In 2012, Vega will carry ESA’s Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle into space. The vehicle will then return to Earth to test a range of enabling systems and technologies for atmospheric re-entry.
Part of ESA’s Future Launchers Preparatory Program has been devoted to optimizing a long-term European roadmap for in-flight experimentation with atmospheric re-entry enabling systems and technologies. The Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) project is the next core step of this effort.
The IXV project objectives are the design, development, manufacturing, and on-ground and in-flight verification of an autonomous European lifting and aerodynamically controlled re-entry system. Among the critical technologies of interest, special attention is being paid to:
* advanced instrumentation for aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics
* thermal protection and hot-structures solutions
* guidance, navigation and flight control through a combination of jets and aerodynamic flaps
The project is particularly focussed on technology integration at the system level for in-flight verification.
As indicated by its name, the IXV is designed to be the ‘intermediate’ element of a technology-effective and cost-efficient European program for in-flight verification of technologies necessary for future operational systems.
The IXV design activities are well under way, with the system preliminary design review planned for November 2008, which will allow the start of the full development (Phase-C/D) by the beginning of January 2009.
IXV will be launched in 2012 from Europe’s spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana, using the new Vega small launch vehicle. After re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere and being slowed down by air drag, IXV will descend by parachute and land in the Pacific Ocean to await recovery and post-flight analysis.
Date
:
Oct. 09, 2008
Credit
:
Credit: ESA
Flash Conversion: Scientific Frontline
The
Images and Video's in the gallery pages may be protected by
copyright. You may download one copy for non-commercial personal
use to be displayed on your personal computer. Use other then
non-commercial requires that you obtain permission if
copyrighted from the copyright holder. See disclaimer page for
more detail. We will help direct you to the proper source if you
are unsure of copyright holder or your usage. Please always state
proper source / credit.
