A €500,000 ($786,000), high lift-over-drag configuration for re-entry vehicles study is to start later this year under the European Space Agency's general studies programme of its human spaceflight directorate's future human transport and infrastructure division.
The work will examine enhanced re-entry accelerations, localised aero-thermal loading to reduce thermal protection system acreage and operational considerations.
ESA flew its Atmospheric Re-entry Demonstrator, pictured below after its 101min flight, in 1998.
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