French aerospace start-up HyPrSpace will launch its suborbital demonstrator, Baguette One, from the Biscarrosse missile testing site in the Landes department in 2027. Joint announcements by the company and the French Directorate General for Armaments (DGA) confirm the mission, marking a milestone for the French New Space sector as the first launch of a private civil launcher from the European nation’s mainland.
Validating Hybrid Propulsion at Altitude
Baguette One is a 10-meter single-stage suborbital technological demonstrator designed to validate HyPrSpace’s proprietary hybrid propulsion architecture before the development of its commercial orbital rocket, OB1, according to the DGA.
While the suborbital flight will not place any satellites into orbit, it will test flight dynamics, avionics, guidance systems, and tank structures under real-world acceleration and high-altitude conditions.
DGA technical documentation shows the vehicle can also accommodate microgravity experiments and serve as a testing platform for civil and military hypersonic vehicles, along with material durability tests for aerospace components.
Engineering Out the Turbopump
Founded in Bordeaux in 2019, HyPrSpace employs roughly 150 people.
The company utilizes a patented hybrid engine design that pairs liquid oxygen (LOX) with a solid fuel made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
Unlike traditional rocket engines, this architecture operates without a turbopump, significantly reducing the total count of mechanical parts. Company specifications indicate the simplified design lowers production and operational costs while enabling faster preparation and deployment times—features that hold particular value for defense applications.
Rigorous Ground Testing in Gironde
Before the 2027 flight in Biscarrosse, HyPrSpace and the DGA are conducting ground tests to mature the propulsion system.
Following previous trials with the Joker and Terminator demonstrators in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles since 2022, teams are preparing a ground test of the Toaster engine on a new DGA test bench in Saint-Jean-d’Illac, as reported by the DGA.
The Biscarrosse launch will transition these technologies from ground validation to flight. DGA Essais de missiles will coordinate safety, tracking, and telemetry measurement resources alongside the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) to oversee the flight data collection.
State Backing and the Road to OB1
The project benefits from state support under the France 2030 investment plan. It aligns with the Space Pact launched in 2025 to foster dual-use innovation between the Ministry of the Armed Forces and emerging private space firms.
Following the Baguette One suborbital flight, HyPrSpace plans to develop the Orbital Baguette One (OB1) launcher. Designed to place 250-kilogram payloads into orbit, OB1 aims to establish a competitive European micro-launcher service for commercial clients and defense simulations.
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