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The P160C qualification motor was successfully tested on 24 April 2025 at the European Spaceport in French Guiana, on the solid-propellant booster test stand (BEAP) operated by the French Space Agency (CNES). The successful test firing of the first P160C motor is a major milestone in the development of the future upgrades of Europe\u2019s Ariane\u00a06 and Vega launchers.<\/p>\n
The new motor is one meter longer than the previous P120C version and carries over 14 tonnes more solid fuel, increasing considerably Ariane\u00a06 and Vega performance, their payload capacity and their competitiveness.<\/p>\n
The extended design of P160C included making the motor one meter longer without affecting the connection interfaces to the Ariane\u00a06 launcher\u2019s central core. These development efforts go hand-in-hand with upgrades to industrial production at ArianeGroup, Avio and their partners, alongside the ongoing production and ramp-up of the P120C motor for upcoming Ariane\u00a06 and Vega-C launches.<\/p>\n
The P160C is an upgrade of the P120C motor developed jointly by ArianeGroup and Avio through their 50\/50 joint-venture Europropulsion and is one of the world\u2019s largest carbon-fibre one-piece solid-propellant rocket motors. The development programme is managed and funded by the European Space Agency.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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