Aciturri Aerostructures completes integrated Type 5 space tank demonstrator

Aciturri Aerostructures, a Tier 1 supplier with facilities in Spain and Brazil for the design, production and assembly of complex structural assemblies, has reached a milestone that represents a break with existing solutions: The completion of a cryogenic tank demonstrator for space application that integrates the launcher’s own skin.

This advance, developed at the company’s plant in Tecnobahía (Cádiz), places the Spanish industry at a level of development reserved for very few players at a global level, Aciturri reports — a clear sign of capacity, innovation and leadership.

The development represents a key step within the CRETAN project (supported by the ESA through GSTP), focused on the development of advanced solutions for integrated Type 5 composite tanks for fuel (kerosene) and oxidizer (liquid oxygen). “The incorporation of a shared bulkhead tank will reduce the weight by up to 30% compared to current structures, generating a significant competitive advantage in the space market,” says Aciturri Aerostructures in a LinkedIn post sharing the milestone.

Aciturri Aerostructures is an active player — on its own and in collaboration with customers, suppliers and competitors — in a variety of composites-focused R&D projects, including OVERLEAF, HERWINGT, H2ELIOS or NEWBORN, to name a few. Since 2002, the company has participated in numerous European R&D&I projects within all the European Framework Programs. Learn more about its R&D work.

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