Prometheus Reusable Rocket Engine Successfully Hot-Fired on Upgraded Test Bench
The Prometheus reusable rocket engine recently underwent several successful hot-fire tests at the P5 test bench in Lampoldshausen, Germany, on October 29, 2026. This engine, supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) through its Future Launchers Preparatory Programme and developed by ArianeGroup, is designed to be a reusable liquid oxygen and methane engine for future European launch systems. The P5 test bench, owned by ESA and operated by the German Aerospace Center DLR, was specifically upgraded to accommodate methane fuel for engine testing. The Prometheus engine tested featured a combustion chamber produced using new additive manufacturing techniques. These tests confirmed the functionality of both the upgraded test bench and the new rocket engine production methods, thereby expanding the capabilities for European rocket engine development. ESA’s Director for Space Transportation, Geraldine Naja, highlighted that the ability to repeatedly start engines and reduce manufacturing costs is crucial for en...
