The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
Go to topicInitiated in 2010 the Unitary Motor (UM) propulsion demonstrator was developed within the Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP).
Following several small scale tests the first large scale hot fire test was successfully achieved in 2014. The hybrid engine combines liquid hydrogen peroxide with solid HTPB fuel and reaches a thrust level of 30 kN. It will power the Nucleus demonstrator, a single stage sounding rocket, developed around the engine for in-flight testing in the near future.