Came across this (old) article today. http://www.futura-sciences.com/magazines/espace/infos/actu/d/ixv-ixv-mini-navette-europeenne-bien-vecu-son-vol-historique-59024/I don't like feel like translating it all, only the surprises: Temperatures were lower than expected, 1150° instead of 1400°. It unexpectedly ran out of fuel, but it was able to stay on the planned trajectory with help of the flaps.
First anniversary of the IXV flight today.I've beeing trying to find out status if the PRIDE follow on programme.This article (from June 2015) http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/IXV/ESA_spaceplane_on_display/(print) says:IXV results will help the Programme for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator for Europe – Pride – take the next step with limited risk and financial effort for Europe. Now that the results from IXV’s flight are becoming available, Pride’s mission and system definition is ready to begin, along with early readiness of critical technologies. Those results will be submitted for approval at ESA’s next Council Meeting at Ministerial level in 2016.I believe the Ministerial meeting is in November.
So the meeting about the PRIDE project that was planned for the end of last year (december) was postponed to June?Or did they decide at the meeting to take a decision NET June?
Jonathan Amos@BBCAmosNew one on me. @esa's forthcoming #PRIDE re-usable space plane now called "Space Rider". Successor to IXV vehicle