Design and testing of a GOX/GCH4 thruster for attitude control on a lunar lander

The development of sustainable, high performance propulsion systems is becoming increasingly important for next generation lunar exploration missions, especially for operations such as spacecraft attitude control. As space agencies and private companies shift toward long term lunar presence, the need for reliable, clean and efficient propulsion technologies grows. This paper presents the design and testing of Breeze, a bipropellant thruster prototype using gaseous oxygen (GOX) and gaseous methane (GCH4). Breeze is intended for use on Hilal, a lunar lander currently being developed by The Exploration Company. During its first test campaign, the prototype successfully completed 47 hot fire tests, demonstrating stable operation and repeatability. The results assess the suitability of GOX/GCH4 propulsion for attitude control on small lunar landers. Beyond supporting the Hilal mission, this work contributes to the maturation of clean, ISRU compatible methane/oxygen propulsion systems for sustainable lunar exploration.