Europe's ArianeGroup is set to fly a series of demonstrators in a bid to develop sovereign reusable launch capabilities.

"Callisto, Themis and Skyhopper are different demonstration programs contributing to the development of a European reusable launch vehicle," Franck Koebel of France-based ArianeGroup said during a technical presentation at the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 1.

The effort is built around Prometheus, described as a reusable, high-thrust, low-cost methane-liquid oxygen rocket engine that will power the demonstrators. Testing has already begun with early systems trials in France, while current and upcoming campaigns are being run in Kiruna, Sweden, near the Arctic Circle.

The first Themis vehicle module — named T1H (Themis-1 engine-Hop)

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