"ESA Faces Critical Moment with Phoebus Mission"

The European Space Agency (ESA) is developing Phoebus, a next-generation rocket fuel tank made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic. This material is lightweight and strong, but previously not leak-tight enough for storing liquid hydrogen and oxygen. However, through new manufacturing technologies and design methodologies, ESA has overcome these limitations. Phoebus will be tested with a 2-meter-diameter model oxygen tank, followed by a similar scale hydrogen tank next year. If successful, a full-scale structural demonstrator of a complete upper stage will be tested in 2025.