No, it is not aboard an Ariane rocket that Thomas Pesquet will be propelled into space this Friday.
ArianeGroup is also looking to the future ... but with a slightly more down to earth perspective ...
To achieve internationally recognized reliability, ArianeGroup has designed, over the years, the largest test center in Europe at Vernon in the Eure region. Over 120 ha, nearly 300 m3 of liquid hydrogen supplied by Air Liquide and Air Products are stored in complete safety. “We test our engines and equipment there. Our systems are very powerful. A rocket is the equivalent of two power plants. So, within the framework of the massive deployment of hydrogen for various applications, why not use our infrastructures beyond the space perimeter? This seems to be a great opportunity for us and our activities, but also for the benefit of societal issues. We have the skills to do it, ”boasts Philippe Girard, liquid propulsion director.
This desire has not gone unnoticed.
It has just materialized with the signing between the aerospace company and the Normandy region of an innovative partnership on hydrogen.
Already on January 12, during his visit to the ArianeGroup site in Vernon, the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron underlined: "The site will benefit from investments to preserve the French and European space industry, prepare future launchers and support projects to diversify into hydrogen technologies ”.
Read alsoCar, plane, train ... the hydrogen revolution is underway
The adventure of hydrogen and European aerospace began in 1979 with the choice, after the 147 seconds required to leave the atmosphere, to propel the rockets with a mixture of liquid oxygen (absent in space) and liquid hydrogen. From there, cryogenics has always been present in space development, unlike the choices made by other countries, such as the American Falcon 9 rocket which will transport Thomas Pesquet to the international station. Its engines run on a mixture of oxygen and kerosene.
With the end of the Ariane 5 program, replaced by Ariane 6 (a faster and cheaper series carrier whose first launch is scheduled for 2022), “cryogenics will continue to propel rockets in the next twenty years for a reason. simple: in a hydrogen molecule, there is no carbon, it is abundant and the energy density is unbeatable.
It is the best compromise between power, mass and storage ”, suggests Jean-Christophe Henoux, director of future projects.
"Space has always been a supplier of everyday technologies"
So when you talk to these engineers about everyday mobility solutions, the observation is simple: “The scale is different, but the advantages and the problems are the same. Where we could intervene the most, these are for more powerful needs where more autonomy and larger storage than a simple tank are required. All manufacturers who want to store liquid hydrogen will face a lot of difficulties. As on sloshing (
Editor's note: stability
). We know that! I speak for planes, boats, trains or trucks. Space has always been a supplier of everyday technologies. So we can save time and money. You don't have to reinvent the wheel every time, ”adds Jean-Christophe Hénoux.
With this partnership, ArianeGroup therefore intends to "export" its know-how: "For example, we can help resolve major breakdowns at a hydrogen service station", assures Philippe Girard. He also specifies that the Vernon site is working on a solution to produce carbon-free gaseous hydrogen "using green electricity by solar panels." It is a private actor who would take care of it ”.