Innovative Low-Mass Tanks for a Low-Cost, Low-Carbon European Micro-Launch Vehicle

Project Information

PRIME

Grant agreement ID: 859474

DOI

10.3030/859474

Project closed

EC signature date 27 June 2019

Start date 1 July 2019

End date 30 June 2022

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 3 576 559,70

EU contribution

€ 2 497 937,40

Coordinated by

ORBITAL EXPRESS LAUNCH LIMITED
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - PRIME (Innovative Low-Mass Tanks for a Low-Cost, Low-Carbon European Micro-Launch Vehicle)

Reporting period: 2021-01-01 to 2022-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Small satellites (smallsats) are playing an increasingly significant role in space. Smallsats currently fly to space via ridesharing – taking spare capacity on a large launcher. Rideshare has numerous issues, including lack of availability, severe launch delays, and unsuitable orbits. Orbex is developing an EU-based orbital micro-launch vehicle with a uniquely innovative advantage that eliminates the issues of rideshare and mitigates the cost of a dedicated launch for smallsat operators. The vehicle exploits the properties of dual-cryogenic propellants to create an innovative, lightweight, low-cost tanking arrangement that reduces the inert mass of the launch vehicle by as much at 30% over traditional designs, and enable the world’s first environmentally-friendly rocket fuel strategy, with a 90% reduction in environmental impact. The small satellite launch market is well established and growing rapidly. The market for smallsat launch services is projected to grow US$2.52B p.a by 2022, a CAGR 23.2%. The benefits of developing this tanking system for a European micro-launch vehicle include:-
• Lowering cost of space access, including logistics/integration
• Reduced delay in time-to-market
• Enabling faster revenue generation for smallsat business models

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Orbex staff have designed & realized a prototype tank, and subsequently drafted patents for the technology. The tank was instrumented, hydrostatically pressure-tested and then used to prove the concept in cryogenic conditions.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

This project has enabled us to establish commercial partnerships, raise additional funding and progress towards our mission to launch small satellites. This project will allow a lower cost access to space from mainland Europe, and the development of a small satellite launch industry generating around €1.1B in Economic benefits over the decade 2020-2030.

Orbex Prime