The European Space Agency's lofty goals of an all-new rocket, partially or completely reusable, entering service around 2020 are falling by the wayside as its 2012 re-entry vehicle technologies demonstrator flight approaches.
Known as IXV, the Intermediate Experimental Vehicle re-entry test is one of four demonstrator projects within ESA's Future Launcher Preparatory Programme (FLPP). This has been ESA's effort, involving seven of its member states, to develop technologies for that all-new rocket and to upgrade the operational EADS Astrium Ariane 5 and soon-to-launch ELV Vega.
"We want significant cost reductions with lower lifecycle costs," says FLPP programme manager Guy Pilchen.
Another FLPP demonstrator, High Thrust Engine, had its first subscale test on 4 February using liquid methane fuel with liquid oxygen. Further testing is due this year. In the coming months procurement for another demonstrator, called Solid Propulsion, will begin, with manufacturing planned for completion within the next two years. The Vega, with its maiden flight expected in December, is a likely recipient of successful solid propulsion advances.
The FLPP was approved by ESA's member states' 2001 triennial ministerial council. Two years later the council approved funding for first phase work from 2004 to 2006. During this period, the FLPP evaluated expendable and reusable launcher concepts. With some overlap, a second period was to start in 2006 and end in 2009, but has been extended to 2012 and divided into two steps.
This extension means some activities, and the launch of IXV using the Vega rocket, will happen after the 2011 ministerial meeting. Those activities have a budget of €170 million ($220 million) split between system development projects and IXV.
The original idea for the FLPP was to have a new rocket that could have a reusable element to start operating in the 2020s. Two new companies were formed to act as a prime contractor to ESA for its development. They are EADS Astrium and Finmeccanica's Next Generation Launcher and Joint Propulsion team, a venture between Italy's Avio, France's Snecma and EADS Astrium's German wing.
Now the replacement rocket concept is the HH SC. The HH and SC refer to the use of hydrogen, not methane, for fuelling both stages and the first stage's use of staged combustion engines. This two-stage booster would have two to six strap-on solid rocket boosters attached to increase its geostationary transfer orbit payload capability from 3,000kg (6,600lb) to 8,000kg.
Nothing of HH SC is reusable and in the 2008 ministerial budget deliberations the FLPP's reusable launcher funding was cut. Instead, Pilchen expects reusable boosters to become part of a common core architecture that is to be the subject of longer-term studies.
The FLPP goal now is to inform a decision on whether Ariane 5 is evolved or replaced. ESA has its "post-[Ariane 5] ECA" improvement plan that starts this year and continues until 2011. Pilchen expects an evolve-or-replace decision at the 2011 council. The post-ECA plan would lead to the improved Ariane 5 Mid-life Evolution (ME) that would enter service in 2016. Of the four FLPP demonstrators, Cryogenic Upper Stage Technologies (see box) and Solid Propulsion are relevant to Ariane 5 ME. Pilchen does not expect the High Thrust Engine to be used for the Mid-life Evolution.
Despite ESA's talk of a manned capsule atop Ariane 5, the FLPP has not considered man-rating, either for the upgrades or the new rocket.
However, Pilchen points out that some technologies such as health monitoring systems can be considered dual use for man rating and institutional and commercial satellites may not be the only payloads. Pilchen's team has discussed cargo resupply vehicles with ESA's exploration office. The FLPP may thus not lead to reusable boosters, but exploration plans could at least see the project contribute to missions that put Europeans on the lunar surface.
Source: Flight International
