On July 12 at the AVIO Colleferro (Rome) 3C test complex, it has been successfully performed the firing test of the supersonic scrubber, a particular device for reducing the chemical emissions of the supersonic jet produced by solid propellant rocket engines. All phases of the process, from conception to development, up to the realization of the small-scale prototype by the Italian company Thermal Spray System, were handled by CIRA as part of the PON R&I 2014-2020 "Generazione E", a project dedicated to the research and experimentation of Materials, Diagnostic and Environmental Control Systems for advanced generation space transport vehicles, coordinated by the Aerospace District of Sardinia (DASS) and funded by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR).

The chemical analysis of the water collected in the scrubber tubs, entrusted to the Department of Chemical Sciences of the University of Naples "Federico II", will allow to evaluate the effectiveness of the device in "cleaning" the solid rocket jet from the chemical emissions consisting mainly of Alumina (Al2O3).

The CIRA laboratories for access to space and high-speed systems, aerothermodynamics, technologies for space exploration and propulsion plants contributed to the achievement of this important project objective. Also the precious collaboration of the Sapienza Aerospace Research Center in Rome has been exploited during the design phase of the device.