Israël also addressed Arianespace’s ability to accommodate satellite constellations of the future, many of which are envisioned to involve large numbers of very small-sized (“micro”) spacecraft. He said a “micro launcher” – capable of deploying constellation payloads of approximately 300 kg. to low Earth orbits – could be of interest as a potential addition to the company’s launch vehicle portfolio.“We are ready to listen to the market as concepts for such constellations take shape, and Arianespace is open to discussions on possible launch services solutions complementary to our launcher family,” Israël concluded. “The space sector has a role to play in meeting demands of increased connectivity for those already connected, and to connect those who currently do not have access.”
The SMILE project page has been launched. (it was down for a short time.)
This is how space works in Europe, a single company can't raise enough funding to develop it's system. So the companies have to work together.
You said you were holding back one project, was it SMILE or something else?
I stumbled accross a news release on andoyaspace.no.It's in norwegan, not a language I know. But from the simularities in Germanic languages; I think it states the following:ASC invites locals for a presentation/discussion about the intent to start orbital launches from ASC.The event is planned for 17 Oktober from 18-21 hours.First results of the SMILE project?And lets not forget this news release from SSC (Rainbow project)
Its for a programme also called NSLV in older documentation.
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 10/01/2017 07:37 pmIts for a programme also called NSLV in older documentation.Which of the two; ASC or SSC?
May I sugest to change the subject of this topic into "European new micro launchers".
Regarding M-51, I don't think the French MoD is interested in maintaining a continuous production of M51. It is interesting in the industrial base for solids, but that can be accomplished by having a specifically civilian solid stage in production or design. No need to have a common military/civilian design. Besides, ICBM are purchased in batches (roughly 1 batch per submarine), and then the production stops, so keeping a low-rate production for civilian use is not optimal.So Vega-L will most likely have aZ40 1st stage, with a VUS or Z9 on top.
IT IS OFFICIAL: @ESA awards Spain´s @PLD_Space´s #ARION2 proposal for a small satellite orbital #Microlauncher. #Smallsats #Spain #Technology #Science
UK-Ukrainian launch vehicle developer Skyrora to establish smallsat launch siteWARSAW, Poland — U.K.-based Skyrora has unveiled plans to host a suborbital test flight in the fourth quarter of 2018. As part of its strategy to meet the rising demand for small satellite launches in a cost-effective manner, the company aims to set up a facility to launch smallsats from Scotland....“Our decision to use hydrogen peroxide and kerosene came about for a variety of reasons, and we do appreciate the link with Black Arrow and feel a certain sentimental connection to that project,” according to Smith. “We’re actually planning to sponsor the build of a full-size replica Black Arrow for the Wight Aviation Museum, as we’d like to help ensure that future generations are aware of the fascinating story of Britain’s first and only satellite launcher to date.”
Seems the Horizon Black Arrow 2 page has been updated. They are now showing late 2019 for their first launch.http://www.horizonsas.com/products/
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 02/11/2018 04:10 amSeems the Horizon Black Arrow 2 page has been updated. They are now showing late 2019 for their first launch.http://www.horizonsas.com/products/When was the former launch date?
After Brexit, I'm not sure if launchers form the UK could still be considered European. I think the UK companies can't participate in a European Union competition. But the Brexit is still in proces, so this is a very uncertain situation right now.AFAIK the UK will stay a member of ESA, thus they can participate in FLPP-NEO projects, ESA funded projects.
When was the former launch date?
More specifically, the definition of a family of configurations is currently focusing on two main configurations based on common building blocks:- VEGA–E light, with performance of approximately 400Kg in LEO, integrating Z40 and VUS,- VEGA–E heavy, with VEGA-C performance levels ensuring complementarity with Ariane 6 market, with reduced recurrent costs and improved versatility, integrating P120, Z40 and VUS.
Ruag (corrected) FlexLine of payload fairings, has an test planned for a Ø1,5m (4,9ft) fairing.
Ryag FlexLine of payload fairings, has an test planned for a Ø1,5m (4,9ft) fairing.https://twitter.com/FlexLine4/status/1217773248739409920Altair project summery video.
Monday, 3 aerospace students from ESTACA were invited to present their end of studies' project at Venture Orbital Systems for the @CNES program : Perseus. Thanks for the opportunity
German Aerospace Center (DLR)German center for aerospace14 July 2020 DLR micro-launcher competition: three of These Teams next roundJury chaired by Thomas Jarzombek (MdB), the federal government coordinator for aerospace, nominates HyImpulse Technologies GmbH, Rocket Factory Augsburg AG and Isar Aerospace Technologies GmbH. A total of 25 million euros are available for the main round of the DLR Space Administration's Microlauncher competition for the development of commercial launch services into space. Focus: Space, Commercialization, LaunchersDLR at a glanceThe German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft - und Raumfahrt; DLR) is the Federal Republic of Germany's Aerospace Research Center.Three Teams will be taking part in the DLR Space Administration's Microlauncher competition one round further: "I am very pleased to announce the winners of the preliminary round in alphabetical order: HyImpulse Technologies from Baden-Württemberg, Isar Aerospace Technologies and Rocket Factory Augsburg from Bavaria," said Jury Chairman Thomas Jarzombek (MdB), federal government coordinator for aerospace, commenting on the decision of 13 July 2020. "All three applicants are currently' head-to-head ' on their way to their goal and have convinced us with their proposals in technical, economic and operational terms. They will now each receive 500,000 euros for the further development of their concepts until the main round of the competition in spring 2021."The competition supports German Start-Ups with a total amount of 25 million euros who want to develop and offer start-up services into space commercially. The three winners rely on so-called Microlaunchers, i.e. small and modern launchers with a payload of several hundred kilograms.The teams from HyImpulse, Isar Aerospace Technologies and the rocket Factory Augsburg can now look forward to receiving the necessary letter of Support from DLR Space Administration, with which they will be awarded contracts in the so-called C-STS programme of the European Space Agency (ESA). This funding by ESA is provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and energy (BMWi), which Germany signed at the last ESA Council of Ministers Conference "Space19+" in Seville in November 2019. All three SMEs were founded in 2018: HyImpulse Technologies GmbH, based in Neuenstadt am Kocher, is a DLR spin-off, relies on a 3-stage rocket with a so-called hybrid drive and currently has 40 employees; Rocket Factory Augsburg AG belongs to the OHB group, has around 60 employees and is also developing a three-stage carrier system based on liquid oxygen and kerosene; Isar Aerospace Technologies GmbH has about 70 employees, is a spin-off of the Technical University of Munich and has designed a two-stage rocket based on a light hydrocarbon drive."With this competition and our drawing at the ESA Council of Ministers Conference, we want to initiate commercial activities in the landscape of European launchers, which has so far been heavily dominated by large companies and state development programmes. With innovative ideas and concepts, SMEs should be given a commercial and cost-effective way into the launch services market," says Walther Pelzer, DLR executive board member for Space Administration, explaining the Motivation.The core task of the competition was a proposal for transport services from Earth to Orbit based on a Microlauncher developed by the companies themselves. A prerequisite was also the willingness to allow non-commercial payloads from universities or research institutions selected by DLR, each with a maximum total mass of 150 kilograms, to be carried on the qualification flights free of charge. In the last two rounds of the competition the winners will receive funding for the final qualification phase of your carrier system, including the implementation of two demonstration flights in the period 2022-2023. After the now completed first round will be determined in the course of the main round (2021) the first winner of the competition will receive a grant of eleven million euros. In the third phase (2022), the second prize, which is also endowed with eleven million euros, will be awarded
http://avio-data.teleborsa.it/2020%2f20200909-Gabelli-conference_DEF_20200910_022103.pdf
Aha a spinoff from the Perseus program, building on the Engine developed under the Minerva project, that will also be used for the Astreos rocket.I wish this startup the best of luck, but I'm skeptical.
I think it's also interesting to point out that the Venture Orbital System, Zephyr will be very small.The first stage only has 44,4kN of thrust thus the total vehicle mass at launch must be <4mT. The full rocket is only Ø1m x 11,1m (~Ø3,3' x 36.4').If you compare this with the PLDspace Miura 1 sounding rocket that has a 32kN engine. And the full rocket is Ø0,7m x ~12,5m having a total vehicle mass of 2550kg.
Quote from: Rik ISS-fan on 02/13/2020 09:41 amAha a spinoff from the Perseus program, building on the Engine developed under the Minerva project, that will also be used for the Astreos rocket.I wish this startup the best of luck, but I'm skeptical.Hi ! Sorry I'm quite late to reply here... I just stumbled across this forum where you speak about Venture Orbital Systems. I work in this company (I'm the guy holding the microphone on the Twitter post actually) and I just wanted to clarify that, no, we are not a spinoff of the CNES Perseus program. We were only invited by CNES to present our work at the seminary, but the company (VOS) has nothing to do with Perseus or the Minerva engine.Although the CNES has been helping us in different ways, we have our own launcher "Zephyr" and our own engine "Navier" currently in development.Quote from: Rik ISS-fan on 02/13/2020 11:09 amI think it's also interesting to point out that the Venture Orbital System, Zephyr will be very small.The first stage only has 44,4kN of thrust thus the total vehicle mass at launch must be <4mT. The full rocket is only Ø1m x 11,1m (~Ø3,3' x 36.4').If you compare this with the PLDspace Miura 1 sounding rocket that has a 32kN engine. And the full rocket is Ø0,7m x ~12,5m having a total vehicle mass of 2550kg. Also btw, although our website is not up to date on the latest news regarding our launcher Zephyr (we are working on that), we have upgraded its orbital capacity. Therefore, it is actually a little bigger and more powerful than that !But it still remains among the smallest launchers in development today since we are aiming at the cubesats and nanosats markets only.More information can be found on our website Venture Orbital Systems if you are interested in our project, and don't hesitate to follow us on social media and ask questions. It is always a pleasure to talk with other space enthusiasts !I wish you all a great day!
What is thrust of your Navier engine? Is pressure fed or turbopump. I'm guessing electric if turbo given its smaller than Rutherford.
Quote from: TrevorMonty on 11/06/2020 05:45 pmWhat is thrust of your Navier engine? Is pressure fed or turbopump. I'm guessing electric if turbo given its smaller than Rutherford.As you have guessed, Navier will be driven by electric pumps. Its definitive thrust is still being evaluated at the moment to optimize our launcher performances.
We are happy to announce that we have doubled Zephyr's payload capacity in LEO and SSO ! With this performance improvement, Zephyr will be able to respond more efficiently to our customers' needs. #Zephyr #LaunchingPioneers
Are these new capability numbers still accurate?80kg to 550km LEO70kg to 550km SSO
And a second question; any news on funding (for engine development/qualification)?
Too much bureaucracy and dawdling in the Flag of European Union Space industry?Flag of Germany startup @isaraerospace asked DLR Lampoldshausen to test their rocket engine. Nine (!) months later they got "vague reply".So they went to Flag of Sweden Esrange instead, which was much more forthcoming
... in line with ESA’s Agenda 2025 vision of developing an increasingly autonomous and commercially robust European space capability, ESA is also assessing opportunities to exploit so-called microlauncher services currently under development by private companies in Europe.“We are requesting European companies working on microlaunchers to give us robust technical information about the state of their developments” says Mr Neuenschwander.The objective, he adds, is to make sound proposals about their potential to support European institutional missions to the ESA Council at Ministerial level, to be held in November 2022. Those proposals may include a request to initiate a competitive selection process for a prize of a microlauncher service to launch an ESA mission, potentially in 2024.“With a realistic view of development milestones and associated launch dates, we allow European microlauncher services companies to qualify and compete for this individual launch of an ESA mission,” says Mr Neuenschwander.He adds: "ESA's Space Transportation role is to safeguard Europe’s independent access to space, enable activities in space and soon, offer return-to-Earth capability.”
1000kg class LVs could handle most of Soyzu payloads as it does lot ride share for smallsats. Smaller LV maybe slightly dear per Kg but give customer more flexibility.
Pleas God no micro launcher based on Vega it adds no industrial knowledge I would prefer two micro launcher in HER One using methane the other using propane so people get experience using the fuels .
Over the weekend, Belgian business news outlet L'Echo published a revealing conversation with ArianeGroup CEO André-Hubert Roussel. It should be noted upfront that my version of the article has been Google translated from the original French. This obviously does mean that there may be subtleties lost in translation.In the article, the ArianeGroup boss took aim at the numerous launch startups around Europe, decrying the fact that these companies were pulling resources away from Ariane. Roussel took aim at the German microlauncher companies Rocket Factory Augsburg, Isar Aerospace, and HyImpulse in particular, although he did not name them directly.
ESA Boost! for RFA One Launch ServicesQuoteRocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), a German startup developing the three-stage RFA One orbital launch vehicle designed to operate at a high cadence, has received a contract worth €11.72 m from ESA's Boost! commercial space transportation services programme.
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), a German startup developing the three-stage RFA One orbital launch vehicle designed to operate at a high cadence, has received a contract worth €11.72 m from ESA's Boost! commercial space transportation services programme.
ArianeGroup CEO takes shots at European launch startupsQuote from: getrevue.coOver the weekend, Belgian business news outlet L'Echo published a revealing conversation with ArianeGroup CEO André-Hubert Roussel. It should be noted upfront that my version of the article has been Google translated from the original French. This obviously does mean that there may be subtleties lost in translation.In the article, the ArianeGroup boss took aim at the numerous launch startups around Europe, decrying the fact that these companies were pulling resources away from Ariane. Roussel took aim at the German microlauncher companies Rocket Factory Augsburg, Isar Aerospace, and HyImpulse in particular, although he did not name them directly.
Quote from: su27k on 09/13/2022 01:49 amArianeGroup CEO takes shots at European launch startupsQuote from: getrevue.coOver the weekend, Belgian business news outlet L'Echo published a revealing conversation with ArianeGroup CEO André-Hubert Roussel. It should be noted upfront that my version of the article has been Google translated from the original French. This obviously does mean that there may be subtleties lost in translation.In the article, the ArianeGroup boss took aim at the numerous launch startups around Europe, decrying the fact that these companies were pulling resources away from Ariane. Roussel took aim at the German microlauncher companies Rocket Factory Augsburg, Isar Aerospace, and HyImpulse in particular, although he did not name them directly.Arianespace doesn't like when somebody else is milking their ESA cash cow.
Slight update to my European launch vehicle graphic. I have added @Avio_Group's unnamed next-gen launch vehicle and the @PangeaAerospace aerospace Meso launch vehicle. I may make a version of the graphic available in my soon-to-be-launched European Spaceflight store.
https://twitter.com/andrewparsonson/status/1578289786384969734QuoteSlight update to my European launch vehicle graphic. I have added @Avio_Group's unnamed next-gen launch vehicle and the @PangeaAerospace aerospace Meso launch vehicle. I may make a version of the graphic available in my soon-to-be-launched European Spaceflight store.Attached graphic from: https://europeanspaceflight.com/home/european-spaceflight-infographics/
Spacecopter is missing: www.spacecoptersystems.com
An electric dodecacopter zero stage?!?
"You got Kistler in my ROTON!""You got ROTON in my Kistler!"
Launch panel at #SpaceTechExpoEU got a bit wild. Jörn Spurmann, CCO at Rocket Factory Augsburg, says "Can we continue to spend €6 billion into an Ariane 6 or 7 and people are telling us its half the price of what it was before? Which is Incorrect by the way and makes me angry.""How are we going to use it [money] in the future? You spent €50m a year in the new program on several small launch companies... we are seeing 1st launch next year... Why would you ever spend billions again on launch system development from institutional side? I don't get it."Moderator Thilo Kranz, ESA's Commercial Space Transportation Programme Manager, countered, saying at this event last year Arianespace, Isar and RFA were saying 2022 for 1st launch, & notes there's a need for European autonomy in strategic fields, & see how commercial field goes.Moderator is looking for questions to discuss in the remaining minutes. I have a couple of questions that haven't passed review (and I'm not the only one, apparently).
Ten years ago the European launch market consisted of Arianespace and Avio (which has been around since 1908) with the former managing launch operations for both Vega and Ariane 5. PLD Space was founded in 2011, which is always surprising to rediscover, but the Spanish launch startup was a blip in a market dominated by giants. Today, however, there are more than a dozen launch startups in Europe alone hoping to hobble the giants and claim a piece of the market for themselves.Eric Berger has already made his attempts at ranking US-based launch companies and I thought I’d give it a go for Europe. Here’s hoping Andrew Jones will jump on the bandwagon and create a similar list for Asia.Like the original, this list is subjective, although statistics like total launches, success rate, development milestones, and funding were taken into account. Additionally, this list is purely on each company’s success in 2022 and not what they may or may not achieve in the future.