A Laboratory Centre for Rocket and Satellite Propulsion Systems was officially opened at the Łukasiewicz – Aviation Institute in Warsaw. The infrastructure was co-financed by the Regional Operational Programme of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship for 2014-2020. The construction of the unit took two years.

The aim of the Centre is to develop, qualify and test the latest technologies related to rocket propulsion, satellites, and other aspects of space technology. The unit has an area of more than 1,000 m2, and includes, among others: a rocket engine dynamometer in the atmosphere and in vacuum, laboratories for rocket, satellite and correctional propulsion subsystems, chemical and environmental and composite laboratories.

“Poland has become one of the few places in Europe where it is possible to carry out comprehensive tests and research projects in space technology (mainly green propulsion) in one place. This is also thanks to our engineering team, which has largely designed the spaces of the new laboratories to be a one-stop shop for institutional and commercial customers and to meet the needs of the national and European space market”, said Dr Paweł Stężycki, Director of Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation, during the ceremony.

The event was attended by more than 100 decision-makers from the space industry, administration and military from Poland, Europe, and the USA. The large delegation of European integrators, including ArianeGroup, Nammo, Airbus Space & Defence, Thales Alenia Space, The Exploration Company or OHB, confirms the interest in R&D and test capabilities at Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation.

As part of the inauguration of the Rocket and Satellite Propulsion Laboratory Centre, a panel discussion ‘Green propulsion for in-space logistics – challenges and opportunities’ was also held to consider the prospects for green solutions in the space sector.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński