Early thinking is that this will be a smaller rocket than Ariane 5 with a modular design capable of lifting one satellite at a time weighing from three to 6.5 tonnes.

BBC: Ariane rocket ready to do battle

The SLS AMG E-CELL incorporates a liquid-cooled high-voltage lithium-ion battery featuring a modular design with an energy content of 48 kWh.

ENGADGET: Visualized: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell bares all

It has its eye on a joint project to design a gas-turbine modular helium reactor with the United States, Japan and France.

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