Space Rider (ESA и другие)

[triage]

вначале первоисточник по времени

http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/local/leading-edge-space-tech-made-in-bedfordshire-1-7471926
Monday 11 July 2016
A Bedfordshire technology business has won a prestigious contract to start work on Europe's first reusable spacecraft.

Спойлер

Engineers at Lockheed Martin's Ampthill site will develop two key parts of the cutting-edge, multi-million euro Space Rider, an unmanned craft which will carry out scientific missions.

The firm will work on the actuator system, which operates flaps to steady the flight during re-entry; and the landing system to bring the spacecraft safely back to earth.

Space business lead Stephen Gibson said: "This is a first for Europe and a first for Lockheed Martin in Ampthill.

"Space Rider will be launched into orbit and from there can help us understand things such as how plants grow or how technology functions in space.

"It will stay up there for anywhere from two weeks to six months and will fly a couple of times a year, with each craft designed to carry out at least six flights over its lifetime."

The Space Rider is being developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) to be launched from a rocket and survive re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, making it reusable and an affordable way to bring important findings back from space.

It will be able to gather scientific data, carry out exploration missions as it orbits the earth, and deliver cargo to and from the International Space Station.

Lockheed Martin Ampthill has been contracted by the Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA), who, together with Thales Alenia Space Italy, is developing the craft for ESA.

As part of the deal, Lockheed Martin will research landing solutions for the spacecraft.

Technical lead Alex Godfrey said: "Space Rider will re-enter our atmosphere at 7.5km a second. Making sure it lands back on earth safely is a major part of the project.

"We're looking at two solutions. The first is a mid-air retrieval system, or MAR, which will mean the spacecraft is slowed down by a parafoil and then captured in the sky by a helicopter; the second is more traditional wheeled or skidded landing gear, with it coming to rest on a runway."

The firm will explore both options before presenting their results to CIRA and ESA.

Space Rider is expected to have its first launch in 2020.

[свернуть]

http://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-36734990
12 Jul 2016
The Bedfordshire business Lockheed Martin will start work on Europe's first reusable spacecraft after winning the contract for the Space Rider project.  

Engineers based at the company's Ampthill site will work on the craft's actuator system, which operates flaps to steady the flight during re-entry, and the landing system to bring the craft back to earth.
The multi-million euro project is being led by the European Space Agency (ESA). Lockheed Martin have been contracted by the Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA).
The unmanned craft will be used to gather scientific data, carry out exploration missions and deliver cargo to and from the International Space Station.

Space Rider: The facts about Europe's first reusable spacecraft

[/li]
• Space Rider will "help us understand things such as how plants grow or how technology functions in space," says Lockheed Martin's space business lead Stephen Gibson
• It will fly a couple of times a year
• Its flights will last from two weeks to six months
• Each craft will be designed to carry out at least six flights
• It will re-enter our atmosphere at 7.5km a second
• The first launch is expected about 2020
  

Space Rider: Major focus is to ensure safe landing

In a separate development from the rocket project in Buckinghamshire....
A major part of the Space Rider project for Ampthill's Lockheed Martin site is to ensure the spacecraft can land back on Earth safely.
It's because of this that the company's technical lead, Alex Godfrey, says they're looking at two solutions.
"The first is a mid-air retrieval system, or MAR, which will mean the spacecraft is slowed down by a parafoil and then captured in the sky by a helicopter," he said.
"The second is more traditional wheeled or skidded landing gear, with it coming to rest on a runway."
The Bedfordshire company will look at the pros and cons for each system and present their findings to the Italian space research organisation CIRA and the European Space Agency.
A final decision is expected by the middle of next year, which will then see the "full development and manufacturing phase of the programme," Mr Godfrey said.

[PIN]

Это то, что раньше называлось PRIDE
Проект находится на столь ранней стадии, что говорить о годе первого пуска еще слишком рано. Тем более, неизвестно, будет ли он вообще странами участницами финансироваться.

[PIN]

pnetmon пишет:
final decision is expected by the middle of next year

Откуда это откопали, вообще непонятно, пусть остается на их совести. PDR этого проекта в августе-сентябре. Этого года.

[triage]

SOE пишет:
Это то, что раньше называлось PRIDE

темы PRIDE не нашел, а хоть что-то по проекту появилось.

прогуглил

Technical lead Alex Godfrey

- кажется http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/education/stem-awards/energy/12136257/space-system-engineers.html
Alex Godfrey, 25, is a graduate engineer at Lockheed Martin. He read space systems engineering at the University of Southampton, and has been shortlisted for Graduate of the Year in the .

Space business lead Stephen Gibson

тоже находится по Lockheed Martin UK
    https://www.b2match.eu/european-space-solutions/participants/6?cp=217525
We are looking for European partners in industry and academia to work on re-entry vehicle projects such as PRIDE and Orion.

[PIN]

Много подробностей, концептуальные ограничения уже не поменяются, внутри них вариантов мало 
http://www.cesmamil-hypersonic.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/35.1-SPACE-RIDER-the-Reusable-Orbital-Re-entry-Vehicle-for-Europe-Massobrio-Rufolo.pdf

[triage]

В брошюре "CESMA Hypersonic flight symposium #2 ROME, 30/6 – 1/7 2016"

Позднее те же через кого первоначальная утечка

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/uk/news/press-releases/2016-press-releases/work-begins-on-pioneering-european-spacecraft.html

Work begins on pioneering European spacecraft

AMPTHILL, BEDFORDSHIRE, 15 July 2016 – Lockheed Martin UK has been awarded a contract to start work on Europe's first reusable spacecraft.
Engineers at Lockheed Martin's site in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, will develop two key parts for the Space Rider, which is a reusable space plan being developed by the European Space Agency (ESA).



The small, unmanned craft will be launched from a rocket and will be able to gather scientific data, carry out exploration missions as it orbits the earth, and deliver cargo to and from the International Space Station. Crucially, Space Rider will be capable of surviving re-entry into the earth's atmosphere, making it reusable and an affordable way to bring important findings back from space.
Lockheed Martin will develop the actuator system, which operates flaps to steady the flight during re-entry; and the landing system to bring the spacecraft safely back to earth.



Stephen Gibson, space business lead at Lockheed Martin's Ampthill site said: "This is a first for Europe and a first for Lockheed Martin in the UK. Space Rider will be launched into orbit and from there can help us understand things such as how plants grow or how technology functions in space. It will stay up there for anywhere from two weeks to six months and will fly a couple of times a year, with each craft designed to carry out at least six flights over its lifetime."

Lockheed Martin UK has been contracted to work on the project by the Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA), who, together with Thales Alenia Space Italy, is developing the craft for ESA.
Stephen explains: "The activity and capability created by this first contract will allow us to take on other opportunities in the developing commercial space plane market. It's a very exciting time and great news for Lockheed Martin UK and Bedfordshire."

As part of the deal with CIRA, Lockheed Martin UK will also look at landing solutions for the spacecraft.
Alex Godfrey, the technical lead on the project for Lockheed Martin UK explains: "Space Rider will re-enter our atmosphere at 7.5km a second. Making sure it lands back on earth safely is a major part of the project. We're looking at two solutions, pulling in expertise and capabilities from across Lockheed Martin Corporation."

"The first is a mid-air retrieval system, or MAR, which will mean the spacecraft is slowed down by a parafoil and then captured in the sky by a helicopter; the second is more traditional wheeled or skidded landing gear, with it coming to rest on a runway."

The initial contract is to carry out a study for both systems which will be presented to CIRA, and ultimately ESA, for a final decision in mid 2017.The first launch is expected to take place around 2020.
Space Rider is the successor to the ESA Intermediate Experimental Vehicle (IXV), a test craft that flew into orbit in February last year and successfully returned to earth by splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.

[PIN]

Только что на пресс-конференции директор ЕКА подтвердил, что программа получила финансирование на следующий период.

[Salo]

Peter B. de Selding ‏@pbdes  5 мин.5 минут назад  
ESA's Neuenschwander: We got needed EUR 32M for IXV-based Space Rider reusable microgravity vehicle, gets us to CDR; cld fly 2021.#ESACM16

[triage]

 https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/840254993693315073
Interesting internal layout of the @esa #IXV follow on, #SpaceRider including robotic arm & payload bay

Гугл первую картинку не нашел
По второй картинке источник http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2016/12/Proposal_for_Space_Rider

Просто тема на "соседнем" форуме https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=41709.0

Статья на французском 19 декабря 2016
 http://www.futura-sciences.com/sciences/actualites/ixv-successeur-ixv-esa-va-doter-avion-spatial-inedit-europe-57148/
(архивная копия https://web.archive.org/web/20161220223644/http://www.futura-sciences.com/sciences/actualites/ixv-successeur-ixv-esa-va-doter-avion-spatial-inedit-europe-57148/)

[PIN]

Да, идея вписаться в корпус IXV (для возвращаемой части аппарата) оказалась по результатам ЭП жизнеспособной.

[Salo]

http://spacenews.com/esa-aims-to-privatize-space-rider-unmanned-spaceplane-by-2025/

ESA aims to privatize Space Rider unmanned spaceplane by 2025
by Rob Coppinger — June 22, 2017
 
Space Rider aims to provide Europe with an affordable, independent, reusable end-to-end integrated space transportation system for routine access and return from low orbit. It will be used to transport payloads for an array of applications, orbit altitudes and inclinations. Credit: ESA  
 
LE BOURGET, FRANCE — Although Europe's Space Rider reusable spaceplane is three years or so from its debut, the European Space Agency is already making plans to privatize the unmanned orbital vehicle.
By 2025, ESA officials said, Space Rider could be operating commercially, flying science payloads and bringing them back to Earth for roughly $9,200 per kilogram.
Arianespace, the Evry, France-based launch services provider, would likely serve as Space Rider's operator, offering industry and government customers the opportunity to fill the spaceplane 800-kilogram payload capacity with microgravity science, materials testing, telecommunications and robotics demonstrations.
Space Rider is being developed by Thales Alenia Space and Lockheed Martin under the direction of the Italian Aerospace Research Centre, Cira. Funding for the program's design phase was approved in December by ESA's 22 member states.
A 2020 test flight would see Space Rider launch atop Arianespace's Vega-C rocket (which makes its own debut in 2019) and land on a runway on one of the Atlantic's Azores islands, Santa Maria.
During operational flights, Space Rider will orbit 400 kilometers above the Earth for a few months at the time, opening its payload bay doors to expose experiments to the space environment. Customers will pay roughly $9,200 kilogram to fly their payloads on Space Rider, according to Giorgio Tumino, ESA's Space Rider and Vega rocket development program manager.
 
 Giorgio Tumino, ESA's Space Rider and Vega rocket development Manager. Credit: ESA

"This cost is usually only to go into orbit, but in this case [with Space Rider] it is to go and come back to Earth," Tumino told SpaceNews here. "We really believe there is a market, a niche, that will drive this. We have already done preliminary studies, analyses and we see that it [Space Rider] is a very convenient tool."
Tumino said Arianespce, as the commercial partner for the Vega rocket, will likely operate Space Rider, as well.
Space Rider, at an expected 4-5 meters in length, will be about half the size of the U.S. Air Force's X-37B unmanned orbital spaceplane. X-37B completed its fourth classified mission in May, landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center just shy of a two-year stay in orbit.
After Space Riders's first mission in 2020, it would fly five more missions spaced six to 12 months apart, according to Tumino. During this first few years of operations, a decision would be made about how many Space Riders to build for commercial operations; Arianespace, he said, might decide to operate a fleet of them.
During development, a full-scale Space Rider model will be dropped in 2019 from an atmospheric balloon or helicopter to test the vehicle's parafoil landing system.
Space Rider is based on ESA's successful suborbital re-entry test vehicle, the Intermediate Experimental Vehicle (IXV). In 2015, the IXV flew halfway around the planet in 100 minutes before parachuting into the Pacific Ocean for recovery.

[PIN]

Джорджио крут, реально крут. Всем бы программам таких менеджеров. Хотя работать с ним нелегко. Разве что, кроме тех, кто служил в армии. Прямо ностальгический опыт

[Бальзам Космический]

ЕКА планирует коммерциализировать автоматизированный космоплан к 2025 г.

Хотя европейский многоразовый космоплан Space Rider будет построен в лучшем случае через три года, тем не менее Европейское космическое агентство (ЕКА) уже готовит программу коммерциализации беспилотного орбитального аппарата.

К 2025 г., как сказали чиновники ЕКА, аппарат Space Rider может начать совершать коммерческие рейсы, доставляя полезную нагрузку в космос и обратно на Землю по цене примерно 9200 USD за один килограмм.

Компания Arianespace со штаб-квартирой во Франции, предоставляющая в настоящее время услуги запусков космических аппаратов, вероятно, будет осуществлять управление космопланом, предоставляя промышленным и правительственным покупателям возможность использовать грузовой отсек корабля вместимостью 800 килограммов для размещения научных экспериментов, экспериментов с материалами, а также экспериментов, демонстрирующих возможности технологий связи и автоматизации.

Аппарат Space Rider разрабатывается компаниями Thales Alenia Space и Lockheed Martin под руководством Итальянского центра аэрокосмических исследований. Финансирование этапа конструирования было одобрено в декабре 22 членами ЕКА.

В 2020 г. аппарат Space Rider совершит испытательный полет, будучи сброшенным с борта ракеты Vega-C (дебютирующей в 2019 г.), и приземлится на взлетно-посадочной полосе одного из Азорских островов (Атлантический океан), острова Санта Мария.

После того как Space Rider совершит свой первый коммерческий рейс в 2020 г., он выполнит еще 5 миссий с интервалом 6-12 месяцев между двумя последовательными полетами. В течение этих первых лет работы корабля компания Arianespace примет решение о количестве экземпляров этой модели, которое необходимо построить для создания флотилии определяемых конъюнктурой рынка размеров.

[triage]

ЕКА планирует коммерциализировать автоматизированный космоплан к 2025 г.

плохой перевод вышестоящей статьи, минимум две ошибки

После того как Space Rider совершит свой первый коммерческий рейс в 2020 г.

в оригинале не пишется что тестовый первый запуск будет коммерческим.

[triage]

Susanne Auer‏ @AuerSusan  1 окт.
#ESA #SpaceRider background reading: "Aeroshape Trade-Off and Aerodynamic Analysis of the Space-Rider Vehicle " PDF: https://www.eucass.eu/doi/EUCASS2017-416.pdf ...

 https://www.eucass.eu/doi/EUCASS2017-416.pdf на 20 стр

[che wi]

Vega Evolution preparation and Space Rider development

30 November 2017

ESA signed two contracts today with Italy's ELV and Thales Alenia Space to extend Europe's Vega space system capabilities and competitiveness, and develop Space Rider for payload return capability.

/.../

In parallel, Thales Alenia Space and ELV will complete the detailed mission and system design up to the Critical Design Review for Space Rider.

The Space Rider space transportation system will be integrated with Vega-C, combining an Orbital Service Module derived from a Vega-C AVUM and a reentry module derived from the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) demonstrator flown in 2015 on Vega.

Спойлер

It will provide Europe with an affordable reusable platform for routine access and return from space, with payloads capacity up to 800 kg to an array of orbit altitudes and inclinations for multiple applications such as advanced microgravity, in-orbit demonstration and validation for Earth observation, science, telecommunication and robotic exploration.  

The Space Rider design builds on technological and industrial knowhow from Vega, Vega-C and the IXV development and demonstrations.

Following on from the successful Vega–IXV mission, Space Rider will be launched from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, reach and stay in orbit as long as required to perform the payloads operations, deorbit and reenter performing a ground landing to return payloads to end users, and be refurbished and reused for the next mission.

The contract for Space Rider activities worth €36.7 million was signed by ESA Director of Space Transportation Daniel Neuenschwander, Thales Alenia Space Vice President Domain Exploration and Science Walter Cugno, and ELV Managing Director Andrea Preve at ESA headquarters in Paris.

[свернуть]

[triage]

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Announcement_of_opportunity_to_fly_payloads_to_space_on_ESA_s_Space_Rider

ANNOUNCEMENT OF OPPORTUNITY TO FLY PAYLOADS TO SPACE ON ESA'S SPACE RIDER


Return missions on Space Rider

10 April 2018
ESA's Space Rider aims to provide Europe with an affordable, independent, reusable end-to-end space transportation system integrated with Vega-C, for routine access and return from low Earth orbit.

Space Rider will debut in 2021 to provide a laboratory in space for an array of applications, orbit altitudes and inclinations. ESA has released a dedicated Announcement of Opportunity with no restriction on nationality for commercial or institutional customers.  

A multi-purpose cargo bay equipped with standardised but customisable interfaces for the payloads offers a high-tech platform for experiments in space on missions expected to last up to two months or longer if needed.

Customers assisted by the Space Rider telemetry and command services will be able to upload and download commands and data at each orbital pass.

On completion of the missions, Space Rider will return to Earth with the payloads stowed in its cargo bay to land on ground in European territory. The vehicle will be reusable following refurbishment after each flight.

Among the multiple exploitation capabilities and potentials, the Space Rider missions will allow:

[/li]
• free-flying applications such as experiments in microgravity;
• in-orbit technology demonstration and validation for applications for: 
• exploration, including robotics,
• Earth observation, including instrumentation,
• Earth science, and telecommunication,
  

[/li][li]surveillance applications such as Earth disaster monitoring, satellites inspection.
[/li][/LIST]For further information related to this announcement of opportunity, open the folder 'News' after clicking here.

http://emits.sso.esa.int/emits/owa/emits.main
Text:   ESA's Space Rider aims to provide Europe with an affordable, independent, reusable end-to-end space transportation system integrated with Vega C, for routine access and return from low Earth orbit. It is composed by two modules:

- the AOM (AVUM Orbital Module), a modified version of the Vega C Upper Stage;

- the RM (Re-entry Module), a modified version of the IXV demonstrator flown in 2015 integrating a MPCB (Multi-Purpose Cargo Bay) equipped with standardized but customizable interfaces for the payloads, performing ground landing in European territory, being reusable following refurbishment after each flight.
....

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Space_Rider
...
Space Rider will be launched on Vega-C from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, remain in space in a low-drag altitude orbit for about two months, return to land on Earth in Europe with its payload, and then be prepared for the next mission.

Space Rider is designed to operate at different orbital inclinations, from equatorial to high-latitude. The Azores archipelago is therefore a suitable European landing location for missions that require high-latitude inclinations because it allows Space Rider to return at the same latitude as its operational orbit, requiring fewer deorbiting manoeuvres.
...
Phase-B1 was completed with the system requirements review board meeting on 21 December 2017 concluding that the project is technically sound.

Activities for Phase-B2/C, covering the preliminary design review and the critical design review, started on 25 January 2018.

Increasing the volume of the multipurpose cargo bay is a priority to allow for more or larger payloads on each mission. Another focus is to refine the mission operations and the requirements for the ground segment together with the consolidation of the business plan on exploitation.

 https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/space_transportation/Space_Rider_factsheet_HiRes_ok.pdf
 

Еще один на parafoil . IXV рисовали и писали с парашютом

[triage]

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Space_Rider_Europe_s_reusable_space_transport_system

5 June 2019
Initially proposed in 2016, ESA's Space Rider reentry vehicle provides a return to Earth and landing capability that compliments the existing launch options of the Ariane and Vega families.

Having recently completed system and subsystem preliminary design reviews, Space Rider is advancing quickly towards the Critical design review at the end of 2019.

Launched on Vega-C, Space Rider will serve as an unmanned high-tech space laboratory operating for periods longer than two months in low orbit. It will then re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and land, returning its valuable payload to eager engineers and scientists at the landing site. After minimal refurbishment it will be ready for its next mission with new payloads and a new mission.
...
Up to 800 kg of payloads can fit inside the environmentally controlled cargo bay that offers 1200 litres of payload volume and provides services including 600 watts of power along with thermal, control, data-handling and telemetry capability.
...
Plans are evolving for the identification among different options available of the first European spaceports for Space Rider landings involving operations, technical providers and new legislation.
...
Space Rider will be launched from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, in 2022.
...

https://ria.ru/20190605/1555278302.html

МОСКВА, 5 июн - РИА Новости. Защита проекта возвращаемого непилотируемого космического аппарата-лаборатории для продолжительных научных миссий в космосе Space Rider состоится до конца 2019 года, первый полет намечен на 2022 год, сообщает в среду Европейское космическое агентство (ЕКА).

"Предварительные проекты систем и подсистем уже готовы. Разработка Space Rider быстро продвигается к защите рабочего проекта в конце 2019 года... Space Rider будет запущен с космодрома Куру во Французской Гвиане в 2022 году", - говорится в сообщении.
...

выше на картинке Q4 2020 и еще выше про Азорские острова

Ранее

https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Space_Rider
...
Phase-B1 was completed with the system requirements review board meeting on 21 December 2017.

Activities for Phase-B2 started on 25 January 2018 and were completed with the preliminary design review board meeting on 20 December 2018 concluding that the project is technically sound. This marked the start of activities for Phase-C and the initiation of the final design of the vehicle.
...
Last update: 22 May 2019

...

[tnt22]

Time for answers: Space Rider
 Доступ по ссылке

European Space Agency, ESA

Дата загрузки: 5 июн. 2019 г.

Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA Director of Space Transportation, answers questions on Space Rider.

Space Rider is a reusable lifting body is now in development. Launched uncrewed on Vega-C, it will be able to stay in low-Earth orbit for more than two months, providing a platform for a range of experiments and demonstrations in microgravity. After each mission it will return to Earth to land on ground to return its cargo before minimal refurbishment for its next mission.

(2:46)

[tnt22]

Space Rider animation
 Доступ по ссылке

European Space Agency, ESA

Дата загрузки: 4 июн. 2019 г.

This animation shows the launch of our reusable lifting body called Space Rider atop Vega-C.

On reaching low-Earth orbit, Space Rider will serve as an unmanned high-tech space laboratory operating for periods longer than two months. It offers an array of orbit altitudes and inclinations for a large variety of experiments and demonstrations in microgravity.

After each mission Space Rider will return to Earth to land on ground to return its cargo before minimal refurbishment for its next mission.

(2:59)

[tnt22]

A new generation of European Launch Vehicles

European Space Agency, ESA

Опубликовано: 6 июн. 2019 г.

We strive for the future of Europe in space and key to this endeavour is maintaining access to space.

Спойлер

This objective is accomplished by supporting the development of new launch vehicles and next year will be an important year: Vega-C and Ariane 6 will fly for the first time.

Vega-C is an enhanced version of Europe's current Vega, with increased power and capacity.

Ariane 6 is Europe's next heavy-lift launcher which will replace Ariane 5. With Ariane 6 the approach is evolving for the assembly and production processes, and also in the sharing of responsibilities between us and Industry.

In parallel to preparing a new generation of launchers, we are also working on its first reusable spacecraft, Space Rider, that will fly on top of a Vega-C and which should be confirmed at Space19+, the Ministerial Conference in Seville in November 2019.

Already, the future of European Space transportation is clearly visible in Kourou where Vega-C and Ariane 6 are step-by-step becoming a reality.

[свернуть]

(4:21)

[triage]

http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2019/05/Space_Rider

Released 29/05/2019

 http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2019/06/Space_Rider

Released 05/06/2019 9:00 am


 http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2019/06/Space_Rider_capabilities


Released 02/06/2019 2:14 pm
...
Launched on Vega-C, Space Rider will serve as an uncrewed high-tech space laboratory operating for periods longer than two months in low orbit.

Up to 800 kg of payloads can fit inside the environmentally controlled cargo bay that offers 1200 litres of payload volume and provides services including 600 watts of power along with thermal, control, data-handling and telemetry capability.

Offering an array of orbit altitudes and inclinations, Space Rider will enable a large variety of experiments in microgravity, open opportunities for educational missions, and help prove technologies for Earth observation, science, telecommunication and robotic exploration.
...

[Искандер]

Непонятно почему агрегатный отсек сделали одноразовым.

[PIN]

Это доработанный AVUM, в корпус IXV он ну никак  не поместится.

[Искандер]

PIN написал:
Это доработанный AVUM, в корпус IXV он ну никак  не поместится.

А увеличить Rider было в лом и дорого.
Маск бы 'застрелился', но интегрировал. :-)

[PIN]

Искандер написал:
А увеличить Rider было в лом и дорого.

"Увеличить" нет ни практической потребности, ни фактической возможности - размеры ограничены размером ГО, а объём отсека ПН достаточен для адресуемого круга пользователей.

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https://spacenews.com/esa-declares-success-at-ministerial-meeting/

ESA declares success at ministerial meeting
by Jeff Foust — November 28, 2019

SEVILLE, Spain — The European Space Agency's member states agreed to provide nearly 12.5 billion euros ($13.8 billion) for the next three years, giving the agency nearly all that it requested.
....
Space transportation programs received 2.24 billion euros over the next three years. That covers upgrades for both the Ariane 6 and Vega C vehicles to be introduced in 2020 as well as support for small launch vehicle development. That program also funds Space Rider, an Italian-led program for a reusable spacecraft similar to the Dream Chaser or X-37B.
...

https://www.cira.it/it/spazio/accesso-allo-spazio-satelliti-ed-esplorazione/pride

Space Rider PRIDE
Obiettivi

Спойлер

​Dopo il successo della missione IXV, il programma Space-Rider si pone come obiettivo principale di dotare l'Europa per la prima volta di un sistema di trasporto spaziale a basso costo, riutilizzabile, che consenta non solo di effettuare operazioni e sperimentazioni in orbita ma anche di ritornare a terra permettendo cosi il recupero dei payload ed il riutilizzo del veicolo per missioni successive.

Space-Rider verrà lanciato dal vettore VEGA C, versione potenziata dell'attuale VEGA, in orbita bassa, ad una quota di 450 km ed in un ampio regime di inclinazioni, dove resterà per un tempo superiore a due mesi per poi rientrare in atmosfera ed atterrare sull'Isola di Santa Maria nelle Azzorre.

La missione di riferimento per la progettazione delle navicella spaziale prevede l'incontro a distanza ravvicinata con la Stazione Spaziale Internazionale (ISS) e la cattura di payload scientifici rilasciati da quest'ultima per essere riportati a terra. Inoltre Space Rider, la cui caratteristica principale sarà proprio la flessibilità nella gestione delle missioni, potrà effettuare sperimentazione autonoma in microgravità, dimostrazione in orbita di tecnologie, osservazione e monitoraggio della terra, dimostrazione di operazioni di manutenzione satelliti.

Il rientro in atmosfera, a velocità di circa 7,5 km/s, sarà garantito da un sistema di protezione termica basato su materiali ceramici e ablativi e da un sistema di controllo con superfici aerodinamiche e piccoli razzi. Superata la fase calda del rientro in atmosfera, il veicolo affronterà la fase finale di discesa con l'aiuto di un parafoil a guida autonoma che porterà il veicolo ad atterrare su pista o campo aperto in condizioni di sicurezza.

La realizzazione del programma è stata affidata da ESA al CIRA e a Thales Alenia Space-Italia. I due capofila industriali gestiscono a loro volta un consorzio di oltre venti aziende Europee operanti nel settore spaziale. Il programma è attualmente nella fase A/B1 che si concluderà a Luglio del 2017 con la definizione dei requisiti del sistema e la progettazione preliminare. Il Consiglio Interministeriale dell'ESA che si terrà a Lucerna a fine 2016 dovrà confermare il finanziamento delle fasi successive del progetto che ha come obiettivo temporale il lancio della prima missione agli inizi del 2021.

Attività CIRA nel progetto
Al CIRA è affidato il ruolo di Coordinamento programmatico del programma Space Rider e di interfaccia con ESA, mentre TAS-I ha la guida delle attività di ingegneria di sistema

Il CIRA inoltre ha il ruolo di gestione dell'architettura del veicolo, identificazione delle tecnologie critiche ed il coordinamento a livello sistema delle attività relative a Aerodinamica ed Aerotermodinamica, Sistemi di Protezione Termica, Discesa e Atterraggio, Sistema di controllo delle superfici mobili.

Inoltre, in continuità con gli sviluppi portati avanti nell'ambito del PRORA, il CIRA ha come obiettivo ambizioso l'implementazione delle seguenti tecnologie in SPACE-RIDER:

Flap in materiale ceramico: Le attività verranno svolte in sinergia con il Progetto tecnologico PRORA-SHS e con il coinvolgimento di partner industriali italiani.

Componente della Struttura (cono di interfaccia in materiale composito tra il lanciatore e la struttura primaria di Space Rider ) in composito anisogrid: Le attività verranno svolte in sinergia con il Progetto tecnologico PRORA-ICCS.

Tecnologie ed algoritmi di Guida Navigazione e Controllo del Velivolo . Specifico interesse sarà rivolto alla fase di Terminal Area Energy Management, nella quale sarà possibile utilizzare l'esperienza maturata nel progetto CIRA USV.
 
Programma
​Programma Space-RIDER – Space Reusable Integrated Demonstrator for Europe Return

DATA INIZIO: mercoledì 30 marzo 2016
DURATA: 64 Mesi

[свернуть]

https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/space/magazine/pioneering-future-reusable-space-transportation-vehicules

PIONEERING THE FUTURE OF REUSABLE SPACE TRANSPORTATION VEHICULES
11/27/2019

Спойлер

Could Space Rider be the European Space Agency equivalent of the legendary all-purpose Swiss Army knife?
Space Rider is Europe's inventive solution for its own affordable and reusable end-to-end integrated space transportation system for unmanned missions and for routine access and return from low orbit. It will be used to transport a variety of payloads into different low Earth orbit (LEO) altitudes and inclinations.

"It's a fantastic mission," says Walter Cugno, Vice President, Sciences and Exploration at Thales Alenia Space, responsible as co-contractor for design and development of key aspects of Europe's next-generation reusable transportation system for LEO. "It will bring together an extraordinary number of capabilities as a platform for experimentation and observation, and able to be launched, returned to earth, and reused."

[свернуть]

Designed as a free-flying orbital platform, Space Rider is capable of remaining two months in orbit, safely re-entering the atmosphere and landing on the ground with a precision of 150 metres. It can be recovered along with its payload, refurbished, and reused for up to six missions.

Спойлер

'Space for Life'
Indeed, the payloads it brings back to earth could include some of its biggest breakthroughs.

As Walter Cugno explains, "There is so much excitement because there is so much potential. There is already interest from several potential commercial clients in different fields. They include a number of pharmaceutical companies, because the micro gravity environment is ideal for developing drugs and other medicines and then bringing them back to earth."

In one experiment, cancer cells were reported to have been destroyed in just such a near-gravity-free environment.

In addition, new satellites could be launched into orbit from Space Rider's bay, satellites already in orbit could be inspected, and space debris collected.

Space Rider also offers great potential for technology demonstration and validation for applications in robotics for space exploration, radiation exposure experimentation, and earth observation instrumentation and telecommunications, as well as Earth disaster monitoring.

Thales Alenia Space was selected for its experience in earth and planetary satellite launch and re-entry, exploration infrastructure once landed, and space telecommunications. "It's fair to say that few other companies can provide all of the capabilities needed for design and development of Space Rider; we can do all of them, except for the launcher itself," says Walter Cugno.

[свернуть]

He says that Space Rider's planned launch in 2022 will actually mark the beginning of the next stage of space exploration. "It will demonstrate that we have mastered all of the technologies needed to further explore the Moon, Mars, and then on to the further reaches of the universe, not to mention future applications for point-to-point flights, spaceplanes, and even space tourism."

https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/space/press-release/thales-alenia-space-signs-european-space-agency-space-rider
THALES ALENIA SPACE SIGNS WITH EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY THE SPACE RIDER PRELIMINARY DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT
11/30/2017
 Paris, November 30, 2017 – Thales Alenia Space (Thales 67 %, Leonardo 33 %), with ELV (European Launch Vehicle - 70% Avio SpA, 30% ASI)  as co-contractor, has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the engineering and preliminary development of the automated reusable Space Rider transportation system, designed for deployment by the new Vega C light launcher into low Earth orbit (LEO).
....
Leading a consortium of European manufacturers, research centers and universities, Thales Alenia Space is responsible for the development of the reentry module (RM), derived from the IXV. ELV is in charge of the development of the service module, derived from the Vega C upper stage AVUM (Attitude and Vernier Upper Module). The partners in this new program are capitalizing on the lessons learned from the IXV, which enjoyed strong support from the Italian space agency ASI.
...

[triage]

https://spacenews.com/italy-satisfied-with-outcome-of-esa-ministerial/

Italy satisfied with outcome of ESA ministerial
by Jeff Foust — November 29, 2019

Спойлер

SEVILLE, Spain — Italy, one of the largest contributors to the European Space Agency, is pleased with the outcome of the recent ministerial meeting that provided funding for a number of its priorities, including a reusable spacecraft.

In a finally tally of contributions provided by ESA at the end of the Space19+ ministerial meeting here Nov. 28, Italy ranked third among ESA's 22 member states, contributing 2.28 billion euros ($2.51 billion) or 15.9% of the 14.4 billion in funding provided by ESA members overall at the meeting. Only Germany, at 3.29 billion euros, and France, at 2.66 billion euros, offered more funding. The Italian funding commitment is nearly one billion euros higher than what it provided at the previous ministerial in 2016.

[свернуть]

"We are very happy," Giorgio Saccoccia, president of the Italian space agency ASI, said in an interview after the Space19+ meeting here Nov. 28.
....
ESA did not disclose the total value pledged to Space Rider at the meeting, but did state that Italy is providing 75% of the total. That led to questions at the press conference at the end of Space19+ about whether Space Rider is truly a European program rather than a national program.

Jan Woerner, director general of ESA, disagreed, nothing that several countries play key roles in the agency's overall space transportation portfolio. "Each and every member state has its specific competence, and this is good," he said.

For Space Rider, he acknowledged that he wanted to see more member states join the program. "But what is more important for me: Space Rider will fly and land," he said. "It's not a national program. It's a program of the European Space Agency within the whole space transportation package."

Saccoccia said 10 countries decided to participate in Space Rider, pledging funding that oversubscribed the program. "It's a good demonstration of trust," he said. "We want to return the commitment that other countries have provided to this program into the proper distribution of activities in order to also produce growth for our partners."
....

[triage]

https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Space_Rider/ESA_signs_contracts_for_reusable_Space_Rider_up_to_maiden_flight
...
ESA signed two contracts with industry on 9 December at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, Italy in the presence of Italian government representatives. The first contract is for delivery of the Space Rider flight model including the reentry module and the AVUM orbital service module, by co-prime contractors: Thales Alenia Space Italy and Avio. The second contract covers the delivery of the ground segment by Italian co-prime contractors: Telespazio and Altec.

Activities are on track for the first flight of Space Rider in the third quarter of 2023 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

Scientific experimentation in microgravity for pharmaceutics and biology are key examples of a Space Rider service.

Further applications include in-orbit demonstration and validation of a variety of technologies for several applications, such as robotics for exploration, instrumentation for Earth observation, surveillance for Earth disaster monitoring, and satellites inspection.

Space Rider will also provide non-space-based companies with a shortcut into the space arena, bypassing the need to become expert space users.

Space Rider is about the size of two minivans. The reentry module hosts the cargo bay, offering a 1200 litre volume for up to 800 kg of customer payloads seated on a high-technology platform that supplies power along with thermal, control, data-handling and telemetry capability. The reentry module is powered in orbit by Vega-C's upper stage AVUM+ enhanced with a Life Extension kit serving as service module during missions of at least two months.

Sophisticated avionics of Space Rider distributed along the two modules allow complex manoeuvring for experiments in space. An open cargo bay door gives a field of view to Earth or deep space, and fine pointing capability.

At the end of the mission, a final burn of the Space Rider orbital module will send the reentry module with its user payloads towards the reentry trajectory for a smooth ride back to Earth with a soft precision landing on the ground. After payload recovery and minimal refurbishment, the Space Rider reentry module will be ready to take its next set of payloads on its follow-on mission.

Two Space Rider landing sites are viable: Kourou in French Guiana and Santa Maria in the Azores archipelago (Portugal).

Kourou in French Guiana is considered as the primary landing site because it allows maximum mission performance while Santa Maria is considered as the secondary landing site, suitable for high altitude inclination orbits.

Activities for the preparation of these landing sites will start soon. This is to ensure the timely compliance of the activities with the general planning of the programme.

ESA has also started to share with several potential customers the technical details of the accommodation for payloads on the first flight of Space Rider. The payloads selection will be performed quite soon within the first quarter of 2021.

....

https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/space/press-release/thales-alenia-space-and-avio-sign-european-space-agency-space-rider

THALES ALENIA SPACE AND AVIO SIGN WITH EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY THE SPACE RIDER DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT
12/09/2020

Turin, December 9, 2020 – Thales Alenia Space (Thales 67 %, Leonardo 33 %), and AVIO as  co-contractor, signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the development of the automated reusable Space Rider transportation system, designed for deployment by the new Vega C light launcher into low Earth orbit (LEO). The total worth of the contract is 167M€ . 

Space Rider is Europe's solution for its own affordable and reusable end-to-end integrated space transportation system for unmanned missions and for routine access and return from low orbit. It will be used to transport a variety of payloads into different low Earth orbit (LEO) altitudes and inclinations.

Designed as a free-flying orbital platform, Space Rider is capable of remaining two months in orbit, safely re-entering the atmosphere and landing on the ground with a precision of 150 metres. It can be recovered along with its payload, refurbished, and reused for up to six missions.

Leading a consortium of European manufacturers, research centers and universities, Thales Alenia Space is responsible for  the development of the reentry module (RM), the most challenging of the project derived from the IXV, experimental space shuttle made in Italy with the strong support from the Italian space agency ASI and tested in 2015. AVIO is in charge of the propulsions system and the expendable service module. Space Rider will be launched into space aboard the Vega C launcher, developed by AVIO for the European Space Agency.
...
Planned to be launch on 2023 by Vega C light launcher  from  the Guiana Space Center, Space Rider system overall length is 9.7m; it records 2430 kg wet mass and can accommodate up to 600kg of payload inside a 1.2 cubic meter cargo bay.  The re-entry vehicle will reach Mach 28 speed at 90 km of altitude, and sustain maximum temperature of 1700K at the nose heat stagnation; subsonic parachute will open at 16 Km altitude at around 0.73 Mach decelerating the vehicle down to 50 m/s; final part of the descent is under parafoil which has the function of energy management and aero brake (flare maneuver) to limit the landing run after touch down.
...

https://spacenews.com/e167-million-space-rider-contract-funds-construction-of-europes-first-orbital-spaceplane/

€167 million Space Rider contract funds construction of Europe's first orbital spaceplane
by Andrew Parsonson — December 11, 2020

JOHANNESBURG — The European Space Agency has finalized a €167 million ($200 million) contract with Thales Alenia Space Italy and Avio to deliver Space Rider — Europe's first robotic orbital spaceplane — in time for a mid-to-late 2023 launch atop an expendable rocket.
...
Space Rider's critical design review is scheduled to occur between July and August....

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15 нояб. 2022 г.
Space Rider is an uncrewed robotic laboratory about the size of two minivans. After launch on Vega-C, this reusable spacecraft will stay in low orbit for about two months, conducting research in microgravity or observing the Earth or deep space. At the end of its mission, Space Rider will return to Earth with its payloads to be unloaded and refurbished for another flight.

Credit: ESA/Frame by Frame

[Arzach]

РАЗРАБОТКА SPACE RIDER ПЕРЕХОДИТ К ЭТАПУ D ДЛЯ ПОДГОТОВКИ К БРОСКОВЫМ ИСПЫТАНИЯМ
В прошлом месяце получено одобрение на переход к этапу D разработки многоразового космического аппарата ЕКА: сборке и испытаниям.

Space Rider представляет собой беспилотную роботизированную лабораторию размером с два минивэна, которая может оставаться на орбите в течение двух месяцев. Космический корабль состоит из двух частей: орбитального модуля, который содержит все необходимое для его полета вокруг нашей планеты, и возвращаемого модуля, который позволяет Space Rider и результатам его экспериментов вернуться на Землю.

Орбитальный модуль является расширением четвертой ступени ракеты-носителя «Вега-С» и обеспечивает электропитание, орбитальное маневрирование и ориентацию. Возвращаемый модуль — это часть корабля, в которой проводятся эксперименты и которая обеспечивает защиту от интенсивного нагрева, возникающего при входе в атмосферу Земли, а также содержит систему посадки.

Экспертиза проекта, проведенная в прошлом месяце, дала "зеленый свет" программе Space Rider по созданию элементов космического корабля, а также началу интенсивных испытаний, чтобы окончательно определить технические решения, обеспечивающие полет, возвращение на Землю и приземление космического корабля. Уже поставлены квалификационные образцы нескольких узлов и систем, и после успешных испытаний будут допущены к производству летные образцы.

При любом направлении ветра

Space Rider использует новую технологию торможения с орбитальной скорости 28 800 км/ч до мягкой посадки на взлетно-посадочную полосу, которая будет построена на европейском космодроме в Куру, Французская Гвиана. Затормозив до скоростей ниже сверхзвуковой скорости, примерно в 5 км от взлетно-посадочной полосы, Space Rider выпустит парафойл и автоматически направится к месту мягкой посадки.

Испытания парафойла меньшего размера начнутся в этом месяце, чтобы подготовиться к полномасштабным испытаниям в конце этого года с использованием парафойла площадью 70 м2. Испытания на масштабной модели позволят инженерам отладить алгоритмы, которые будут управлять космическим кораблем с помощью лебедок, тянущих и освобождающих полотно купола — точно так же, как это делает пилот-человек с помощью строп.

Контролировать погоду люди пока не научились, и на следующий год назначены новые испытания в самых неблагоприятных условиях. Бросковые испытания системы позволят собрать все элементы вместе и проверить, как система приземления, программное обеспечение и парафойл работают вместе для плавного приземления аппарата независимо от ветра.

Само шасси также является инновационным, Space Rider будет иметь колесо спереди и два полозья сзади, эта конструкция лучше для устойчивости в случае бокового ветра при посадке, а поскольку полозья более компактны, чем колеса, это оставляет больше места внутри Space Rider для экспериментов.

«Переход к этапу D в разработке является важной вехой для любых проектов космических летательных аппаратов, и коллектив разработчиков Space Rider с нетерпением ждет возможности применить нашу теорию на практике в этом уникальном проекте», — отмечает Данте Галли, руководитель программы Space Rider.