Europe’s 2025 Ariane Themis Prototype Takes on SpaceX’s 2012 Grasshopper Legacy

Rapid Summary

• ArianeGroup is developing “Themis,” a reusable single-engine rocket prototype funded under the ESA (€100M+ investment).
• Themis is Europe’s first program for vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) reusability and includes tethered/untethered hops at Esrange in 2025.
• It is indeed powered by Prometheus methalox engine (~ISP 330s vacuum), focusing on autonomous landing systems, cryogenics, and structural integrity.
• Comparison to SpaceX shows:

– SpaceX’s Grasshopper tested VTVL reusability from 2012-2013 with ~325m hops culminating public orbital attempts by Falcon boosters in later phases (450 successful reuse).
– Themis plans untether up-to-height ~100 m emphasizing cryo efficiency performance over payload operations scale of space risks trends reveals Mixed projected slower EU Iterative-thusiasm

!SpaceX Grasshopper Test

!themis Prototype

!Ariane Next Advancement Visual

Indian Opinion Analysis

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