Vega to fly ESA experimental reentry vehicle

[Mogster]

The BBC have a story today about Esa and RKK Energia convening meetings with European industrial groups to discuss future manned spaceflight systems. Set for July.  

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6260724.stm

[CentEur]

Mogster - 2/7/2007  5:06 PM

The BBC have a story today about Esa and RKK Energia convening meetings with European industrial groups to discuss future manned spaceflight systems. Set for July.  

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6260724.stm

The effort is going on for quite some time now, formerly known as ACTS. Next year a go/no go decision is to be made based on results of the studies.

[Jason Davies]

I hope they give a go. New vehicles are always exciting.

[CentEur]

Jason Davies - 15/7/2007  9:31 PM

I hope they give a go. New vehicles are always exciting.

It's not about excitement, it's about filling the needs. Kliper was rejected because it didn't fill European needs. I hope CSTS proposal will be prepared better. See http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=8659&posts=24&start=1

[STS Tony]

Who is funding this? ESA or EADS?

[CentEur]

STS Tony - 22/7/2007  2:39 AM

Who is funding this? ESA or EADS?

ESA

[Andy L]

What do ESA want to do with this lifting body?

[MKremer]

Andy L - 22/7/2007  11:03 AM

What do ESA want to do with this lifting body?

That's a good question - is ESA just wanting a LEO 'shuttle' for itself apart from NASA? If not, what do they hope to accomplish if their craft (like the U.S. Shuttle) is limited to LEO?

[CentEur]

Andy L - 22/7/2007  6:03 PM

What do ESA want to do with this lifting body?

To gather experience. There's very little reentry experience in Europe, all about conical capsule (named ARD). None with lifting body.

MKremer - 22/7/2007  6:14 PM

That's a good question - is ESA just wanting a LEO 'shuttle' for itself apart from NASA? If not, what do they hope to accomplish if their craft (like the U.S. Shuttle) is limited to LEO?

European countries keep preparing (in slow motion) for Ariane 5 replacement, around 2020. Germans have already flown their Phoenix, Italians their USV (Castore). Now they all united with the French around IXV. All af them seem to be convinced the Ariane 5 replacement shall be reusable.

[MKremer]

Ariane is a booster/launcher. Any kind of manned capsule/spaceplane is its payload.
WTF does the payload have to do with some sort of 'replacement' of the Ariane system itself?

[nacnud]

Second stage retrieval?

[CentEur]

MKremer - 22/7/2007  10:10 PM

Ariane is a booster/launcher. Any kind of manned capsule/spaceplane is its payload.

Actually, I know of a spaceplane which is a launcher at the same time. You must have heard about it too, it's called STS.  

[Space Lizard]

CentEur - 22/7/2007  6:57 PM
European countries keep preparing (in slow motion) for Ariane 5 replacement, around 2020. Germans have already flown their Phoenix, Italians their USV (Castore). Now they all united with the French around IXV. All af them seem to be convinced the Ariane 5 replacement shall be reusable.

Not really. ELV is still the baseline.

However, Europe has developped know-how in reentry systems for the last 40 years and needs to keep some development rolling to maintain the capacity. RLV studies are a way to prepare for a future when these technologies will be needed. They may help too, on the day when Europe eventually decides to develop manned transportation systems.

Phoenix/Hopper, USV and IXV (former Pre-X) are three different approaches and ESA is trying to put some rationale in it through FLPP. That's all.

Ariane 6 will be expendable. No one seriously questions that beyond a few RLV nuts.

[CentEur]

Space Lizard - 23/7/2007  9:41 AM

CentEur - 22/7/2007  6:57 PM
European countries keep preparing (in slow motion) for Ariane 5 replacement, around 2020. Germans have already flown their Phoenix, Italians their USV (Castore). Now they all united with the French around IXV. All af them seem to be convinced the Ariane 5 replacement shall be reusable.

Not really. ELV is still the baseline.

However, Europe has developped know-how in reentry systems for the last 40 years and needs to keep some development rolling to maintain the capacity. RLV studies are a way to prepare for a future when these technologies will be needed. They may help too, on the day when Europe eventually decides to develop manned transportation systems.

Phoenix/Hopper, USV and IXV (former Pre-X) are three different approaches and ESA is trying to put some rationale in it through FLPP. That's all.

Ariane 6 will be expendable. No one seriously questions that beyond a few RLV nuts.

Reusable and expendable are not mutually exclusive thanks to the idea of staged launch vehicles. That Ariane 5 successor will have some level of reusability is apparent IMO, but I'm not going to argue about a future some 15 years from now. Those reusable toys of today, competing for LLC award may grow mature over such long time, also K-1 is not dead yet. Will there be private US reusable launch vehicle in 5 years is to be seen. The three major European players are certainly preparing for that moment.

And BTW could you share the source about European reentry systems know-how development before ARD?

[Space Lizard]

I am not allowed to discuss SLBM/MRBM warhead technologies.