The German Aerospace Center (DLR) has completed acceptance testing on the carbon-fibre nose cone for the Callisto reusable rocket demonstrator, marking a key hardware milestone even as agency schedules point to a delayed debut. According to a DLR announcement on September 11, the completed nose structure will now transfer to France for integration into the vehicle’s top block alongside APCO Technologies before shipping to the Guiana Space Centre.
Hardware Progress Across International Partners
Work on the Callisto vehicle spans multiple space agencies and industrial partners across Europe and Asia. DLR confirmed that the demonstrator’s aerodynamic fins are finished and its landing legs are currently in production, with delivery to the launch site expected in 2027. Meanwhile, Norwegian aerospace firm Nammo delivered a hydrogen-peroxide propulsion system to the French space agency CNES on August 21, as stated by Kristian Lium, vice president of space at Nammo. This system will power Callisto’s reaction control system, utilizing eight thrusters for flight attitude control.
In Japan, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has advanced work on the lower propulsion section through 2026 procurement contracts. JAXA has acquired large stainless-steel piping for the RSR-2 engine, cryogenic and gas quick-disconnect systems, and flight-control hardware modifications, while also prepping for standalone turbopump testing. Once assembled in Japan, the propulsion block is expected to undergo a hot-fire campaign at JAXA’s Noshiro Test Center prior to shipment to French Guiana.
Launch Site Preparations at the Guiana Space Centre
Ground infrastructure is taking shape at the Guiana Space Centre on the grounds of the former Diamant launch complex. CNES published a procurement call in December 2025 for a 40-foot liquid-hydrogen container to supply up to 24 months of propellant storage. In June, CNES issued additional calls for civil works covering liquid-oxygen and hydrogen-peroxide storage areas, plus access roads leading to the Callisto site. This complex is simultaneously being redeveloped to host commercial providers including PLD Space, Isar Aerospace, Rocket Factory Augsburg, Latitude, and Sirius Space.
Did you know? The Callisto flight campaign is slated to span roughly eight months, featuring eight increasingly demanding test flights focused on low-altitude hops, followed by two final demonstration flights involving complex downrange trajectories, aerodynamic maneuvers, and propulsive returns.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the initial Callisto hop test take place?
DLR confirmed that the initial hop test has slipped to 2027, a timeline initially signaled in a CNES procurement notice from September 2025.
Who is building the reaction control system for Callisto?
Nammo, a Norwegian aerospace and defense company, built the hydrogen-peroxide reaction control system powered by eight thrusters.
Where are the launch facilities being constructed?
The launch and landing facilities are being built at the Guiana Space Centre on the grounds of the former Diamant launch complex.
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