At its Ottobrunn site, Astrium designs, develops and manufactures engines and thrust chambers for launch vehicles, including upper stages, with core competencies here in bipropellant and cryogenic propellant engines ranging from 400 N to 1350 kN. The Ottobrunn site also produces cryogenic propellant and pressurant valves and associated equipment for rocket propulsion systems.
Worldwide, Astrium has among the most modern facilities for the development and manufacturing of rocket engines, thrust chambers, regeneratively cooled nozzles, injector elements, propellant and pressurant valves, and aerospace components and assemblies.
The Astrium teams designed, developed and produced the rocket engines and thrust chambers that have contributed to the reliability and success of the Ariane launch vehicle since its maiden flight on Christmas Eve in 1979. Since then, rocket engines and thrust chambers, produced at Ottobrunn have provided thrust for all versions of Ariane 1 through to Ariane 5.
Thrust from Astrium in Ottobrunn powers all stages of Ariane 5, including the Vulcain 1 and 2 core-stage engines, Aestus, and HM-7 upper-stage engines.
