Maļa Space - ArianeGroup reusable launcher (2026)

[Mamut]

Testing of Key Callisto Reusable Rocket Demonstrator Component Underway

https://bsky.app/profile/andrewparsonson.bsky.social/post/3ljzr46pnj22r

https://europeanspaceflight.com/testing-of-key-callisto-reusable-rocket-demonstrator-component-underway/

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/_jaykeegan_/status/1902314112819892635

Jay Keegan
@_jaykeegan_
Later today, NSF will interview Maia Space CEO Yohann Leroy as part of our NSF Live series "Europe's Future In Space".

Join us on YouTube and X at 19:00 UTC / 20:00 CET / 3 PM EDT.

@NASASpaceflight

[Mamut]

TLDR:
Rocket "Maia" is made out of stainless steel.
Hugely benefits from work made by Arianegroup on Themis demonstrator.
Launches from French Guiana utilizing former Soyuz launch pad and infrastructure.
Landing on the ocean platform. No return to launch pad planned.
Lifts of using 3 Prometheus engines, lands with only one engine on, on 30% thrust.
Maiden flight - 2026
Firts landing attempt - 2028
First stage and engine to be reused 4 - 5 times.
No fairing ercovery planned.
No manned flights planned.

in reusable configuration:
500kg to SSO
1.5 tonne to LEO (?)

in expendable configuration:
1.5 tonnes to SSO
4 tonnes to LEO

For each configuration there is a kick stage adding 1 tonne of payload capability.
Contracts signed already with customers from Europe, Asia, USA. (No names given)

[TheKutKu]

https://europeanspaceflight.com/maiaspace-selects-lukasiewicz-ilot-to-develop-kick-stage-engine/

It seems that Maiaspace abandoned their plans to develop their kick stage engine in-house. (https://europeanspaceflight.com/maiaspace-completes-first-kick-stage-engine-test/)

https://x.com/m6info/status/1911041616317476942
Some footage of their separation test + some S1 hardware

[StraumliBlight]

MaiaSpace Linkedin [May 5]

🍾 Success for out first full-scale stages separation test campaign!

"TireBouchon", our custom-built test bench, was designed to validate the separation mechanism between the two stages of our launcher under realistic atmospheric conditions.

The massive red claws you see in the video? They replicate both gravity pull and aerodynamic forces to simulate the intense environment of stage separation.

In just a split second, the entire structure lifts – it’s fast, powerful, and yes, it looks just like a corkscrew. That’s exactly why we called it TireBouchon – a fitting name for this impressive piece of engineering!

All of this happened in Vernon, just 2 km away from our proto-MaiaFactory, where all our prototypes are integrated and tested.

[Joris]

First Themis Test Flight Likely to Slip to 2026

[Mamut]

Flashback to Ariane 6. For years and years the first flight was being delayed to the next years. And at some point we finally had some piece of equipment we could see and touch and since that point they managed to make a flight in two years or so. I think we can finally expect the test flight of both Themis and Callisto in 2026 - 2027.

[Oli]

Such a weird rocket.

Almost the same diameter as Falcon 9. An engine with almost the same thrust as Merlin 1D. A single vacuum version of the engine on the 2nd stage.

Yet, for some reason*, they decided to put only 3 engines on the first stage.

*That reason being politics I imagine.

[TheKutKu]

Such a weird rocket.

Almost the same diameter as Falcon 9. An engine with almost the same thrust as Merlin 1D. A single vacuum version of the engine on the 2nd stage.

Yet, for some reason*, they decided to put only 3 engines on the first stage.

*That reason being politics I imagine.

There are talks that they are proposing a 5 engines version for the (upgrade part of) european launcher challenge, eventually with the upgraded Prometheus it could be what, 3/4 of the thrust of a F9?

But ultimately, 3.5m diameter with heavy stainless steel structures, low density methalox and ineficient open cycle engines can only go so far, especially with reuse thrown in the mix. The architecture can only get to soyuz class or so.

[PM3]

First Themis Test Flight Likely to Slip to 2026

With "integration tests" at Esrange starting early 2026, the Themis demonstrator (the European Grasshopper) will launch NET mid 2026. This realistically puts the first Maia launch NET 2029.

[hektor]

Such a weird rocket.

Almost the same diameter as Falcon 9. An engine with almost the same thrust as Merlin 1D. A single vacuum version of the engine on the 2nd stage.

Yet, for some reason*, they decided to put only 3 engines on the first stage.

*That reason being politics I imagine.

There are talks that they are proposing a 5 engines version for the (upgrade part of) european launcher challenge, eventually with the upgraded Prometheus it could be what, 3/4 of the thrust of a F9?

But ultimately, 3.5m diameter with heavy stainless steel structures, low density methalox and ineficient open cycle engines can only go so far, especially with reuse thrown in the mix. The architecture can only get to soyuz class or so.

The goal is not to compete with A6

[TheKutKu]

Such a weird rocket.

Almost the same diameter as Falcon 9. An engine with almost the same thrust as Merlin 1D. A single vacuum version of the engine on the 2nd stage.

Yet, for some reason*, they decided to put only 3 engines on the first stage.

*That reason being politics I imagine.

There are talks that they are proposing a 5 engines version for the (upgrade part of) european launcher challenge, eventually with the upgraded Prometheus it could be what, 3/4 of the thrust of a F9?

But ultimately, 3.5m diameter with heavy stainless steel structures, low density methalox and ineficient open cycle engines can only go so far, especially with reuse thrown in the mix. The architecture can only get to soyuz class or so.

The goal is not to compete with A6

...Unless ESA financially supports it...

[lightleviathan]

Such a weird rocket.

Almost the same diameter as Falcon 9. An engine with almost the same thrust as Merlin 1D. A single vacuum version of the engine on the 2nd stage.

Yet, for some reason*, they decided to put only 3 engines on the first stage.

*That reason being politics I imagine.

There are talks that they are proposing a 5 engines version for the (upgrade part of) european launcher challenge, eventually with the upgraded Prometheus it could be what, 3/4 of the thrust of a F9?

But ultimately, 3.5m diameter with heavy stainless steel structures, low density methalox and ineficient open cycle engines can only go so far, especially with reuse thrown in the mix. The architecture can only get to soyuz class or so.

The goal is not to compete with A6

Why would that matter? MaiaSpace is owned by ArianeGroup, so it doesn't make a difference.

[TheKutKu]

https://www.liberation.fr/economie/transports/avec-maiaspace-la-france-espere-se-relancer-dans-la-course-aux-fusees-reutilisables-20250613_LOFJ22QOLFHHBMZN5D2PUJWTQY/
https://x.com/Armees_Gouv/status/1933528977315950782
https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2025/06/13/le-gouvernement-fait-de-maiaspace-un-acteur-souverain-pour-l-acces-a-l-espace_6612777_3234.html
https://www.tendanceouest.com/actualite-429674-normandie-devant-quatre-ministres-maiaspace-space-x-a-la-francaise-confirme-son-implantation-a-vernon

French Ministers of Armed forces, Economy, Industry and Research are at Maiaspace to officialise "the significant public financial support to maiaspace"
Maiaspace is getting new investment from Arianegroup and from the French government "Plan France 2030", the amount isn't disclosed but it is expected to rival the best funded european LSP startup. Le monde announces at least "dozens of millions", while the Normandie Region will contribute to 3 M€ and the State at least 9M€


A new "maiafactory" will start construction in vernon and is expected to be finished in 2027 to support serial production of Maia, it will be 10,000m² large and create 160 jobs.

The company currently has 300 employees, they expect to static fire their S2 in the upcoming months, and put the rocket on the pad in H2 2026, with a 1st commercial launch in late 2026

(Their goal has slipped a bit, originally they wanted to launch 4 years after their founding in Dec 2021... now they want to launch "less than 5 years" after their funding, which they now say was in April 2022....)

They deny that Maiaspace will "hurt Ariane 6" and say both are complementary.

Minister of armed forces announces that he expects that at least 15-20% of annual Maia launches through 2035 will be for the french armed forces;

French ministers say that SpaceX threatening to cut Starlink was a "wake up call" among european governments...

Emphasises that it's a european launcher whose european partners are chosen on an industrial and economical basis and not political basis.

Not sure if a joke: French Armed forces Minister wants to rename Prometheus to have a name starting with V to honor the legacy of Vernon-made engines like Viking, Vulcain, Vinci... 

[TheKutKu]

https://x.com/ESA_transport/status/1934890080595857864

Europe’s first reusable main stage’s full-scale demonstrator is ready!

After its fit-check last December at Les Mureaux, France, Themis integration was completed: it is now packed and prepared for shipment.

Ready to head to its launch pad @SSCspace
's  Esrange spaceport in Sweden. 🛻🚀

Ariane 5's SIL will be empty now...

[Mamut]

https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:7aas5334fvhj3kpfagjm4caj/post/3lsstcjbldc2i
https://news.cision.com/ssc/r/themis-has-arrived-at-esrange---new-milestone-for-europe-s-reusable-rocket-demonstrator,c4170987

Themis arrived in Esrange Space Center in Sweden. Static tests expected in few weeks, hop test not earlier then at the end of the year.

[StraumliBlight]

Taking a closer look at SALTO: Performing Europe’s first reusable launcher flight campaign [Jun 27]

The Themis T1H vehicle arrived on June 27 2025 at the launch site in the ESRANGE Space Center. The flight campaign will begin with the assembly of key landing components, such as landing legs.

The vehicle will then be prepared for a wet rehearsal, during which cryogenic propellants will be loaded into the vehicle for the first time. This will be followed by a static hot-firing test, where the engines will be ignited to validate stage under realistic conditions.

The first low-altitude "hop"- a vertical takeoff and landing maneuver - is planned before the end of 2025, and two additional hops are scheduled for early 2026.

https://twitter.com/SSCspace/status/1939800797010686263

[jacqmans]

Themis: the journey of Europe’s first reusable rocket has begun
30/06/2025



In brief

Europe’s first reuseable rocket demonstrator Themis has arrived at its launch zone in Esrange Space Centre, Sweden.
The transfer from Les Mureaux, France, took two weeks and covered five countries.
Themis will now be prepared for a ground test campaign with its landing legs added.
The first flight will be a short hop reaching 20 m altitude.


In-depth

Europe’s first reuseable rocket demonstrator left its integration building in Les Mureaux, France on 12 June and is now at its launch pad at Esrange Space Centre in Sweden.

Themis is an ESA rocket prototype – a European demonstrator for low-cost rocket recovery and reuse technologies, designed to launch, land vertically and live on for another mission.

The 28-m tall rocket stage was assembled since 2023 at the former Ariane 5 main stage integration building in Les Mureaux, France. Themis completed a vehicle ‘fit-check’ in December 2024, proving that its main elements fit together as planned and confirming the mechanical connections and interfaces connect smoothly.

Since then, ArianeGroup and ESA teams have completed the integration of avionics and additional systems to be tested in flight, while also preparing Themis for its journey across Europe.

Exceptional convoy

The 3.5 m diameter cylinder was loaded onto a tailored truck and made its way to the northern region of Sweden, north of the polar circle, on roads and navigating the North Sea.

With Themis being a metre wider and over twice as long as a standard European road truck, the voyage took two weeks, covering over 3000 km and passing through five countries.

The hop test-campaign for Themis will first take place at Swedish Space Corporation’s Esrange Space Centre facility in Sweden in the scope of Horizon Europe project Salto, just as a car wouldn’t get far without a compatible fuel or charging station, an infrastructure has been built to support Themis work, fuelling and operations. The Esrange Space Centre  “Launch pad 3” welcomed Themis in a new integration building where the rocket systems will be checked after transport and its systems prepared. Then, the landing legs will be attached vertically on the launch pad as they cannot travel in place over land and have been shipped separately.

Getting ready for liftoff

On the launch pad, ArianeGroup and Swedish Space Corporation engineers will conduct a ‘wet dress rehearsal’, validating the liquid methane and liquid oxygen propellants Themis uses. This delicate operation involves filling the tanks with methane in liquid form that flows at cryogenic conditions below –162 °C.

Once these operations are mastered, the next step will be a hot-firing test, whereby Themis’s Prometheus engine is fired up without take-off. This test requires the propellant tanks to be refilled and involves a full launch countdown, but Themis will remain secured to the ground and will not lift off, as the powerful Prometheus engine will fire at low thrust

This critical step will validate the ground reconnection procedures conducted by a handful of different forklift-sized Themis helper robots that will disconnect cables before launch and reconnect them autonomously after landing.

A first hop for Themis…

Themis, the first European reusable main stage’s full-scale demonstrator, has been developed by ESA’s future Space Transportation preparation programme, with ArianeGroup as prime contractor and multiple European industrial partners. Themis’s first flight campaign will be realised in the scope of Horizon Europe project Salto, funded by the European Union. The Salto project is responding to the EU Space Research and Innovation (R&I) Programme and implemented by the European Commission under direct management.


https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Future_space_transportation/Themis_the_journey_of_Europe_s_first_reusable_rocket_has_begun

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