French launch startup HyPrSpace has announced that it has completed preliminary design reviews (PDRs) for its Baguette One and Orbital Baguette One rockets.
Founded in 2019, HyPrSpace is developing a micro-launcher rocket powered by a hybrid propulsion system. While the company has since pulled all information about its rockets from its website suggesting its design may have changed, HyPrSpace had previously stated that its Orbital Baguette One (OB-1) rocket would be capable of delivering up to 250 kilograms to low Earth orbit.
In December 2023, a HyPrSpace-led consortium secured €35 million in funding for its PADA1 project. The aim of the project is to complete the detailed design of its OB-1 rocket and to carry out the first flight of its suborbital Baguette One rocket. In addition to HyPrSpace, the PADA1 consortium features Telespazio, responsible for the ground segment and operations, and CT Ingénierie, focused on system engineering and rocket design.
The French government, through its France 2030 development initiative, provided 60% of the total funding for the project. The remaining 40% was supplied by the consortium partners, with HyPrSpace bearing the bulk of that responsibility.
On 11 December, HyPrSpace announced that it had successfully completed the PDRs for the Baguette One suborbital demonstrator and the Orbital Baguette One micro-launcher. The company added that it had also moved into the Critical Design phase for both systems, a stage of development where detailed engineering plans are finalised, and components are prepared for manufacturing.
When the PADA1 initiative was first announced, HyPrSpace was targeting the first quarter of 2026 for an inaugural flight of its suborbital Baguette One rocket. The company’s 11 December announcement did not offer any projections as to when HyPrSpace plans to attempt the rocket’s first flight.
