European activities

Organisation of the manufacturers

Europropulsion S.A., a subsidiary of Snecma and Avio, is responsible for developing and manufacturing the solid propellant motors (MPS).  As prime contractor it oversees technical cohesion of the programme and is also responsible for subcontracting subassembly production.

Snecma Propulsion Solide is responsible for the nozzle (which is manufactured in Bordeaux) and the bare booster body, which is developed and manufactured by MT Aerospace (formerly MAN) in Augsburg, Germany. 

Avio, which is in charge of internal fittings, fuelling and the igniter, installs the thermal protection in Colleferro, Italy.  The igniter is also manufactured here and the S1 segment loaded with propellant.  The central and lower segments (S2 and S3) are filled with propellant in Kourou (French Guiana) by Regulus, a joint subsidiary of Avio and SNPE.

Europropulsion is responsible for transporting the subassemblies to the Booster Integration Building (BIP) in Kourou where it then takes charge of assembling the MPSs and carrying out any related tests.  It is also in charge of BIP management and maintenance on behalf of the European Space Agency.

In parallel with the production line, Europropulsion is also working on projects to boost the payload capacity of the Ariane 5 launcher, through complementary developments to reduce mass and increase the ballistic performance of the MPSs.  MPS development tests are carried out using a vertical test bench known as the BEAP, which is located near the launch area in Kourou.