Article Posted on : - Nov 30, 2011

Launch of Texus 48 from Esrange Space Centre near Kiruna. Photo: ESA.

KIRUNA (BNS): ESA and the DLR German Space Center have successfully test-fired a Texus rocket 263 km into space to test a new way of handling propellants on Europe's future rockets.

According to the space agency, Texus 48 was lifted off at 10:10 GMT from the Esrange Space Centre near Kiruna in northern Sweden on its 13-minute flight.

"The launch of Texus 48 demonstrating new technologies for future rockets was a success. It also shows great cooperation with DLR, where joint efforts made this flight possible on time," Guy Pilchen, Future Launchers Preparatory Programme Manager said.

During the six minutes of weightlessness mimicking the different stages of a full spaceflight two new devices were tested for handling super-cold liquid hydrogen and oxygen propellants and then recovered for analysis.

Building on over 30 years of Texus missions, flight 48 was the first to demonstrate a new technology for future launchers.

DLR procured the rocket for this flight, which was performed under ESA's Cryogenic Upper Stage Technologies (CUST) project as part of the Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP).