Ariane Themis Reusable Rocket 2025 Prototype Vs SpaceX Grasshopper 2012

September 19, 2025 by Brian Wang

Here is a comparison of Ariane’s Themis prototype in 2025 and SpaceX’s Grasshopper tests (2012–2013) and the early Falcon 9 reusability program (2013–2016). Ariane is 13 years behind SpaceX. SpaceX had low-risk suborbital hops on Grasshopper. Had more advanced F9R Dev vehicle in 2014 and then landed boosters after commercial payloads were sent to orbit. …

Ariane Test Fires Reusable Prometheus Rocket Engine

July 1, 2023 by Brian Wang

ArianeGroup has successfully carried out the first ignition campaign of the reusable Prometheus® engine on the reusable Themis rocket core stage demonstrator – a key step in providing Europe with the essential technological building blocks for future reusable launchers. This test of a complete rocket stage running on liquid oxygen and bio-methane is a first …