the US surged ahead with reusable rockets. SpaceX, for example, started testing its Grasshopper prototype in 2012 and landed its first orbital booster in 2015. Blue Origin also achieved suborbital landings with its New Shepard vehicle.
Europe’s delay in catching up has been noticeable. The European Space Agency initially focused on Ariane 6, a more conventional rocket. It wasn’t until 2017 that ESA began funding programs aimed at reusability. One of these was Prometheus, a reusable methane-fueled engine developed by ArianeGroup. It completed several long test firings this year.
Another effort was the Callisto program, a joint project between France, Germany, and Japan. Callisto aimed to create a small-scale rocket that could land vertically, similar to SpaceX’s Grasshopper. However, this project has faced repeated delays, and the first tests are now scheduled for no earlier than 2027.
The Road Ahead for Europe’s Reusable Rockets
The Themis program started later but is now ahead of some other European initiatives. After member states approved it in 2019, ESA contracted ArianeGroup to build a first-stage prototype with landing legs, powered by the Prometheus engine. The initial Themis vehicle, called T1H, will likely perform short hops of about 100 meters. A second version, T1E, is planned for higher-altitude tests later.
Learnings from these prototypes will feed into a smaller, reusable rocket that aims to carry 500 kg to low-Earth orbit. This project is being developed by MaiaSpace, a subsidiary of ArianeGroup. Ultimately, Europe hopes to use the technology from Themis to create a new line of reusable rockets that could replace the Ariane 6 in the future.
Despite the recent progress, it’s clear that Europe is several years behind the US. When Themis was first announced in late 2019, its first hop tests were expected in 2022. This delay reflects how much ground Europe has lost in reusable rocket tech. SpaceX started testing Grasshopper in 2012 and had its first orbital booster land in 2015. By 2017, SpaceX was re-flying first stages. Meanwhile, other US and Chinese companies are planning to launch and land orbital rockets within the next couple of years.
In summary, Europe’s reusable rocket journey is finally gaining momentum, but it still has a long way to go to catch up with the industry leaders. The next few years will be crucial to see if Themis can deliver on its promise and help Europe develop a more competitive space launch industry.
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