DLR successfully tests Prometheus methane-oxygen rocket engine

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) has successfully completed a series of tests on the Prometheus rocket engine at its modernized P5 test stand in Lampoldshausen. Developed by ArianeGroup, the engine utilizes a combination of liquid methane and liquid oxygen, marking a shift from the hydrogen-based fuels used in previous European heavy-lift engines like the Vinci and Vulcain 2.1.

During the test campaign, the engine was ignited multiple times within a single day and operated at stable points throughout a continuous test sequence. These tests are designed to simulate the operational cycles of a reusable rocket stage during flight. The P5 test stand, which is part of the European Space Agency (ESA) infrastructure, was recently upgraded to support complex methane-based operations and consecutive ignitions.