Avio. P120C Engine – Part 2
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 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.
VIDEO
Companies: Avio SpA
Technologies: Filament Winding
Terms: Ariane launcher, Arianespace, ASI, Avio, Avio Vega, ESA, Filament winding, filament winding machine, filament winding process, P120, P120 Ariane6, P120C, P120C vega, Vega launcher