P120C
European solid-propellant rocket stage
The P120C is a solid-fuel rocket motor developed for use as the first stage of the Vega C launch vehicle and as strap-on boosters for the Ariane 6. It was developed by Europropulsion, a joint venture between Avio and ArianeGroup, for the European Space Agency (ESA). The designation "P120C" reflects key characteristics of the motor: "P" stands for poudre (French for 'powder'), referencing its solid propellant; "120" denotes the original target of 120 tonnes of propellant (later increased to nearly 142 tonnes); and "C" signifies its common use across multiple launch systems.
As of July 2022, the P120C is the world's largest and most powerful single-piece solid-fuel rocket motor, surpassing the earlier P80FW used on the original Vega launcher.
Development and Testing
Initially, production of the P120C was planned to be divided between Avio's main facility in Italy and MT Aerospace in Germany. However, in 2018, ESA decided to consolidate production entirely in Italy, with MT Aerospace focusing on Ariane 6's turbopumps.
The first successful test firing occurred at the Guiana Space Centre in July 2018, lasting 140 seconds and simulating a complete first-stage burn. Subsequent tests in 2019 and 2020 confirmed the motor's flight readiness for both launcher configurations.
Design and Performance
The P120C builds upon the P80's design, utilizing a carbon fibre casing constructed via filament winding and fabric deposition techniques. It houses a 143.6 tonnes (317,000 lb) of HTPB 1912 propellant, a blend of 19% aluminium powder, 69% ammonium perchlorate with 12% of hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene binder.
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