Aurelion One

A European micro-launcher designed for dedicated small satellite missions.

Aurelion One is a two-stage European micro-launcher developed to serve the rapidly growing small satellite market. The vehicle is optimized for dedicated launches of payloads in the 20–60 kg class, providing customers with precise orbital insertion, short lead times, and competitive pricing. Aurelion One is engineered from first principles as a micro-launcher, not as a scaled-down version of a larger launch vehicle.

Designed Specifically for Small Satellites

The small satellite market requires launch systems that are flexible, affordable, and responsive.
Aurelion One addresses these needs by focusing on a narrow payload class and optimizing every subsystem for cost efficiency, manufacturability, and operational simplicity. By avoiding unnecessary complexity, Aurelion One enables faster integration and launch readiness compared to traditional launch vehicles.

Key Characteristics

Aurelion One combines a compact form factor with a mission profile tailored to small satellite deployment.

Key characteristics include:

Payload capacity: 20–60 kg to Low Earth Orbit
Two-stage architecture
Recoverable first stage
LOX/RP-1 propulsion
Dedicated mission profile (no rideshare constraints)

This configuration enables cost-effective access to orbit while maintaining mission flexibility.

Vehicle Architecture

Aurelion One features a clean and modular architecture designed to support rapid development and future scalability.

The launch vehicle consists of:

  • A lightweight composite payload fairing
  • A second stage optimized for orbital insertion
  • A structural interstage
  • A first stage designed for recovery and refurbishment

The architecture is optimized to minimize part count and simplify assembly.

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Mission Profiles

Aurelion One supports a range of mission profiles relevant to commercial and institutional customers.

Typical mission profiles include:

Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) for Earth observation missions

Equatorial orbits for telecommunications and technology demonstration

Mid-inclination orbits for institutional and dual-use applications

Dedicated launches allow customers to select the optimal orbit and launch schedule.

Reusability Without Complexity

Reusability is a key driver for reducing launch costs, but it must be implemented in a way that preserves system reliability. Aurelion One adopts a non-propulsive first-stage recovery approach, avoiding the mass and complexity associated with propulsive landing systems.This enables a simpler vehicle architecture while still delivering meaningful cost reductions.

PERFORMANCE APPROACH

The performance envelope of Aurelion One is defined through an incremental test-driven development process. Rather than optimizing for extreme performance, the vehicle is designed to operate within conservative margins, ensuring robustness and repeatability. This approach supports long-term operational reliability and scalability.

 

A Practical European Launch Solution

Aurelion One is designed to provide Europe with a practical, cost-effective micro-launch capability, supporting the next generation of small satellite missions.

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