GTD has completed the design, development and delivery of a new transportable control bench for MaiaSpace in just nine months, significantly accelerating the typical timelines for this type of mission-critical infrastructure, which usually requires more than two years. The system, delivered in September 2025, is now entering the campaign phase in Vernon (France) ahead of the hot firing test campaign of Maia’s upper stage using the reusable methane-fuelled engine Prometheus®.
The bench provides the full command, control and data-acquisition infrastructure needed for demanding engine test campaigns. Acting as the operational hub of each firing sequence, it manages real-time control, safety logic, data recording and performance monitoring throughout engine and subsystem tests.
Completing this system in only nine months was a major challenge, and achieving such a short timeline is extremely uncommon for this type of control bench. — Marisa Pertusa, Project Manager at GTD.
First unit of a future multi-bench family
This first system features a containerized and modular design that enables full transportability. This delivery marks the first unit in a planned series of control benches that will accompany MaiaSpace’s roadmap for the development of the first reusable, competitive and eco-design mini-launcher in Europe, featuring the vertical recovery of the first stage on a barge at Sea. MaiaSpace plans on delivering the first Maia flight model on its launch pad at the Guiana Space Center by the end of 2026.
Future versions will include new configurations and mission profiles, culminating in a maritime-basedbench installed on a barge to support the reception of the launcher’s firststage at sea — a capability unprecedented in Europe.
Reinforcing Europe’s reusable launch capabilities
With this project, GTD strengthens its role as a trusted engineering partner for mission-critical systems in Europe’s space sector. The company brings more than 35 years of experience in high-reliability control systems, including its long-standing presence at the Guiana Space Center since 1991.
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