IXV - Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle, AVUM (orbital)- Vega(VV04)- Kourou ZLV - 11.02.2015 13:40UT

[PIN]

На первом видео целых 2 испытания разделения

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2014/1215.asp

Arianespace's lightweight Vega launcher is readied for its mission with the European IXV spaceplane
 
  September 19, 2014 – Vega Flight VV04
Another lightweight Vega launcher has begun its build-up at the Spaceport, initiating preparations for Arianespace's mid-November liftoff fr om French Guiana with the European Space Agency's Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV).
The initial processing step occurred yesterday with Vega's first stage rollout.  This used a wheeled platform to transfer the solid-propellant stage from the Spaceport's Booster Integration Building to the SLV launch site. 
Once fully assembled, Vega will be ready to receive the IXV spaceplane, which is an atmospheric reentry demonstrator designed to flight test technologies and critical systems for Europe's future automated reentry systems as they return from low Earth orbit.
IXV is Europe's first spacecraft of this type, and the mission calls for a new Vega flight profile.  Instead of heading north from the Spaceport into a polar orbit as on previous launches, Vega will follow an eastward trajectory – a suborbital path that ends with a parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
The IXV demonstrator features advanced aerodynamics with its lifting body design, which maximizes maneuverability. Built by Thales Alenia Space, the spaceplane integrates a sophisticated guidance, navigation and control system for the reentry phase, while a heat shield is used to withstand the heat of reentry.
November's Vega mission with IXV is designated Flight VV04 in Arianespace's launcher family numbering system – signifying the launcher's fourth mission to be performed from the Spaceport.  Previous flights were conducted in April 2014 (with the Republic of Kazakhstan's KazEOSat-1/DZZ-HR Earth observation satellite), in May 2013 (carrying a trio of satellites: Proba-V, VNREDSat-1 and ESTCube-1), and in February 2012 (with the LARES laser relativity satellite, the ALMASat-1 technology microsatellite demonstrator and seven CubeSats).


The transfer of Vega's first stage is shown in these photos, beginning with its rollout from the Spaceport's Booster Integration Building.  



It arrives at the SLV launch site, wh ere the multi-stage Vega will be assembled inside a protective mobile gantry.

[Димитър]

http://spaceflightnow.com/tracking/
старт - 18 ноября

[che wi]

[che wi]

Arianespace ‏@Arianespace  13m

Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle is unloaded from cargo aircraft just after dawn in French Guiana #Vega #VV04

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2014/1216.asp

Europe's IXV spaceplane is welcomed in French Guiana for its Vega launch

As part of its early morning unloading process in French Guiana, the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) is shown after being rolled off the Antonov cargo aircraft's ramp onto a flatbed trailer – which will be used for the European spaceplane's transfer by road to the Spaceport.
 
  September 24, 2014 – Vega Flight VV04
Activities for the next flight of Arianespace's light-lift Vega are now fully underway following delivery of the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) payload to French Guiana – joining the mission's launcher, which also is advancing in its preparations.
The IXV spaceplane – produced by Thales Alenia Space for the European Space Agency (ESA) – was transported by an Antonov cargo aircraft to Félix Eboué International Airport, located near French Guiana's capital city of Cayenne. Following the arrival, it was unloaded this morning just after dawn for transfer by road to the Spaceport.
Scheduled for a mid-November liftoff with its Vega launcher, IXV is an atmospheric reentry demonstrator that is designed to flight test technologies and critical systems for Europe's future automated reentry systems as they return from low Earth orbit.
The research and industrial community will have an opportunity to use the data collected by IXV for progress in atmospheric reentry, oriented towards transportation systems with applications in exploration, science, Earth observation, microgravity and clean space.
 November's Vega mission with IXV is designated Flight VV04 in Arianespace's numbering system, signifying the launcher's fourth mission to be performed from the Spaceport. It also will mark Vega's second flight within the ESA-managed VERTA (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) program to showcase this vehicle's flexibility.

[che wi]

The IXV reentry demonstrator makes a "landing" at the Spaceport
http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2014/1219.asp

October 3, 2014 – Vega Flight VV04

Europe's Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) spaceplane has "touched down" in the Spaceport's clean room facilities at French Guiana as processing begins for this reentry demonstrator's flight on Arianespace's lightweight Vega launcher.

The IXV, which arrived in French Guiana last month aboard a chartered cargo jetliner, is now installed on a trolley in the Spaceport's S1B payload checkout facility.

Built by Thales Alenia Space, the IXV is an atmospheric reentry demonstrator designed on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA) to flight test technologies and critical systems for future automated reentry systems as they return from low Earth orbit.

To be lofted on Vega's fourth liftoff from French Guiana – designated Flight VV04 in Arianespace's launcher family numbering system – the mission profile calls for the IXV to reach an altitude of approximately 420 km. before starting the descent. Using its aerodynamic shape, along with thrusters and two tail flaps, the spaceplane will return through the atmosphere as if reentering from a low orbit for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

[Salo]

http://spacenews.com/article/civil-space/42077european-re-entry-demonstrator-ready-for-november-test-flight

European Re-entry Demonstrator Ready for November Test Flight  
By Jeff Foust | Oct. 3, 2014

The IXV, a lifting body about 5 meters long and weighing nearly 2,000 kilograms, is heavily instrumented to study the vehicle's performance during re-entry, including the use of ceramics and other materials in its thermal protection system. Credit: ESA artist's concept by J. Huart
 
TORONTO — An experimental European Space Agency spacecraft designed to test re-entry technologies for future reusable vehicles is on track for launch in November.
"All lights seem to be green" for the Nov. 18 launch of the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) on an Arianespace Vega rocket fr om Kourou, French Guiana, Giuseppe Rufolo, an ESA engineer working on the program, said in a presentation at the 65th International Astronautical Congress here Oct. 2.
The Vega will boost the IXV on a suborbital trajectory, wh ere it will reach a peak altitude of 450 kilometers before re-entering and splashing down in the central Pacific Ocean. The vehicle will reach speeds of 7.5 kilometers per second during re-entry, similar to a re-entry from low Earth orbit.
The IXV, a lifting body about 5 meters long and weighing nearly 2,000 kilograms, is heavily instrumented to study the vehicle's performance during re-entry, including the use of ceramics and other materials in its thermal protection system.
Thales Alenia Space Italia of Rome is the prime contractor for the IXV, Europe's first atmospheric re-entry vehicle in 16 years. IXV's predecessor, dubbed the Atmospheric Reentry Demonstrator, reached an altitude of about 830 kilometers before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.
ESA expects to spend roughly 200 million euros ($250 million) on the IXV, including launch.
Although the IXV is designed to test technologies that could be used on future reusable vehicles, Rufolo said this vehicle will fly only once. "It's not considered a waterproof structure, so after splashdown water will get inside," he explained. "There is no reusability requirement for IXV."
The next step after IXV is the Programme for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator in Europe (PRIDE), which will develop a small orbital vehicle launched on a Vega to further test reusability technologies, including the ability to land on a runway autonomously.
ESA ministers approved starting work on PRIDE at their 2012 meeting. In another presentation at the conference, Camillo Richiello, a project manager at the Italian aerospace research center CIRA, said PRIDE is in "standby" at the moment, awaiting an updated framework that will come out of this December's ministerial meeting.

[PIN]

А, вот куда Джузеппе от меня спрятался

[PIN]

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/IXV/Setting_sail_for_ESA_spaceplane_recovery
Корабль в пути, скоро пройдет Гибралтар.
Антенну для приема телеметрии видно на снимке, над бортовой надписью Rescue Zone.
Закончили ее приемо-сдаточные на прошлой неделе, без замечаний

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2014/1220.asp

Another Vega launcher takes shape at the Spaceport
 
  October 9, 2014 – Vega Flight VV04
The Spaceport's SLV launch site in French Guiana is busy with activity as the fourth lightweight Vega is readied for its mission with Europe's Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) spaceplane.
Build-up of this smallest member in Arianespace's launcher family is being performed in a vertical assembly process on the SLV launch pad, protected by a mobile gantry that will be withdrawn prior to the vehicle's liftoff. In the latest integration step this week, Vega's Zefiro 9 solid propellant third stage was installed atop its lower two solid propellant stages – which were stacked during earlier preparations.
 The mission's IXV passenger – built by Thales Alenia Space for the European Space Agency (ESA) – is an atmospheric reentry demonstrator designed to flight test technologies and critical systems for Europe's future automated reentry systems as they return from low Earth orbit.
 


Vega assembly activity is highlighted in these images from the Spaceport. The Zefiro 23 second stage is moved into position and installed atop the vehicle's P80 first stage,


which was followed by integration of the Zefiro 9 third stage.

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2014/1225.asp

Arianespace's Vega is "topped off" with its upper stage
 
October 15, 2014 – Vega Flight VV04
With the integration of its AVUM upper stage, Vega's basic build-up is complete for Arianespace's upcoming light-lift mission with Europe's Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) spaceplane.
As part of Vega's vertical assembly process on the launch pad, the vehicle's AVUM (Attitude and Vernier Upper Module) – which uses liquid bi-propellant for primary maneuvering, along with cold gas for attitude control – was hoisted and mated to the three lower solid propellant stages.  
This activity occurred at the Spaceport's SLV launch site – originally used for Ariane 1 and Ariane 3 missions, with its mobile gantry, launch pad and infrastructure updated and adapted for Arianespace's new lightweight vehicle.
 The European Space Agency's IXV atmospheric reentry demonstrator – built by Thales Alenia Space – is designed to flight test technologies and critical systems for Europe's future automated reentry systems as they return from low Earth orbit.


The AVUM upper stage is hoisted inside its protective container for mating with Vega's lower three stages,


which is shown inside the mobile gantry at the Spaceport's SLV launch site.

[Salo]

https://twitter.com/esa_ixv/status/523177750031781888/photo/1

ESA IXV ‏@esa_ixv
 
 Rotating @ESA_IXV for its last preparation activities in #CSG clean room ....

[Salo]

http://arianespace.com/news-feature-story/2014/10-17-2014-combined_missions.asp

Parallel preparations also advanced for the next Vega mission's passenger, the European IXV spaceplane (center) to be lofted on Flight VV04.

n advanced preparation at the Spaceport is Arianespace's next launch, set for November 18 using the company's lightweight Vega vehicle to loft the European Space Agency's Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) spaceplane.  The Italian-built Vega launcher's three solid propellant stages and its liquid bi-propellant upper stage have been integrated at the SLV launch site during the vehicle's build-up, while the IXV payload for this launch – designated VV04 – is being readied in the S1B clean room facility.

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2014/1229.asp

The IXV spaceplane completes a new phase of preparations ahead of its Vega launch
 
October 22, 2014 – Vega Flight VV04
Europe's Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) spaceplane has completed another step in its pre-launch checkout process, and is now being readied for fueling ahead of the November 18 flight with Arianespace's lightweight Vega.
This activity – which included IXV's fit-check on the adapter that will serve as its interface with the Vega launcher – occurred inside the Spaceport's S1B clean room facility. Once completed, the spaceplane was moved to the S5B integration and fueling hall of the Spaceport's S5 payload preparation building, where its propellant will be loaded.
Built by Thales Alenia Space for the European Space Agency (ESA), IXV is an atmospheric reentry demonstrator designed to flight test technologies and critical systems for Europe's future automated reentry systems as they return fr om low Earth orbit.
The research and industrial community will have an opportunity to use the data collected by IXV for progress in atmospheric reentry, oriented towards transportation systems with applications in exploration, science, Earth observation, microgravity and clean space.
 November's Vega mission with IXV is designated Flight VV04 in Arianespace's numbering system, signifying the launcher's fourth mission to be performed from the Spaceport. It also will mark Vega's second flight within the ESA-managed VERTA (Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment) program to showcase this vehicle's flexibility.
 
 
   
The European IXV spaceplane's fit-check process, performed in the Spaceport's S1B clean room facility, is highlighted in the photo series above. This atmospheric reentry demonstrator was oriented in a vertical position and integrated atop the adapter that will serve as its interface with Vega,


after which the payload was returned to a horizontal state for its transfer to the S5B hall – wh ere fueling will take place.

[anik]

Peter B. de Selding @pbdes
ESA scrubs Nov. 18 flight of Europe's IXV suborbital vehicle, new date TBD, following flight-safety concerns over French Guiana spaceport.

[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2014/1231.asp

Vega Flight VV04: postponed to allow additional flight trajectory analyses by ESA and CNES
 
  October 24, 2014 – Vega Flight VV04
The European Space Agency (ESA), in conjunction with French space agency CNES, has decided to carry out additional flight trajectory analyses for the Vega launch with Europe's Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) spaceplane.
To allow the time needed to complete these analyses, the mission – originally scheduled for November 18, 2014 – has been postponed, with a new launch date to be announced as soon as possible. The timetable for the following flights will not change.
 Built by Thales Alenia Space for ESA, IXV is an atmospheric reentry demonstrator designed to flight test technologies and critical systems for Europe's future automated reentry systems as they return from low Earth orbit.

[Salo]

http://spacenews.com/article/launch-report/42375thales-alenia-officials-flabbergasted-as-safety-concerns-sideline-ixv

Thales Alenia Officials Flabbergasted as Safety Concerns Sideline IXV

By Peter B. de Selding | Oct. 30, 2014

TURIN, Italy — Thales Alenia Space Italy officials reacted with stupefaction and incredulity that their miniature spaceplane experiment's launch had been postponed indefinitely because of last-minute concerns over range safety.

These officials said their 40-strong engineering team preparing the Intermediate Experimental Vehicle (IXV) for a mid-November launch aboard a European Vega rocket — also Italian-led — had worked nights and weekends to make the November date.

The November launch, they said, would have shone a light on Italy's space technology prowess on the eve of a conference of European space ministers that will decide Europe's space station and launch vehicle future.

With Italy's government still apparently undecided about how much to invest in Vega upgrades, a new Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket and the European share of the international space station, they said, a successful IXV flight and Pacific Ocean splashdown might have provided an important preconference impetus for further investment.

Italy's space minister attended the departure of the IXV recovery ship from Genoa. The ship is now in Panama awaiting word on whether it should turn around.

Officials attending a briefing at the company's production plant here on Europe's ExoMars two-launch mission to Mars in 2016 and 2018 — also Italian-led — declined to speculate on how much the launch delay would cost the IXV program.

The 20-nation European Space Agency, in concert with the French space agency, CNES, on Oct. 24 said the Nov. 18 launch would be delayed for an undetermined amount of time while CNES and ESA examine safety concerns about Vega's equatorial flight path as it leaves Europe's Guiana Space Center spaceport in French Guiana, which is French territory.

Vega is a four-stage vehicle whose three lower stages are solid-fueled, meaning two fully loaded solid-propellant tanks will be overflying French Guiana in the early minutes of the IXV flight.

ESA and CNES officials up to now have either declined to comment or, in the case of ESA, said they were at a loss to explain why a program whose mission profile has not changed in several years is now suddenly stalled for safety issues that in principle should have been aired and resolved long ago.

One official, saying he could not believe that the two agencies simply forgot to evaluate the safety issues, said he preferred to suspect political motives.

"Look, we are about to send a spacecraft and lander to Mars, in one year," this official said. "Europe has rendezvoused with a comet a decade after the [Rosetta comet-chaser] satellite was launched. You want me to believe that somehow the agencies just forgot to evaluate safety? That is too far-fetched. I would rather believe there is some political motive."

Europe's lead launch-vehicle nation is France, which initially balked at participating in the Vega program. A French minister said that in Europe, launch vehicles are French. The French government declined to allow the export, to Italy, of the avionics suite that guides Vega, forcing Italy to develop its own. Italy has since done so and successfully flown it on Vega.

As it stands now, one official said, France must accept the idea that with Vega, Italy has led development of a vehicle that at least in principle resembles an intercontinental ballistic missile. "Some people don't like that," this official said.

In addition to providing a flashy, if brief — IXV's mission lasts less than two hours from launch to Pacific Ocean splashdown — display of Italian space technology, a successful IXV launch was supposed to have given European governments an incentive to support a follow-on program, which up to now has received only enough funding for studies.

One industry official said ESA and CNES were aware, since June, that for some reason they had not fully vetted the Vega IXV flight plan from a range-safety point of view. Why the issue was not resolved since then remains unclear.

"It was as though the two agencies were saying, 'We'll get around to it,' and yet they never did," one official said.

Europe's Arianespace launch consortium is managing a full manifest of launches of the Ariane 5 and the Europeanized Soyuz medium-lift rocket. If it misses its Nov. 18 Vega launch date, IXV is likely to be put into storage for several months to wait for the next opportunity.

[PIN]

Что как папы карло работали, чтобы запустить 18го - чистая правда. Сам упарился в какой-то момент даже не будучи напрямую вовлеченным в программу.

[Salo]

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=35242.msg1281791#msg1281791

denis пишет:
It's suborbital in the sense that it's going to re-enter in less than one orbit but is still close to a LEO orbit, i.e. it's more "ICBM"-style suborbital, not "3 minutes of weightlessness for pseudo-space tourist"-style!

[On a 450x0 km orbit, the velocity varies from 7.5 km/s to 8 km/s, pretty close to a circular orbit at 450km (7.6 km/s).]