Dutch advanced materials company Arceon is scaling up production of its Carbeon ceramic matrix composite (CMC) nozzle extensions through SOLSTICE, a project granted by the European Space Agency (ESA). The initiative aims to bridge the gap between laboratory-scale manufacturing and production maturity at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, supporting the development of reusable upper stages for European launch vehicles.
SOLSTICE was selected during ESA's Future Space Transportation Autumn Session in Paris, where it was among 16 awarded projects. Arceon is collaborating with The Exploration Company and Compoxi to advance the manufacturing scale-up and demonstrate the potential of Carbeon materials for space transportation applications.
Carbeon is Arceon's carbon-fibre-reinforced silicon carbide (C/SiC) composite material. Ceramic matrix composites combine high-temperature resistance with lightweight structural properties, making them relevant to demanding propulsion environments. Scaling up the manufacturing of Carbeon nozzle extensions is intended to support their transition toward more mature applications in reusable launch systems.
SOLSTICE marks Arceon's third ESA project as the lead organization and its fifth ESA project overall. The award follows the selection of the company's ROCMAN project under the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), through which Arceon was the only Dutch company selected by the European Commission, according to the company.
Together, the SOLSTICE and ROCMAN projects strengthen Arceon's presence across European space and defence programmes, reflecting the dual-use potential of its advanced composite technologies. The SOLSTICE manufacturing scale-up is a further step toward establishing Carbeon-based nozzle extensions for future European space transportation systems.
Source: Arceon | LinkedIn
