Tumino.qxd 11/9/06 4:32 PM Page 62
Reentry Technology
Giorgio Tumino Future Launchers Preparatory Programme, Directorate of Launchers, Paris, France
Yves Gerard Next Generation Launcher Prime S.p.A., Turin, IXV: the Intermediate Italy eXperimental Vehicle
ith the objective of placing Europe Europe Among the among the world’s space players in Wthe strategic area of atmospheric reentry in future international transportation, World Players in exploration and scientific projects, several studies on experimental vehicle concepts and improvements of critical reentry technologies Atmospheric Reentry have paved the way for the flight of an experimental craft. The Intermedidate eXperimental Vehicle is building on previous achievements at the system (such as the Atmospheric Reentry Demonstrator) and technology levels, and providing a unique means of establishing Europe’s autonomous position in this international field.
Introduction Returning to Earth from orbit is still a challenge, as the loss of Space Shuttle Columbia tragically underlined. Braking from 7.7 km/s through the atmosphere to a safe and precise landing calls for a wide range of demanding technologies to be mastered. The number of experimental reentry vehicles studied in recent years by ESA, France, Germany and Italy underlines Europe’s need for flight experience with reentry systems
esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 63 Tumino.qxd 11/9/06 4:32 PM Page 62
Reentry Technology
Giorgio Tumino Future Launchers Preparatory Programme, Directorate of Launchers, Paris, France
Yves Gerard Next Generation Launcher Prime S.p.A., Turin, IXV: the Intermediate Italy eXperimental Vehicle
ith the objective of placing Europe Europe Among the among the world’s space players in Wthe strategic area of atmospheric reentry in future international transportation, World Players in exploration and scientific projects, several studies on experimental vehicle concepts and improvements of critical reentry technologies Atmospheric Reentry have paved the way for the flight of an experimental craft. The Intermedidate eXperimental Vehicle is building on previous achievements at the system (such as the Atmospheric Reentry Demonstrator) and technology levels, and providing a unique means of establishing Europe’s autonomous position in this international field.
Introduction Returning to Earth from orbit is still a challenge, as the loss of Space Shuttle Columbia tragically underlined. Braking from 7.7 km/s through the atmosphere to a safe and precise landing calls for a wide range of demanding technologies to be mastered. The number of experimental reentry vehicles studied in recent years by ESA, France, Germany and Italy underlines Europe’s need for flight experience with reentry systems
esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 63 Tumino.qxd 11/9/06 4:32 PM Page 64
Launchers Reentry Technology
and technologies in order to consolidate The layout of the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle its position among the world’s space players in this strategic field. Europe must be able to play a more ambitious role in international cooperation in space transportation, exploration and scientific projects. ESA’s Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP) was conceived by its Member States to provide a framework for, among other technology challenges, the development of the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) by 2010. The IXV trajectory from launch to Mach 2 The current reference trajectory from Kourou to Kiruna
Project Definition and Status ESA and its industrial prime contractor future operational vehicles (this explains protection and hot structures under vehicle, when the air molecules break Next Generation Launcher Prime SpA the Intermediate in the name). realistic flight conditions. These include apart to dissipate the high energies (I), a joint venture between Astrium (F, fall over uninhabited areas and the identified, assessed and mitigated at an IXV is a lifting reentry body, with its advanced ceramic and metallic assem- involved in reentry and the perfect-gas D) and Finmeccanica (I), assisted by experimental vehicle to fly over sparsely early stage in the project. shape resulting from the set of design blies, insulation, attachments, junctions laws are no longer valid. This complex ASI, CNES, DLR and ESTEC, initiated populated regions. A study is therefore under way by requirements, including the need to and seals, as well as advanced guidance situation affects the interaction between the IXV project at the beginning of 2005 The reference mission plans a launch industry as a first step in Phase-B1 to maximise the internal volume for navigation and control techniques. shockwave and boundary-layer flows, by defining the mission objectives and from Kourou (French Guiana) into an assess how the safety requirements carrying experiments. The goal is to get This verification of performance in the interaction between shockwaves, the maturing the design. orbit with a 70º inclination, followed by affect the mission, with a comparison of the most out of the vehicle while flight builds on previous efforts and transition from laminar-to-turbulent The objectives include the complete a landing in the North European all the feasible mission scenarios. The guaranteeing the mass (limited by Vega’s ground verification, and aims at boundary-layer flows, the transitional and deep identification of what Aerospace Test Range at Kiruna (S). landing scenario and area will soon be capacity) and centre-of-gravity location. maturing the technologies for operational boundary-layer separation, the heating experiments Europe needs in reentry The scenario is being refined (see selected by ESA with technical The primary objectives of the IXV space applications. of thermal protection materials by technology, with an optimised plan of below), and backup schemes leading to assistance from ASI, CNES, DLR, project can be grouped into three Reentry technology validation focuses turbulent boundary-layer flows, the flight experiments that trades cost a sea landing are also being considered. ESTEC and recommendations from categories: reentry system demonstra- on gathering representative reentry overheating owing to external cavities, against technology maturity needs. IXV will be delivered into an orbit of industry. tion, technology experimentation and performance data in order to investigate the behaviour of materials’ catalytic A thorough comparison has been 180 x 307.2 km, where Vega’s upper technology validation. aerothermodynamic phenomena and properties, the materials’ oxidation, the performed for all the existing ESA and stage will fire above the Pacific Ocean Reentry System and Technology The first focuses on gaining validate system design tools, evaluating reduction in efficiency of the control national concepts against shared off the coast of Chile to trigger reentry. From experience with ambitious experience in lifting and aerodynamic- the behaviour of air around a lifting surfaces through boundary-layer flow criteria, focusing on: experiment IXV will begin formal reentry 120 km experimental vehicles around the world, ally controlled reentry, which would be a body for atmospheric entry in the separation, and the efficiency of the requirements (technology and systems), above the Atlantic Ocean, at a speed of such as NASA’s series of X-vehicles, significant advance on earlier ballistic hypersonic regime (above Mach 5). The reaction control system. programme requirements (technology 7700 m/s and an angle of 1.19º below there is general consensus within and quasi-ballistic efforts, such as the most interesting phenomena stem from The experiment objectives are being readiness, development schedule and the horizontal. The reentry trajectory Europe’s space community that a step- Atmospheric Reentry Demonstrator the behaviour of the airflow around the translated into the vehicle design via an cost) and risk mitigation (design lasting around 20 minutes will be by-step flight programme is the best capsule flown by ESA in 1998. Europe feasibility, maturity, robustness and controlled by a combination of moving approach. It limits the risks, allows needs to go through the entire design growth potential). aerodynamic surfaces and thrusters stepped costs and ensures that progress- loop for such a complex system, specify The result of the trade-off has led to from hypersonic speeds at 120 km ively more sophisticated developments the entire system development phases in the selection of the slender lifting body altitude down to Mach 2.0, while benefit from the results of relatively low- detail, address the manufacturing and configuration. The baseline design builds travelling a surface distance of 7500 km. cost missions. assembly issues of critical reentry upon the extensive national (CNES/ All the while, it will gather large Since 2002, ESA has focused on an technologies, the integration of these Pre-X) and ESA (AREV: Atmospheric quantities of data to verify the optimised long-term scheme of flight key technologies at the system level Reentry Experimental Vehicle) efforts. performance of several critical reentry experiments. Further consolidation with (during the design, assembly, testing and The contractors are now working on technologies. industry in 2005 confirmed the operations), perform overall system Phase-B1 (preliminary design definition), IXV will then be slowed from Mach 2 Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle as integration and verification for a vehicle targeting a system requirements review by a set of parachutes deployed by the core of this effort. IXV integrates fully loaded with advanced and by mid-2007. drogue ’chutes, before airbags inflate to key technologies at the system level, innovative instrumentation, and conduct soften the landing. including thermal protection and active the flight while ensuring the highest The Reference Mission Even though the end-to-end trajectory aerodynamic control surfaces. This is a safety for the ground below. The IXV baseline mission is driven by lies principally over low-population significant advance on Europe’s The reentry technology experiments using Vega as the launcher, with critical territories, a failure during reentry has previous flying testbeds, although the centre on verifying the performance of safety issues that call for Vega’s stages to risks that need to be thoroughly shape is not necessarily representative of system-integrated advanced thermal The aerodynamic shape of IXV
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Launchers Reentry Technology
and technologies in order to consolidate The layout of the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle its position among the world’s space players in this strategic field. Europe must be able to play a more ambitious role in international cooperation in space transportation, exploration and scientific projects. ESA’s Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP) was conceived by its Member States to provide a framework for, among other technology challenges, the development of the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) by 2010. The IXV trajectory from launch to Mach 2 The current reference trajectory from Kourou to Kiruna
Project Definition and Status ESA and its industrial prime contractor future operational vehicles (this explains protection and hot structures under vehicle, when the air molecules break Next Generation Launcher Prime SpA the Intermediate in the name). realistic flight conditions. These include apart to dissipate the high energies (I), a joint venture between Astrium (F, fall over uninhabited areas and the identified, assessed and mitigated at an IXV is a lifting reentry body, with its advanced ceramic and metallic assem- involved in reentry and the perfect-gas D) and Finmeccanica (I), assisted by experimental vehicle to fly over sparsely early stage in the project. shape resulting from the set of design blies, insulation, attachments, junctions laws are no longer valid. This complex ASI, CNES, DLR and ESTEC, initiated populated regions. A study is therefore under way by requirements, including the need to and seals, as well as advanced guidance situation affects the interaction between the IXV project at the beginning of 2005 The reference mission plans a launch industry as a first step in Phase-B1 to maximise the internal volume for navigation and control techniques. shockwave and boundary-layer flows, by defining the mission objectives and from Kourou (French Guiana) into an assess how the safety requirements carrying experiments. The goal is to get This verification of performance in the interaction between shockwaves, the maturing the design. orbit with a 70º inclination, followed by affect the mission, with a comparison of the most out of the vehicle while flight builds on previous efforts and transition from laminar-to-turbulent The objectives include the complete a landing in the North European all the feasible mission scenarios. The guaranteeing the mass (limited by Vega’s ground verification, and aims at boundary-layer flows, the transitional and deep identification of what Aerospace Test Range at Kiruna (S). landing scenario and area will soon be capacity) and centre-of-gravity location. maturing the technologies for operational boundary-layer separation, the heating experiments Europe needs in reentry The scenario is being refined (see selected by ESA with technical The primary objectives of the IXV space applications. of thermal protection materials by technology, with an optimised plan of below), and backup schemes leading to assistance from ASI, CNES, DLR, project can be grouped into three Reentry technology validation focuses turbulent boundary-layer flows, the flight experiments that trades cost a sea landing are also being considered. ESTEC and recommendations from categories: reentry system demonstra- on gathering representative reentry overheating owing to external cavities, against technology maturity needs. IXV will be delivered into an orbit of industry. tion, technology experimentation and performance data in order to investigate the behaviour of materials’ catalytic A thorough comparison has been 180 x 307.2 km, where Vega’s upper technology validation. aerothermodynamic phenomena and properties, the materials’ oxidation, the performed for all the existing ESA and stage will fire above the Pacific Ocean Reentry System and Technology The first focuses on gaining validate system design tools, evaluating reduction in efficiency of the control national concepts against shared off the coast of Chile to trigger reentry. From experience with ambitious experience in lifting and aerodynamic- the behaviour of air around a lifting surfaces through boundary-layer flow criteria, focusing on: experiment IXV will begin formal reentry 120 km experimental vehicles around the world, ally controlled reentry, which would be a body for atmospheric entry in the separation, and the efficiency of the requirements (technology and systems), above the Atlantic Ocean, at a speed of such as NASA’s series of X-vehicles, significant advance on earlier ballistic hypersonic regime (above Mach 5). The reaction control system. programme requirements (technology 7700 m/s and an angle of 1.19º below there is general consensus within and quasi-ballistic efforts, such as the most interesting phenomena stem from The experiment objectives are being readiness, development schedule and the horizontal. The reentry trajectory Europe’s space community that a step- Atmospheric Reentry Demonstrator the behaviour of the airflow around the translated into the vehicle design via an cost) and risk mitigation (design lasting around 20 minutes will be by-step flight programme is the best capsule flown by ESA in 1998. Europe feasibility, maturity, robustness and controlled by a combination of moving approach. It limits the risks, allows needs to go through the entire design growth potential). aerodynamic surfaces and thrusters stepped costs and ensures that progress- loop for such a complex system, specify The result of the trade-off has led to from hypersonic speeds at 120 km ively more sophisticated developments the entire system development phases in the selection of the slender lifting body altitude down to Mach 2.0, while benefit from the results of relatively low- detail, address the manufacturing and configuration. The baseline design builds travelling a surface distance of 7500 km. cost missions. assembly issues of critical reentry upon the extensive national (CNES/ All the while, it will gather large Since 2002, ESA has focused on an technologies, the integration of these Pre-X) and ESA (AREV: Atmospheric quantities of data to verify the optimised long-term scheme of flight key technologies at the system level Reentry Experimental Vehicle) efforts. performance of several critical reentry experiments. Further consolidation with (during the design, assembly, testing and The contractors are now working on technologies. industry in 2005 confirmed the operations), perform overall system Phase-B1 (preliminary design definition), IXV will then be slowed from Mach 2 Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle as integration and verification for a vehicle targeting a system requirements review by a set of parachutes deployed by the core of this effort. IXV integrates fully loaded with advanced and by mid-2007. drogue ’chutes, before airbags inflate to key technologies at the system level, innovative instrumentation, and conduct soften the landing. including thermal protection and active the flight while ensuring the highest The Reference Mission Even though the end-to-end trajectory aerodynamic control surfaces. This is a safety for the ground below. The IXV baseline mission is driven by lies principally over low-population significant advance on Europe’s The reentry technology experiments using Vega as the launcher, with critical territories, a failure during reentry has previous flying testbeds, although the centre on verifying the performance of safety issues that call for Vega’s stages to risks that need to be thoroughly shape is not necessarily representative of system-integrated advanced thermal The aerodynamic shape of IXV
64 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 65 Tumino.qxd 11/9/06 4:33 PM Page 66
Launchers Reentry Technology
The IXV is Europe’s next logical technology extensive flight-measurement plan that includes thermocouples, heat-flux and Europe has been developing advanced project phasing allows the industrial This will allow a solid commitment on step after the successful flight of ESA’s accommodates: pressure sensors, combined heat-flux, thermal protection systems and hot work to continue smoothly. the schedule and cost-at-completion by Atmospheric Reentry Demonstrator, and the temperature and pressure sensors structures for space transportation systems Today’s budget of about €55 million the time of the Preliminary Design for almost 20 years through a series of ESA important complementary national efforts in – important layer measurements for and/or probes, flush air data system, covers the completion of Phase-B, Review at the latest. It will also allow the Germany on the Phoenix-1, a winged vehicle and national programmes, such as Hermes, IXV’s guidance, navigation and control antennas, reflectometers, catalytic Phase-C and early phase-D, to the industrial activities to ramp up released by helicopter for autonomous Manned Space Transportation Programme runway landings, and on the Shefex-1, a system and for ground controllers to sensors, slip flow and skin friction (MSTP), Future European Space second quarter of 2009. smoothly after Phase-B. sharply pointed body launched by a 2-stage monitor the mission’s progress; sensors, advanced pyrometric tempera- Transportation Programme (FESTIP), The IXV project cost-at-completion Technology Research Programme (TRP), rocket for testing advanced materials, and in – Vehicle Model Identification (VMI) ture and heat-flux sensors, a requires additional funding for ESA Member State Participation General Support Technology Programme Italy on the USV-1, a slender winged measurements for post-flight recon- miniaturised spectrometer/pressure (GSTP), ARD, Ausgewaehlte Systeme und completing Phase-D/E/F, including IXV is supported by 11 Member States: laboratory released from a balloon for struction of IXV’s dynamic behaviour system, an infrared thermography Technologien fuer zukuenftige procurement of the Vega launch and Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, transonic-to-supersonic flights. and environment; system, a combined Rayleigh lidar and Raumtransport-Anwendungen (ASTRA), post-flight evaluation of the performance. Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, – IXV’s mandatory core experiments on electron beam fluorescence system, and X-38/Crew Return Vehicle and FLPP-1/2. The additional funding is expected Switzerland and The Netherlands. ESA’s Atmospheric Reentry Demonstrator the reentry enabling technologies; high-resolution temperature-mapping either at the next Ministerial Council, in Although Europe lacks experience in Several thermal protection and hot-structure – complementary passenger experiments systems. assemblies and components have been mid-2008, and/or through additional developing such a complex lifting-body that are not directly necessary for The innovative materials and concepts designed, developed, manufactured and contributions from cooperation with reentry system, the broad participation mission success but will increase the proposals include actively cooled qualified for flight. The final verification of national and/or international agencies. of Member States provides a large and technological return. systems, ceramic nanostructures, their flight performance by IXV will provide efficient industrial organisation with all metallic matrix composites, ultra-high- Europe with advanced and competitive flight- Industrial Organisation the competences to make the project a proven hardware ready for future launchers, The current IXV baseline design is the temperature ceramics, self-healing exploration and science applications. The project is organised with well- success. result of extensive analyses, including oxidation protection, high-performance defined levels of industrial responsibili- mission and trajectories, aeroshape insulation, secondary protection layer ties, reflecting the progressive restruc- National and International Cooperation design optimisation, computational systems, intermetallics, aged ceramics, Electromechanical actuator bearing for flap turing of European industry for the The nominal project planning and fluid dynamics for aerodynamics and borosilicon carbonitride (SiBNC) poly- development and exploitation of next- execution is done within ESA’s FLPP, aerothermodynamics, flying-quality mer ceramic fibre technology, and smart generation launchers. It merges the best which is funding IXV activities up to Phoenix-1 (EADS-ST) assessment for longitudinal/lateral thermal protection. industrial competences and ensures a early 2009. Although the rest of the stability, trimmability and controll- Suggested techniques for guidance, single optimised overall system funding is expected to be agreed upon at ability of the vehicle. Additional navigation and control include realtime structure. the next ESA Council at Ministerial analysis and significant testing, GPS and/or Galileo signal tracking for Under the responsibility of NGL Level in 2008, it is important to increase including thermal, mechanical and wind accurate navigation and attitude Prime, the system activities focus on coordination and harmonisation with and plasma tunnels, are planned for the determination during reentry, realtime project management, planning, costing, national programmes in order to avoid upcoming project phases to help select trajectory control and new autonomous control and system engineering. These wasteful duplication and help to secure the final system and subsystem designs. and highly adaptive guidance software. include technology requirements, budget resources for the following IXV Proposals for structural health technical specifications, subsystem phases as soon as possible. Complementary Passenger Experiments monitoring look at the vibro-acoustic procurement, environments and ESA is fostering cooperation with Shefex-1: ‘Sharp Edge Flight Experiment’ (DLR) In order to maximise the mission’s environment and structural damping. Nosecap assembly (DLR) internal/external interfaces, product national agencies in Europe to stream- technological return, ESA organised ESA and NGL Prime SpA are making assurance and safety. line all the national activities on reentry scientific and industrial workshops in a detailed evaluation of the NGL Prime contracts system support systems and technologies towards the 2005. The impressive response high- compatibility between each passenger and subsystem design and production to common IXV objectives. The Agency is lighted the wide interest in using the experiment and the IXV system to level-1 companies, including Astrium (F, evaluating the benefits and constraints flight for complementary research to assess the technical and programme D) and Alcatel Alenia Space (I), and stemming from project financing by benefit future launchers, exploration impacts, including feasibility, reliability, level-2 subcontracts to European multiple budgetary sources (including and science. More than 50 passenger risk and cost. They are important issues industry and research organisations ESA and national), while maintaining experiment proposals have been received because these passenger experiments from ESA Member States participating its own coherent approach to ensure by ESA from European industry, would be integrated into a system in IXV. The subsystem efforts centre on common industry policy principles for USV-1: ‘Unmanned Space Vehicle’ (CIRA) research centres and universities. They baseline that is already significantly Segments of a leading edge structures, thermal protection and participating Member States. address innovative techniques and loaded with its own functional and VMI control, descent and recovery, guidance, ESA is also exploring cooperation instrumentation for investigating measurements and core experiments. navigation and control, power, data opportunities with international agencies, aerothermodynamic phenomena, handling, telemetry, software, mechan- such as in Russia, to benefit from the innovative materials and concepts for Project Schedule isms, flap control, reaction control, existing expertise in reentry systems in thermal protection and hot structures, The IXV project schedule runs across ground and flight segments and flight order to reduce experiment risks and and additional methods for guidance, the different overlapping FLPP periods, test instrumentation. costs, while maintaining the key navigation, control and structural health with the ESA Councils at Ministerial Today’s industrial team is growing to objectives of Europe’s technology monitoring. Level as milestones for funding include all the required industrial and experiments. e The proposed instrumentation contribution and subscription. The research organisations within Phase-B.
66 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 67 Tumino.qxd 11/9/06 4:33 PM Page 66
Launchers Reentry Technology
The IXV is Europe’s next logical technology extensive flight-measurement plan that includes thermocouples, heat-flux and Europe has been developing advanced project phasing allows the industrial This will allow a solid commitment on step after the successful flight of ESA’s accommodates: pressure sensors, combined heat-flux, thermal protection systems and hot work to continue smoothly. the schedule and cost-at-completion by Atmospheric Reentry Demonstrator, and the temperature and pressure sensors structures for space transportation systems Today’s budget of about €55 million the time of the Preliminary Design for almost 20 years through a series of ESA important complementary national efforts in – important layer measurements for and/or probes, flush air data system, covers the completion of Phase-B, Review at the latest. It will also allow the Germany on the Phoenix-1, a winged vehicle and national programmes, such as Hermes, IXV’s guidance, navigation and control antennas, reflectometers, catalytic Phase-C and early phase-D, to the industrial activities to ramp up released by helicopter for autonomous Manned Space Transportation Programme runway landings, and on the Shefex-1, a system and for ground controllers to sensors, slip flow and skin friction (MSTP), Future European Space second quarter of 2009. smoothly after Phase-B. sharply pointed body launched by a 2-stage monitor the mission’s progress; sensors, advanced pyrometric tempera- Transportation Programme (FESTIP), The IXV project cost-at-completion Technology Research Programme (TRP), rocket for testing advanced materials, and in – Vehicle Model Identification (VMI) ture and heat-flux sensors, a requires additional funding for ESA Member State Participation General Support Technology Programme Italy on the USV-1, a slender winged measurements for post-flight recon- miniaturised spectrometer/pressure (GSTP), ARD, Ausgewaehlte Systeme und completing Phase-D/E/F, including IXV is supported by 11 Member States: laboratory released from a balloon for struction of IXV’s dynamic behaviour system, an infrared thermography Technologien fuer zukuenftige procurement of the Vega launch and Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, transonic-to-supersonic flights. and environment; system, a combined Rayleigh lidar and Raumtransport-Anwendungen (ASTRA), post-flight evaluation of the performance. Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, – IXV’s mandatory core experiments on electron beam fluorescence system, and X-38/Crew Return Vehicle and FLPP-1/2. The additional funding is expected Switzerland and The Netherlands. ESA’s Atmospheric Reentry Demonstrator the reentry enabling technologies; high-resolution temperature-mapping either at the next Ministerial Council, in Although Europe lacks experience in Several thermal protection and hot-structure – complementary passenger experiments systems. assemblies and components have been mid-2008, and/or through additional developing such a complex lifting-body that are not directly necessary for The innovative materials and concepts designed, developed, manufactured and contributions from cooperation with reentry system, the broad participation mission success but will increase the proposals include actively cooled qualified for flight. The final verification of national and/or international agencies. of Member States provides a large and technological return. systems, ceramic nanostructures, their flight performance by IXV will provide efficient industrial organisation with all metallic matrix composites, ultra-high- Europe with advanced and competitive flight- Industrial Organisation the competences to make the project a proven hardware ready for future launchers, The current IXV baseline design is the temperature ceramics, self-healing exploration and science applications. The project is organised with well- success. result of extensive analyses, including oxidation protection, high-performance defined levels of industrial responsibili- mission and trajectories, aeroshape insulation, secondary protection layer ties, reflecting the progressive restruc- National and International Cooperation design optimisation, computational systems, intermetallics, aged ceramics, Electromechanical actuator bearing for flap turing of European industry for the The nominal project planning and fluid dynamics for aerodynamics and borosilicon carbonitride (SiBNC) poly- development and exploitation of next- execution is done within ESA’s FLPP, aerothermodynamics, flying-quality mer ceramic fibre technology, and smart generation launchers. It merges the best which is funding IXV activities up to Phoenix-1 (EADS-ST) assessment for longitudinal/lateral thermal protection. industrial competences and ensures a early 2009. Although the rest of the stability, trimmability and controll- Suggested techniques for guidance, single optimised overall system funding is expected to be agreed upon at ability of the vehicle. Additional navigation and control include realtime structure. the next ESA Council at Ministerial analysis and significant testing, GPS and/or Galileo signal tracking for Under the responsibility of NGL Level in 2008, it is important to increase including thermal, mechanical and wind accurate navigation and attitude Prime, the system activities focus on coordination and harmonisation with and plasma tunnels, are planned for the determination during reentry, realtime project management, planning, costing, national programmes in order to avoid upcoming project phases to help select trajectory control and new autonomous control and system engineering. These wasteful duplication and help to secure the final system and subsystem designs. and highly adaptive guidance software. include technology requirements, budget resources for the following IXV Proposals for structural health technical specifications, subsystem phases as soon as possible. Complementary Passenger Experiments monitoring look at the vibro-acoustic procurement, environments and ESA is fostering cooperation with Shefex-1: ‘Sharp Edge Flight Experiment’ (DLR) In order to maximise the mission’s environment and structural damping. Nosecap assembly (DLR) internal/external interfaces, product national agencies in Europe to stream- technological return, ESA organised ESA and NGL Prime SpA are making assurance and safety. line all the national activities on reentry scientific and industrial workshops in a detailed evaluation of the NGL Prime contracts system support systems and technologies towards the 2005. The impressive response high- compatibility between each passenger and subsystem design and production to common IXV objectives. The Agency is lighted the wide interest in using the experiment and the IXV system to level-1 companies, including Astrium (F, evaluating the benefits and constraints flight for complementary research to assess the technical and programme D) and Alcatel Alenia Space (I), and stemming from project financing by benefit future launchers, exploration impacts, including feasibility, reliability, level-2 subcontracts to European multiple budgetary sources (including and science. More than 50 passenger risk and cost. They are important issues industry and research organisations ESA and national), while maintaining experiment proposals have been received because these passenger experiments from ESA Member States participating its own coherent approach to ensure by ESA from European industry, would be integrated into a system in IXV. The subsystem efforts centre on common industry policy principles for USV-1: ‘Unmanned Space Vehicle’ (CIRA) research centres and universities. They baseline that is already significantly Segments of a leading edge structures, thermal protection and participating Member States. address innovative techniques and loaded with its own functional and VMI control, descent and recovery, guidance, ESA is also exploring cooperation instrumentation for investigating measurements and core experiments. navigation and control, power, data opportunities with international agencies, aerothermodynamic phenomena, handling, telemetry, software, mechan- such as in Russia, to benefit from the innovative materials and concepts for Project Schedule isms, flap control, reaction control, existing expertise in reentry systems in thermal protection and hot structures, The IXV project schedule runs across ground and flight segments and flight order to reduce experiment risks and and additional methods for guidance, the different overlapping FLPP periods, test instrumentation. costs, while maintaining the key navigation, control and structural health with the ESA Councils at Ministerial Today’s industrial team is growing to objectives of Europe’s technology monitoring. Level as milestones for funding include all the required industrial and experiments. e The proposed instrumentation contribution and subscription. The research organisations within Phase-B.
66 esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 www.esa.int www.esa.int esa bulletin 128 - november 2006 67