Avio. P120C Engine – Part 2

18.07.2018

11,289 1 minute read

The P120C – the largest monolithic carbon-fiber solid rocket motor (SRM) in the world – is loaded with 142 tons of propellant and it will equip the boosters of both Ariane 62 and Ariane 64 and the Vega-C first stage ; 35 motors to be produced annually.

The main activity of Global Basalt Engineering LLC is creation of effective productions on release of continuous basalt fiber (СBF) with technologies of the last generation and composites on the basis of СBF (Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites as BFRP).

The solid rocket motor consists of two principal parts:

– The first is the structural casing, built by Avio and made of carbon fiber (filament-winding, automated fabric layup pre-impregnated epoxy sheets).

-The second part is the nozzle, built by ArianeGroup and made of various composite materials, including carbon/carbon.

The P120C, co-developed by ArianeGroup and Avio, on behalf of their 50/50 joint venture Europropulsion. The program for the development of Ariane 6 and Vega-C was decided on at the European Space Agency (ESA) Ministerial Council in 2014.