The Exploration Company has presented a full-scale model of Storm, its new high-thrust rocket engine program, at ILA Berlin 2026. This engine was previously hinted at with a website update revealing a large rocket design powered by nine Storm engines, though the company clarified this rocket is a long-term project, not an immediate priority.
The primary goal of the Storm program is to develop modern European propulsion technology suitable for future reusable launchers and, in the long term, for heavy-lift launch systems.
The Storm engine is engineered to produce up to 180 tons of thrust at sea level. It will utilize liquid oxygen and biomethane. This propellant combination is currently favored for reusable engines due to its relatively clean combustion compared to other propellants and easier residue management post-flight, mirroring the choice made by Blue Origin for its New Glenn rocket.
A Engine for European Ambitions?
The most significant aspect of the project is its chosen engine cycle: full-flow staged combustion. In this type of engine, both the fuel and oxidizer first pass through dedicated pre-burners, generating high-pressure gas to power the turbopumps. Only then do these flows enter the main combustion chamber. This allows for operation at high pressures and more efficient propellant utilization, but it also makes the engine highly complex to design and test.
Consequently, The Exploration Company is developing Storm using a progressive approach, emphasizing real subsystem testing before full integration. This includes work on turbomachinery, the main combustion chamber, regeneratively cooled nozzle extensions, and both oxygen-rich and fuel-rich pre-burners. Some testing campaigns are currently underway at DLR sites in Lampoldshausen.
The Exploration Company is leveraging the Storm program to advance additive manufacturing processes, multi-material integration, and the development of new alloys capable of withstanding high temperatures, pressures, and highly oxidizing environments. The objective is not merely to build a functioning engine but to achieve a scalable and reusable technology. While specific future applications are not yet detailed, the long-term aim remains the development of a medium-to-large class launcher.
The program is supported by CNES, ESA, and DLR, partly through the THRUST! initiative. The ILA Berlin presentation marks the first public reveal of a project already well underway technically. Within the European landscape, Storm aligns with broader efforts in reusable propulsion, such as the Prometheus program, while specifically addressing The Exploration Company’s future needs and potential heavy-lift launch vehicles.
