Having agreed in principle on a cooperation in the field of H-2/O-2 high pressure combustion research, the partners CNES (Centre National d＇Etudes Spatial, Evry, France), DASA (Daimler Bent Aerospace, Ottobrunn, Germany), DLR and SEP (Societe Europeenne de Propulsion, Vernon, France) have decided by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in December 1992 to erect, operate and utilize in a joint effort the P8, a new research and technology test bench for high combustion chamber pressures, located at the DLR research and test center at Lampoldshausen, Germany. The guiding idea behind this collaboration is to concentrate European research activities of industry, research laboratories, and universities, with the aim to increase the basic knowledge about the dominating physical processes of high pressure hydrogen/oxygen combustion and heat transfer in rocket propulsion devices based on the application of advanced laser-optical diagnostic techniques. After a description of important design and instrumentation details of the P8 test facility the paper gives an overview of the current status of development and adaptation of laser-optical measuring techniques to be applied for combustion diagnostics purposes at the P8. A brief summary of the results of the acceptance phases is followed by a description of the first test specimen in use for hot firing tests. A presentation of the current plans for research activities at the P8 facility concludes the paper.