Vega to fly ESA experimental reentry vehicle

[Chris Bergin]

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2007/06/europes-ixv-spacecraft-moving-ahead/

[meiza]

Thanks!
We get much too little info about what happens in Europe, and this is a nice bit.

Future launcher preparatory programme, FLPP. And next generation launcher, NGL. I'd really like information on these, and I'd bet lots of new people would flock to the site. Especially if there were pretty pictures.

What's the deal with the French co-developing hydrocarbon engines with the Russians? No news at all...

[Jester]

meiza - 27/6/2007  10:39 PM

Thanks!
We get much too little info about what happens in Europe, and this is a nice bit.

Future launcher preparatory programme, FLPP. And next generation launcher, NGL. I'd really like information on these, and I'd bet lots of new people would flock to the site. Especially if there were pretty pictures.

What's the deal with the French co-developing hydrocarbon engines with the Russians? No news at all...

Get on L2, there are lots of "pretty pictures" in the technical docs about IXV on there

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=5736

[Norm Hartnett]

I find it somewhat odd that ESA and Russia are looking at lifting bodies while the US is back to capsules. Diversity is a good thing however.

[Chris Bergin]

meiza - 27/6/2007  9:39 PM

Thanks!
We get much too little info about what happens in Europe, and this is a nice bit.

It'll improve nearer Vega's launch.

[vt_hokie]

Hmm, a new lifting body spacecraft, eh?  Might be time for me to sign up for L2!  :laugh:

[Martin FL]

vt_hokie - 28/6/2007  4:43 PM

Hmm, a new lifting body spacecraft, eh?  Might be time for me to sign up for L2!  :laugh:

It's like a baby X-33, right up your street  :bleh:

[meiza]

I meant the BIG rockets, there's no info on them. Vega is a small solid rocket. There is essentially nothing new about it. IXV docs have been available in L2 for a long time already.

[PhalanxTX]

Norm Hartnett - 28/6/2007  2:00 PM

I find it somewhat odd that ESA and Russia are looking at lifting bodies while the US is back to capsules. Diversity is a good thing however.

Lockheed did originally want a "flying capsule" for CEV that bears more than a striking resemblance to IXV, but that got shot down by NASA pretty quickly.

[Chris Bergin]

PhalanxTX - 29/6/2007  3:30 PM

Norm Hartnett - 28/6/2007  2:00 PM

I find it somewhat odd that ESA and Russia are looking at lifting bodies while the US is back to capsules. Diversity is a good thing however.

Lockheed did originally want a "flying capsule" for CEV that bears more than a striking resemblance to IXV, but that got shot down by NASA pretty quickly.

Would that be this.....?

[PhalanxTX]

Actually, I was thinking about this one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:CEV_Lockheed_Martin.jpg

[Chris Bergin]

PhalanxTX - 29/6/2007  3:41 PM

Actually, I was thinking about this one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:CEV_Lockheed_Martin.jpg

Ah! I went back one stage too far

[Far Reach]

Jester - 28/6/2007  5:15 AM

meiza - 27/6/2007  10:39 PM

Thanks!
We get much too little info about what happens in Europe, and this is a nice bit.

Future launcher preparatory programme, FLPP. And next generation launcher, NGL. I'd really like information on these, and I'd bet lots of new people would flock to the site. Especially if there were pretty pictures.

What's the deal with the French co-developing hydrocarbon engines with the Russians? No news at all...

Get on L2, there are lots of "pretty pictures" in the technical docs about IXV on there

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=5736

Thanks, I missed it and it's an interesting vehicle that not a lot was said about it before now.

[Norm Hartnett]

A little more detail on the Lockheed Martin original VSE entry. http://astronautix.com/craft/cevkheed.htm

[vt_hokie]

Norm Hartnett - 30/6/2007  3:45 PM

A little more detail on the Lockheed Martin original VSE entry. http://astronautix.com/craft/cevkheed.htm

That was an interesting design.  I was enthusiastic about CEV before the innovation killers at NASA shot that down in favor of the Apollo design.