Space Rider (ESA и другие)

[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.

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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
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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.
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[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.
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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.
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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

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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."

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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.

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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).
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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.
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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.

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"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."
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https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Space_Rider/ESA_signs_contracts_for_reusable_Space_Rider_up_to_maiden_flight
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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.

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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https://europeanspaceflight.com/santa-maria-to-be-landing-site-of-inaugural-space-rider-flight/

Santa Maria to be Landing Site of Inaugural Space Rider Flight
By Andrew Parsonson - November 9, 2024



Credit: ESA

Машперевод

Португальское космическое агентство объявило 8 ноября, что остров Санта-Мария выбран в качестве места посадки для первого полета космического корабля Space Rider.

Space Rider — это восьмиметровый многоразовый орбитальный аппарат, предназначенный для использования в качестве роботизированной лаборатории на орбите, позволяющей проводить научные исследования и демонстрации технологий. Аппарат способен оставаться на орбите в течение двух месяцев, прежде чем вернуть свой груз обратно на Землю. Ожидается, что первый полет Space Rider будет запущен в 2027 году на борту ракеты Vega C, оснащенной новой первой ступенью P160.

Место посадки для первого полета Space Rider было объявлено во время открытия штаб-квартиры Португальского космического агентства в Вила-ду-Порту на острове Санта-Мария. Объявление было сделано директором полетов Европейского космического агентства Стефано Бьянки.

В то время как пресс-релиз Португальского космического агентства, освещающий это событие, был окончательным в выборе Санта-Марии в качестве места посадки для первого полета, ЕКА было более осторожным в своих формулировках. В ответ на запрос European Spaceflight о комментарии агентство заявило, что Санта-Мария была «предпочтительным решением ЕКА» для места посадки. Агентство продолжило утверждать, что оно «сотрудничает с Португальским космическим агентством в этом направлении».

Последние вехи в развитии Space Rider были связаны с возвращением аппарата на Землю. В августе ЕКА объявило, что на Сардинии была проведена серия испытаний на падение . Эти испытания подтвердили работоспособность системы восстановления аппарата, которая использует парашют и лебедки управления для обеспечения точной посадки.

В начале октября Итальянский центр аэрокосмических исследований (CIRA) объявил, что совместно с Thales Alenia Space и Национальным институтом аэрокосмических исследований успешно завершил испытания компонентов шасси Space Rider. В объявлении также говорилось, что окончательное испытание для проверки шасси будет проведено в 2025 году, при этом шасси будет установлено на макете транспортного средства.

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The Portuguese Space Agency announced 8 November that the island of Santa Maria has been chosen as the landing site for the inaugural flight of Space Rider.

Space Rider is an eight-metre reusable orbital vehicle designed to serve as a robotic laboratory in orbit, enabling scientific research and technology demonstrations. The vehicle is capable of remaining in orbit for two months at a time before returning its cargo back to Earth. The inaugural flight of Space Rider is expected to be launched in 2027 aboard a Vega C rocket equipped with its new P160 first stage.

The landing site for Space Rider's inaugural flight was announced during the inauguration of the Portuguese Space Agency's headquarters in Vila do Porto, on the island of Santa Maria. The announcement was made by European Space Agency Flight Director Stefano Bianchi.

While the Portuguese Space Agency's press release covering the event was definitive in the selection of Santa Maria as the landing site for the inaugural flight, ESA was more careful with its language. In response to a European Spaceflight request for comment, the agency stated that Santa Maria was the "preferred ESA solution" for the landing site. The agency went on to state that it "is working with the Portuguese Space Agency in this direction."

The latest milestones in Space Rider's development have all revolved around the vehicle's return to Earth. In August, ESA announced that a series of drop tests had been conducted in Sardinia. These tests validated the vehicle's recovery system, which uses a parafoil and control winches to enable precise landings.

In early October, the Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA) announced that it had, in collaboration with Thales Alenia Space and the National Institute for Aerospace Research, successfully completed testing of the components for Space Rider's landing gear. The announcement added that the final test to validate the landing gear would be conducted in 2025, with the gear mounted to a mockup of the vehicle.

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Space Rider - это беспилотная роботизированная лаборатория размером с два минивэна. После запуска на ракете Vega-C он будет находиться на низкой орбите около двух месяцев. Эксперименты, проводимые в грузовом отсеке, позволят продемонстрировать технологии и будут полезны для исследований в области фармацевтики, биомедицины, биологии и физических наук. По окончании миссии Space Rider вернется на Землю с полезным грузом и приземлится на взлетно-посадочной полосе, чтобы разгрузиться и пройти восстановление для следующего полета.

Этот и другие плакаты ЕКА можно скачать здесь: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/ESA_Publications/ESA_Posters

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The inaugural flight of Space Rider is expected to be launched in 2027 aboard a Vega C rocket equipped with its new P160 first stage.

[Дем]

Увеличить" нет ни практической потребности, ни фактической возможности - размеры ограничены размером ГО

А запускать без ГО слабо...

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• Space Rider — 8-метровый многоразовый космоплан ЕКА для миссий на низкую околоземную орбиту продолжительностью до двух месяцев — будет запущен на ракете Vega C в начале 2028 года. В рамках своего первого беспилотного полета он доставит полезную нагрузку от 18 коммерческих клиентов.
• Объявление было сделано на заседании Совета министров ЕКА в Бремене 26–27 ноября 2025 года, где государства-члены обеспечили финансирование для передачи миссии частному оператору. Две компании ведут переговоры, а португальский космический центр Santa Maria Space Hub выступит в качестве места посадки.
• Первоначально запланированный на 2021 год, но отложенный из-за проблем с разработкой и COVID-19, этот этап способствует независимому доступу Европы в космос после успешных испытаний IXV по возвращению в атмосферу в 2015 году, которые подтвердили эффективность теплозащитного экрана и технологии посадки на параплане.

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https://europeanspaceflight.com/inaugural-space-rider-flight-to-occur-in-2028/

Inaugural Space Rider Flight to Occur in 2028

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The European Space Agency has announced that the inaugural flight of its reusable Space Rider vehicle is expected in 2028.

Спойлер

Space Rider is an eight-metre-long reusable spacecraft designed to carry technology demonstration and scientific payloads into orbit for up to two months before returning them to Earth. The spacecraft employs a steerable parafoil to enable precise landings for recovery, refurbishment, and reuse.

During a contract signing between ESA and the Portuguese Space Agency on 27 November to establish the Santa Maria Space Hub, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher announced that the first Space Rider flight is planned for 2028. Serving as the programme's designated landing site, Santa Maria will form a key part of the vehicle's ground infrastructure.

Speaking to European Spaceflight following the announcement, Programme Manager Dante Galli added that the flight was expected in the first quarter of 2028. He explained that the next big milestone would be the final drop test, which is now planned for February or March next year due to anticipated adverse weather conditions. Originally scheduled to take place before the end of the year, this test will, unlike the previous tests that used a simple mass simulator, use a close approximation of the Space Rider Re-entry Module.

Moving ahead to the inaugural flight, all flight hardware has been manufactured and is currently awaiting integration or undergoing verification testing. The progress toward a flight-ready vehicle is, as a result, likely to come before the expected launch date in under three years. A factor in determining when the inaugural flight is expected to occur is also the availability of the Vega C launch vehicle, particularly the variant with the more powerful P160C booster, which has yet to be flown.

Although a demonstration mission, the inaugural flight of Space Rider will carry commercial payloads, with 18 customers having signed Memorandums of Understanding with ESA to secure space aboard the mission. These customers have been offered a discounted rate for the inaugural flight, and several have already expressed interest in booking additional missions, signalling a clear pathway toward the vehicle's commercialisation.

ESA will act as the end-to-end operator for the first flight of Space Rider. However, once the vehicle has been recovered and refurbished, an element of the mission that will be funded with subscriptions from the ESA Ministerial Council meeting currently taking place in Bremen, the vehicle will be handed over to a commercial operator. While the exact pathway toward commercialisation has not yet been finalised, the agency is currently in discussions with two companies that could serve as the commercial operator of Space Rider.

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ESA сообщило, что первый пуск многоразового аппарата Space Rider состоится в 2028-м году. Менеджер программы Данте Галли уточнил, что первый полёт ожидается в первом квартале 2028-го

Несмотря на демонстрационный статус пуска, первый полёт Space Rider понесёт коммерческие нагрузки. 18 заказчиков уже подписали с ESA соглашения о намерениях о резервировании мест на корабле

ESA выступит полноценным оператором при первом пуске, но со второго полёта управление будет передано сторонней компании. Полная процедура коммерциализации пока неизвестна. В настоящее время агентство ведёт переговоры с двумя потенциальными операторами

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