French space agency seeks cryogenic in-orbit refuelling techs
The French space agency CNES has issued a call for proposals to develop and demonstrate in-orbit cryogenic propellant storage and refuelling technologies as part of its CRYOSTARS initiative.
Launched under the Space Transportation Solutions stream of CNES’s Priority Innovation Vectors programme, the initiative is aimed at advancing technologies that support sovereign access to space. These include reusable launch systems, satellite servicing, and in-orbit refuelling.
The first phase will assess potential use cases, including applications outside the space sector in areas such as naval and aeronautical operations. CNES has outlined several areas for exploration, including long-term liquid hydrogen storage for nuclear thermal propulsion, refuelling of upper stages and orbital vehicles, and cryogenic propellant depots for electric propulsion systems.
… to continue reading this article and more, please login, register for free, or consider subscribing to gasworld
Register today
You’ve reached your weekly limit to access free articles!
Want to keep reading?
Please register for free and create a profile to gain access to this full article and gasworld’s daily news.
For access to more content including our monthly digital magazines, subscriber-only features or columns and all our other gasworld archives, please consider subscribing.
Alternatively, you can continue reading more articles as a guest on Friday, 20th June at 2:17PM
