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.

Background

The reusable Prometheus engine, which will power Maia's first and second stages, was developed using funding from the European Space Agency's (ESA) Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP). The Colibri's engines will be based on technology developed by Łukasiewicz–ILOT as part of its GRACE 1 & 2 projects, also funded through FLPP. The first stage of Maia will utilize a number of technologies developed for ESA's Themis reusable rocket demonstrator, again funded through FLPP. Reusability of the first stage will be further developed within the project SkyHopper, which receives funding from CNES. Maia will be launching from the ELS launchpad at the Guiana Space Centre formerly used by Soyuz at CSG and abandoned after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Development

  • The first cryogenic test of a full-scale prototype of the Maia's second stage has been completed in September 2023.
  • In August 2025, MaiaSpace has completed a six-month test campaign of high-pressure burst tests on subscale prototypes of Maia's propellant tanks.
  • In September 2025, MaiaSpace successfully tested firing of two Colibri kick stage engines simultaneously.

Launches

MaiaSpace has secured its first commercial customer in March 2025, when they signed a multi-launch agreement with the French company Exotrail to carry its Spacevan orbital transfer vehicle to LEO starting not earlier than 2027. In January 2026, MaiaSpace secured a multi-launch contract with Eutelsat to launch satellites for its OneWeb constellation to low Earth orbit.

See also

  • European Launcher Challenge – Space launch vehicle development programme of the European Space Agency
  • Other orbital launchers under development in Europe: Ariane Next – Orbital recoverable launch vehicle of the European company ArianeGroup Miura 5 – European orbital recoverable rocket of the company PLD Space Miura Next – European orbital recoverable rocket of the company PLD Space RFA One – Space launch vehicle in development Spectrum – Two-stage small launch vehicle