Maia (rocket)
| Function | Partially reusable orbital launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | MaiaSpace (ArianeGroup) |
| Country of origin | France |
| Size | |
| Height | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.5 m (11 ft) |
| Stages | 2 (plus optional 3rd) |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | |
| Mass | 500 kg (1,100 lb) when reusable 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) when expendable 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) with 3rd stage and fully expendable |
| Payload to SSO | |
| Mass | 500 kg (1,100 lb) when reusable 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) when expendable 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) with 3rd stage and fully expendable |
| Associated rockets | |
| Based on | Themis |
| Comparable | Miura 5, Firefly Alpha |
| Launch history | |
| Status | In development |
| Launch sites | ELS at Guiana Space Centre |
| First flight | 2027 (planned) |
| First stage | |
| Powered by | 3 × Prometheus |
| Propellant | Methane/LOX |
| Second stage | |
| Powered by | 1 × Prometheus |
| Propellant | Methane/LOX |
| Optional third stage – Colibri | |
| Powered by | multiple engines developed by Łukasiewicz–ILOT |
The Maia rocket is a future orbital reusable launch vehicle under development by the French startup MaiaSpace, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ArianeGroup. A two-stage rocket, it will consist of a first stage with three Prometheus engines as well as a re-ignitable second stage with a single Prometheus engine. An optional Colibri kick stage could be added if need be, powered by a cluster of engines whose development has been outsourced to the Polish institute Łukasiewicz–ILOT.
Maia will deliver up to 500 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO) when the first stage is recovered and 1,500 kg when fully expendable. The addition of Colibri will give the rocket a performance boost of at least 1,000 kg to LEO for each version. The reusable first stage will be equipped with landing legs, grid fins, and an attitude control system for controlled landing on a barge at sea. The inaugural suborbital flight of Maia is expected in 2027, and the first stage recovery in 2028.