A major milestone in the development of the Navier propulsion system has just been reached: the Latitude test team has successfully launched the first inert test campaign of their fully developed and assembled turbopump at their in-house R&D and test facility in France.
Precision under Pressure – with Sensors from STS
We at STS Sensors are proud to support Latitude Space with our pressure sensors for this critical test phase. Precise, real-time pressure data is essential for evaluating the pump’s performance, turbine efficiency, and mechanical integrity – especially under the extreme conditions present in rocket propulsion systems.
Our sensors help monitor:
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Fuel and oil pressure in the turbopump
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Chamber pressure stability
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Structural response during rapid firing cycles
Why an "Inert" Test Campaign?
This first phase uses water and oil – inert fluids – instead of cryogenic propellants. This greatly reduces the risk of fire or hardware damage and allows the team to validate the system under safe yet demanding conditions. Each firing sequence is fully automated, as manual control would be far too slow – which makes fast shutdown capability a crucial part of the test setup.
In this campaign, Latitude aims to complete four of the six main qualification steps. The final two phases will follow later using actual cryogenic propellants.
Our Visit to Latitude
Our management team was on-site for the start of the campaign. The collaboration between STS and Latitude is built on shared engineering values: reliability, innovation, and precision. Seeing our sensors in action as part of a next-generation launch system was an exciting reminder of what’s possible when Swiss sensor expertise meets French aerospace ambition.
From Test Bench to Launch Pad
Once qualified, the turbopump will be integrated into every Navier engine – powering Zephyr, Latitude’s orbital-class small launcher. The goal: a more flexible and responsive launch system for satellite operators around the world.
We're proud to be part of this mission – and we look forward to supporting Latitude through the next test phases.
