The driving force

Thrust chambers and attitude control systems for launch vehicles, satellites and space platforms are another area of expertise at Astrium. A wide range of leading-edge components and equipment are developed and manufactured for propulsion and other spaceborne functions. Products that span the whole range of rocket propulsion systems. The smallest engine, developing just 0.015 Newton of thrust, would not be out of place on a tiny-scale model car. Astrium also makes the thrust chamber for the huge Vulcain cryogenic engine developed by Snecma Moteurs, the main stage powerplant on Ariane 5: with around three million horsepower, this engine could easily power a supertanker! Applications range from high-precision satellite attitude and orbit control, to propulsion systems for tomorrow's reusable launchers.

The company offers a complete range of thrusters, using cold gas, electric or chemical (mono and bipropellant) propulsion technologies, in operation on a number of satellites. One speciality is a complete Unified Propulsion System (UPS) for satellites.