Overview
THRUST! is an initiative of ESA’s STS future space transportation programme (FLPP), and aims to push forward European high-thrust liquid propulsion competencies by reaching significant demonstration results on staged combustion engine technology, thus providing results beyond the current liquid propulsion portfolio in Europe.
THRUST! is a hardware-rich line of activity, oriented in priority toward hot-fire testing. It addresses the whole range of potential applications of staged combustion engines, be they commercial or institutional. It is coherent with the activities on very high thrust propulsion for human space transportation, which is a particular case of application. It can be an opportunity of extension of propulsion projects implemented in national frames, if compatible with the objectives of THRUST!.
Participation and Scope
The THRUST! 2 procurement process will follow the FLPP Open Competition two-stage approach:
As a first step, a call for ideas in ESA’s OSIP platform is now open. This call invites ideas from entities across all ESA Member States, with a focus on the maturation of staged-combustion TRL (Technology Readiness Level) within Europe with hardware-rich activities, including fast track to hot-fire testing of full-scale sub-systems.
Following this call for ideas, a virtual Pitch Day will be organised by ESA where engine primes can present their engine target as well as any specific technology gaps identified. ESA will select the potential engine primes as well as promising sub-system/technology providers to present at the pitch day on the basis of their OSIP submissions.
This call for ideas is not restricted to the contractors of THRUST! period 1. Its scope is to work at full scale with flight-representative design, focusing on hot-fire testing of full-scale subsystems and their associated technologies.
Technology Areas
Staged combustion is the engine cycle of choice for the objectives of this campaign. Its overall TRL in Europe is lower than the one of the gas generator cycles, and its performance and compactness are advantageous for reusable stages and multi-engine bays. Activities on other engine cycles, if not strictly excluded, would have to be strongly justified in terms of economic and technological interests.
The THRUST! initiative is focused on the maturation of staged-combustion TRL (Technology Readiness Level) within Europe with hardware-rich activities, including fast track to hot-fire testing of full-scale sub-systems. Ideas are requested from:
- Engine primes with already-defined staged-combustion engine roadmaps
- Sub-system or technology providers proposing technologies that specifically enable the staged combustion cycle, or more general propulsion technologies that represent a high potential for cost reduction.
Timeline
- Open Call for Ideas in OSIP
- Online Pitch Day in September, organised by ESA
- Subsequent open competition ITT to be launched in Q4 2026