Exterior view of the test rig. Photo: DLR

[Via Satellite 06-03-2016] The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) is building a new test rig for the Ariane 6 upper stage engines at its Lampoldshausen site. DLR and the European Space Agency (ESA) signed the agreement for the development and construction of the P5.2 test rig for the Ariane launcher program on June 2.

“Germany will have a 23 percent contribution in the new launcher, making it the second largest partner after France,” said Denis Regenbrecht, responsible for the Ariane 6 program at the DLR Space Administration. “We want to participate effectively and contribute our expertise profitably within the European arena. The construction of this test facility in Germany is a clear sign and confirmation of the great success of our commitment.”

The upper stage of the Ariane 6 will be vetted from the new DLR facility. Processes include fuelling and defuelling tests, and hot running tests for the upper stage. The commissioning is scheduled to begin in 2018. Ariane 6 is slated to debut in 2020.

“Before the first flight of Ariane 6, the upper stage of the new launcher will be put through its paces in Lampoldshausen. With this, DLR assumes responsibility for the central task of making Ariane 6 as safe as its predecessors,” said Pascale Ehrenfreund, chair of the DLR executive board.