The German Aerospace Centre DLR has formally selected the Arianespace Ariane 5 launch vehicle to launch its experimental communications satellite H2Sat (Heinrich Hertz) – also known as the Heinrich Hertzsat – in 2021 or 2022.
In a separate development Arianespace owner ArianeGroup has ordered the development of the Prometheus engine which uses the oxygen (LOx) and methane propellant combination. This is a precursor to a new series of low cost engines which would replace the liquid Hydrogen/LOx engine and solid rocket technologies currently used by the Ariane 5.
Ariane 5 ECA flight VA238 flies into orbit. Courtesy: Arianespace