Author Topic: ESA EXPERT: European eXPErimental Reentry Testbed updates  (Read 40447 times)

Offline js117

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Not sure if this is old news.


ESA and Thales Alenia Space to sign development contract for experimental reentry vehicle: media opportunity

 
17 July 2009
On 20 July, ESA will sign a contract with Thales Alenia Space Italy for the development of the European Experimental Reentry Testbed (Expert).
 
The Link

http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEMJNO916XF_index_0.html

                                  reentry vehicle



« Last Edit: 07/04/2014 05:46 am by Jester »

Offline nooneofconsequence

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #1 on: 07/31/2009 05:42 pm »
Is this an actively stabilized RV with those tabs? Or are they fixed?

Looks like a high volume, high CG design.
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something" - Plato

Offline Eerie

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #2 on: 07/31/2009 07:14 pm »
Looks like a warhead.

Offline SgtPoivre

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #3 on: 08/02/2009 09:29 am »
Quote
Looks like a warhead.

I don't know why but I've got the impression that ESA is currently helping Italy to finance the development of all the technologies needed to build an ICBM (except the nuke itself) :

- the launcher through VEGA
- the reentry vehicles through EXPERT

Well I suppose I'm just being paranoid...

Offline Solar_OPS

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #4 on: 08/02/2009 11:14 am »
Is this an actively stabilized RV with those tabs? Or are they fixed?

Looks like a high volume, high CG design.

It's purely a testbed to gain more flight data in the high atmosphere to validate CFD codes and extrapolation to flight methods. The technology boomed in the last decade(s), but very little flight data was recorded in this period in Europe. The vehicle is really packet with plenty of advanced measurement devices.

Nevertheless, there is no active control during its flight, after separation from the 3rd stage of Volna. Also no TM link during flight. They hope to spot it under the parachute and find it after landing on Kamchatka and recover all recorded data  on-board.

Offline Zond

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #5 on: 08/02/2009 11:36 am »
Quote
Looks like a warhead.

I don't know why but I've got the impression that ESA is currently helping Italy to finance the development of all the technologies needed to build an ICBM (except the nuke itself) :

- the launcher through VEGA
- the reentry vehicles through EXPERT

Well I suppose I'm just being paranoid...

http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/alfa.htm

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #6 on: 08/02/2009 08:04 pm »

The aim of the EXPERT project is to validate aero-thermodynamic models, numeric codes and ground test facilities by data, which was collected in a representative flight environment.

In order to make a good design of future spacecraft more precise data is needed particularly for the following aero-thermodynamic problems:

    * Effectiveness and heating of control surfaces
    * Interaction between shock and boundary layer
    * Transition of boundary layer from laminar to turbulent flow
    * High temperature and gas chemistry effects
    * Interaction between gas and surface such as catalysis and oxidation

The EXPERT capsule is designed in a simple geometry and consists of an ellipsoid in the nose region, which attaches to a conic body over a clothoide. Four even surfaces are cut into the conic body with four fixed flaps.

http://www.dlr.de/bk/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-4517/7393_read-5655/

Old link.

http://www.esa.int/esapub/bulletin/bullet114/chapter4_bul114.pdf


Offline cheesybagel

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #7 on: 08/16/2009 02:14 pm »
Here is a presentation on EXPERT:
http://videolectures.net/tict08_muylaert_eei/

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #8 on: 01/23/2010 09:19 am »

EXPERT Update

Expert Launch Contract Signed With SRC Makeyev

10 December 2009

The launch operations and vehicle recovery contract for ESA’s European Experimental Re-entry Testbed (Expert) was signed on 2 December in Moscow, Russia, between ESA and the Russian Makeyev State Rocket Centre.

Expert is currently scheduled to be launched on its suborbital trajectory in October 2010.

http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEMC9A7JT2G_index_0.html

« Last Edit: 01/23/2010 09:20 am by bolun »

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #9 on: 05/28/2010 08:25 pm »

Expert updates

Expert: European eXPErimental Reentry Testbed (with video)

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/EXPERT/SEMYRKQORVF_0.html

Expert: System overview /General configuration

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/EXPERT/SEM30LQORVF_0.html

Expert: Launch and recovery

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/EXPERT/SEMDHS9J33G_0.html

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #10 on: 08/23/2010 01:18 pm »
From ESA Bulletin Number 143 (August 2010)

Expert

Phase-D of the test bed development is ongoing. Vehicle integration has started at Thales Alenia Space Italy, Turin, to be ready for system tests in October. The schedule for the delivery of the parachute is being negotiated with the Russian supplier. Sufficient margin must be maintained for a launch in spring/summer 2011. Discussions with Russian authorities have secured a launch from a Russian submarine on a Volna rocket.

http://esamultimedia.esa.int/multimedia/publications/ESA-Bulletin-143/pageflip.html

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #11 on: 05/30/2011 07:58 pm »
From ESA Bulletin Number 146 (May 2011)

Expert

Vehicle integration at the Thales Alenia Space Italy is progressing. Agreements to finance the European industrial subcontractors have been confirmed by Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Italy. Permission for launch is expected from Russian authorities in time for a mid-2011 launch.

http://esamultimedia.esa.int/multimedia/publications/ESA-Bulletin-146/pageflip.html
« Last Edit: 05/30/2011 08:00 pm by bolun »

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #12 on: 06/29/2011 01:19 pm »
Expert’s reentry flap endures hot baptism
 
29 June 2011

A spacecraft control flap designed for the super-heated hypersonic fall through Earth’s atmosphere has come through testing in the world’s largest plasma wind tunnel to be ready for its first flight next year.

The Expert capsule, studded with around 150 different sensors, is due to fly in spring 2012, sea-launched from a Russian submarine for recovery on Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula.

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM05V3TBPG_index_0.html

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #13 on: 11/23/2011 11:06 am »
Expert Descent and Landing System Test Campaign

21 November 2011

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/EXPERT/SEMUIAZW5VG_0.html

Quote
The parachute test campaign was concluded successfully in October 2011 and the parachute subsystem is ready for integration with the Expert Vehicle.

Quote
Qualification tests:

- Parachute (Pilot, Drogue and Main) mock-up tests to develop the specific Expert system and packing,
- Static strength tests of the Pilot, Drogue and Main parachutes,
- Dynamic tests of the Pilot, Drogue and Main parachutes,
- Pilot parachute deployment tests using the pneumatic gun,
- Strength tests of the Pilot and supersonic Drogue parachutes using the pneumatic gun, and
- Main Parachute Drop Tests (6 in total), for the qualification of the Main Parachute strength and operations sequence.

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #14 on: 03/09/2012 12:34 pm »
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/multimedia/publications/ESA-Bulletin-149/pageflip.html

From ESA Bulletin 149 (February 2012)

Quote
Expert

The Qualification Review was concluded on 3 November for flight on Volna, its original launch system but, for various reasons, Volna might not be used as the launch vehicle. Meetings with launch service providers have been held to identify an alternative launcher. None of the systems (standard version) offer the atmospheric reentry conditions required, and additional analyses are needed to find launchers able to adapt to unconventional launch conditions. While waiting for a decision on the launch campaign, Expert will be kept in storage in a controlled environment at Thales Alenia Space Italy.

Page 89

Offline bolun

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #15 on: 05/30/2012 09:04 pm »
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM8BNZWD2H_index_0.html

From ESA Bulletin 150 (Page 94)

Quote
Expert

Studies are ongoing to identify alternative launchers in Russia (Kosmotras/Dnepr) and in the US (Orbital Sciences/Pegasus). A Technical Assistance Agreement with the US Department of State needs to be approved before discussion with Orbital Sciences can take place. Interest has been expressed by NASA centres in supporting the Expert launch operations and costs in exchange for the reentry data.

Offline Rik ISS-fan

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #16 on: 05/30/2012 10:50 pm »
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM8BNZWD2H_index_0.html

From ESA Bulletin 150 (Page 94)

Quote
Expert

Studies are ongoing to identify alternative launchers in Russia (Kosmotras/Dnepr) and in the US (Orbital Sciences/Pegasus). A Technical Assistance Agreement with the US Department of State needs to be approved before discussion with Orbital Sciences can take place. Interest has been expressed by NASA centres in supporting the Expert launch operations and costs in exchange for the reentry data.

I'm sorry, but this makes me a little upset.
The USA has prohibited the exchange of space technology between the US and outer countries (I forgot the name of this law). And now NASA wants to help ESA (with doesn't need help with this small program) in exchange of ALL the scientific data (it's an reentry experiment after all).
Another times sorry, but as European citizen I hope ESA will make a deal with Kosmotras (with was the first plan). To let the US know they don't agree with steeling European technology, and thus  violating the US law when it benefited the US. Shame on you America!     

Offline mduncan36

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #17 on: 05/30/2012 11:14 pm »

I'm sorry, but this makes me a little upset.
The USA has prohibited the exchange of space technology between the US and outer countries (I forgot the name of this law). And now NASA wants to help ESA (with doesn't need help with this small program) in exchange of ALL the scientific data (it's an reentry experiment after all).
Another times sorry, but as European citizen I hope ESA will make a deal with Kosmotras (with was the first plan). To let the US know they don't agree with steeling European technology, and thus  violating the US law when it benefited the US. Shame on you America!     

You are referring to ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) that was intended to prevent the traffic in technologies that might be used to produce weapons. Over the decades since WWII the Europeans have benefited in uncountable ways from the free transfer of US developed technologies to them. If the United States signs an agreement to participate in an experiment that is not "steeling" (stealing). Why you think anyone should be ashamed doesn't make much sense to me.

Offline Skyrocket

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #18 on: 05/30/2012 11:18 pm »
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM8BNZWD2H_index_0.html

From ESA Bulletin 150 (Page 94)

Quote
Expert

Studies are ongoing to identify alternative launchers in Russia (Kosmotras/Dnepr) and in the US (Orbital Sciences/Pegasus). A Technical Assistance Agreement with the US Department of State needs to be approved before discussion with Orbital Sciences can take place. Interest has been expressed by NASA centres in supporting the Expert launch operations and costs in exchange for the reentry data.

Has the launch contract with Makeyev for the Volna launch been cancelled?

Offline anik

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Re: ESA experimental reentry vehicle news
« Reply #19 on: 05/31/2012 07:27 am »
Has the launch contract with Makeyev for the Volna launch been cancelled?

You have missed news that Russian Ministry of Defence are not going to give RSM-50 rocket for this launch so the contract can not be carried out.

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