Prometheus (rocket engine)

The Prometheus <a href="/facts/Rocket_engine/XT5gaFAb">rocket engine</a> is an ongoing <a href="/facts/European_Space_Agency/L8YRNV0C">European Space Agency</a> (ESA) development effort begun in 2017 to create a <a href="/facts/Reusable_launch_system/j0WC10op">reusable</a> <a href="/facts/Liquid_methane/kBHneYnh">methane</a>-fueled <a href="/facts/Rocket_engine/XT5gaFAb">rocket engine</a> for use on the <a href="/facts/Themis_programme/R14AvW0m">Themis</a> reusable rocket demonstrator and <a href="/facts/Ariane_Next/YXvdrcNa">Ariane Next</a>, the successor to <a href="/facts/Ariane_6/4JJaWjfb">Ariane 6</a>, and possibly a version of Ariane 6 itself.
Prometheus is a <a href="/facts/Backronym/LhorLRMH">backronym</a> from the original French project designation PROMETHEE, standing for "Precursor Reusable Oxygen Methane cost Effective propulsion System", and for the Titan <a href="/facts/Prometheus/I5gmrJXn">Prometheus</a>, from Greek mythology, creator of humanity, and god of fire, known for giving fire to humanity in defiance of the gods.
By 2020, the program was funded and is under development by <a href="/facts/ArianeGroup/a63EAksI">ArianeGroup</a>.
The engine is aimed to be reusable with substantially lower costs than traditional engines manufactured in Europe. The cost goal is to manufacture the Prometheus engine at one-tenth the cost of the <a href="/facts/Ariane_5/H78wlLG4">Ariane 5</a>'s first-stage engine.

Prometheus (rocket engine) open-in-new

Prometheus (rocket engine)