The European Space Agency (ESA) and the DLR German Space Centre have launched a Texus 48 rocket from the Esrange Space Centre near Kiruna in northern Sweden to demonstrate new technologies for future rockets.

The main aim of the launch is to test a new way of handling propellants on Europe’s future rockets.

As part of the Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP), DLR has procured the rocket for this flight, which was performed under ESA’s Cryogenic Upper Stage Technologies (CUST) project.

According to the ESA, the flight was the first to demonstrate a new technology for future launchers.

Texus 48 incorporates liquid nitrogen, which represents the cryogenic propellants, in order to ease cost and safety constraints, and simplify the thermal design.