Alianza 2030+ to develop Garnet autophagic propulsion engine

A European industrial alliance named ‘2030+’, comprising Alpha Impulsion, CT Ingenieros, Indra, and Mecano ID, has announced the development of the Garnet engine for next-generation microlaunchers. The project aims to strengthen European technological sovereignty and competitiveness in the global space market, specifically targeting a gap left by changes to SpaceX’s rideshare services.

The Garnet engine utilizes innovative autophagic propulsion technology, which progressively consumes part of the thruster structure as fuel during flight. This method reduces transport mass and increases efficiency. Alpha Impulsion estimates this technology could cut launch costs by up to 80% compared to conventional solutions, with a target orbital cost of $4,600 per kilogram.

The alliance represents a transnational cooperation between France, Italy, and Spain. Task distribution includes Alpha Impulsion leading R&D on autophagic combustion, CT Ingenieros handling preliminary architecture design, Mecano ID contributing to manufacturing, and Indra providing expertise in Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC).