DLR and DASA of Germany as well as CNES and SEP of France have decided
to collaborate on oxygen/hydrogen high-pressure combustion. In order
to promote and intensify a common program the novel research and test
facility P8 for LO(2)/GH(2) high-pressure rocket combustors is present
ly being built at the DLR in Lampoldshausen. It provides for combustio
n chamber pressures up to 30 MPa at a maximum total propellant mass fl
ow rate of 9.5 kg/s. The P8 test bench will be jointly financed, opera
ted and utilized. The paper describes the design of P8, its instrument
ation and combustion diagnostics as well as the organization of this i
nternational cooperation. Finally, the currently planned research prog
ram on high-pressure combustion will be discussed.