This is the first treprel-c of PLD Space

The heart of the Spanish rocket Miura 5 has taken shape. PLD Space presented on Monday The first fully integrated unit of the Treprel-C motor. It is not a minor achievement: with 190 km By a private company in Europe. And it is on its way to its first lit.

Heat, you go out. PLD Space has not stopped this summer. Nor in its facilities in Teruel airport, where a few days ago, a tank of the future Miura 5 loaded with liquid oxygen He exceeded successfully A breakage test at cryogenic temperature. Nor in its headquarters and factory of Elche, where the first fully integrated Treprel-C engine has just left.

This first model, aimed at qualification tests, contains the largest turbobombes developed by a European startup and represents a giant technological leap to the miura tapTell-B engine. After the engineering phase, integration and tests “hardware-in-the-loop, the propeller will be submitted in Teruel to a complete cycle and a series of ignition tests to ensure that you are ready to fly.

This is the Treprel-C. Acronym for “Spanish technology for reusable spatial propulsion for pitchers”, the Treprel-C engine uses an open cycle fed by a gas generator with a single monoaex turbobomb pump. According to the PLD Space CEO, Raúl Torresthe engine burns approximately 80 kg of RP-1 kerosene and liquid oxygen per second.

The first stage of Miura rocket 5 It will be driven by five treprel-C, which have a height of 2 meters and a 62 centimeter nozzle diameter. In total, they will make 950 kN of thrust. PLD Space also works on climbing the production of its factory to achieve a manufacturing rate of an engine every two weeks before the end of the year.

The most advanced in its class. With its 190 kN, the Treprel-C is the most powerful private engine of its type between manufacturers of European microlanzers. An infographic of Daniel Marín Put the figures in perspective:

• Helix (RFA): The German Rocket Factory Augsburg Develop the Helix engine, which will propel the RFA One rocket. Nine of these engines, which use a stages combustion cycle, will generate a 100 kN thrust.
• Aquila (Isar Aerospace): also from Germany, Isar Aerospace Bet on the Aquila engine for its Spectrum rocket. With a gas generator cycle, each of its nine engines provides 75 kN of thrust, using propane and liquid oxygen as propellents.
• SkyForce (Skyorora): in the United Kingdom, Skyorora He works at the SkyForce engine for his Skyorra XL pitcher. This engine, which burns hydrogen and peroxide, reaches 70 kn of thrust.
• Prime (Orbex): The British also Orbex He has developed the Prime engine for his homonymous rocket. It is the smallest of the comparison, with a thrust of only 30 kN

Spain wants to take off. With these data, the PLD Space Treprel-C not only folds the second engine on the list, but consolidates the position of the Spanish company at the forefront of the development of pitchers in Europe, as demonstrated by a recent contract of ESA For PLD to develop a guide, navigation and control system (CNG),

While it is the most important, Elche is only one of the Spanish New Space axes. In Barcelona, ​​the PANgea Propulsion company (Before Pangaa Aerospace) Develop a different concept with its Aerospike Arcos engine. This technological demonstrator, designed modularly for higher stages, promises a push of 750 kN.

Images | PLD Space

In Xataka | PLD Space has a detailed plan to become the European rocket factory. And the pieces have started fitting