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'''Romanian Cosmonautics and Aeronautics Association''' ({{lang-ro|Asociația Română pentru Cosmonautică și Aeronautică}}), also known as '''ARCAspace''', is an aerospace company based in [[Râmnicu Vâlcea]], Romania.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/arcaspace/ {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref> It builds rockets, high-altitude balloons, and [[UAV|unmanned aerial vehicles]]. It was founded in 1999 as a [[non-governmental organization]] in [[Romania]] by the Romanian engineer and entrepreneur Dumitru Popescu and other rocket and aeronautics enthusiasts. Since then, ARCA has launched two stratospheric rockets and four large-scale stratospheric balloons including a cluster balloon. It was awarded two governmental contracts with the Romanian government and one contract with the [[European Space Agency]]. ARCASpace is currently developing
== History ==
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In 2007 ARCA won two governmental contracts with the Research Ministry for a suborbital rocket and a solar balloon. The [[Romanian Space Agency]], the [[University of Bucharest]] and other Romanian institutions were subcontractors to ARCA for these projects.
In early 2008 ARCA joined the [[Google Lunar X Prize]] competition and designed the Haas orbital launcher.<ref>{{citation | work = NBC News| title = Teams shoot for the Moon | url =http://www.nbcnews.com/id/23284596/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/teams-shoot-moon/| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130225050041/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/23284596/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/teams-shoot-moon| url-status =dead| archive-date =February 25, 2013|access-date=2014-03-31}}</ref> Their lunar rover was named European Lunar Lander and used a [[monopropellant]] rocket engine for landing and hovering. Haas was a three-stage orbital rocket powered by hybrid engines using a bitumen-based fuel and hydrogen peroxide as oxidizer. It was supposed to be launched from 18,000 m carried by the largest solar balloon ever constructed, having a volume of 2 million cubic meters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arcaspace.com/en/program_haas.htm |title=HAAS |access-date=2014-12-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140331222859/http://www.arcaspace.com/en/program_haas.htm |archive-date=2014-03-31 }}</ref> For the Haas rocket, they created a three-stage much smaller demonstrator called Helen that was intended to test technologies and operation. The Helen rocket was intentionally not aerodynamically stabilized, being intended to use a technique based on the pendulum rocket fallacy.<ref name="program_helen">{{cite web|url=http://www.arcaspace.com/en/program_helen.htm|title=Helen – ARCA|website=www.arcaspace.com|access-date=11 August 2017|archive-date=12 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812013103/http://www.arcaspace.com/en/program_helen.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Romanian bank [[BRD – Groupe Société Générale]] awarded ARCA a 300,000 euro sponsorship for their activities. Romanian cosmonaut Dumitru Prunariu highly praised ARCA's achievements and noted their ability to efficiently utilize private funds.<ref>{{citation | publisher = Mediafax| title = Prunariu about the first Romanian rocket in space: "An original and feasible project" | url =http://www.mediafax.ro/stiinta-sanatate/prunariu-despre-prima-racheta-romaneasca-in-spatiu-un-proiect-fezabil-si-original-4877842}}</ref> In 2009 ARCA performed a series of engine tests using the Stabilo rocket engine in order to validate the design for the Helen rocket.
The first attempt to launch the Helen rocket took place on November 14, 2009. Romanian Naval Forces participated with the NSSL 281 Constanta ship, the Venus divers ship, the Fulgerul fast boat and two other fast craft boats. For this mission, ARCA constructed a massive 150,000 cubic meter solar balloon, approximately five times as large as their previous balloon. After the balloon began inflating, the mission crew discovered that the balloon inflation arms were wrapped around the lower part of the balloon. Inflation was halted and the crew attempted to unwrap the arms. Three hours later the arms were repositioned and inflation was ready to resume but the sun was already nearing the horizon, and heating the solar balloon was no longer possible. The decision was made to cancel the mission.<ref name="misiunea_3" />
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===EcoRocket Demonstrator===
The EcoRocket Demonstrator (formerly just EcoRocket) is a partially-reusable three-stage orbital launch vehicle currently under development. The EcoRocket Demonstrator had been slated to launch in 2022, however, no launch took place that year. The vehicle's reusable first stage will use a battery-powered [[steam rocket]] to propel a small second stage to an altitude of 7 kilometers. The second stage will then proceed to a higher altitude to deploy a smaller third stage, carrying the payload. The third stage utilizes [[RP-1]] and [[high test peroxide]] to propel a payload of up to 10 kilograms into orbit. The rocket takes its name from the claimed ecological benefits of not burning as much kerosene (despite using kerosene to achieve most of orbital velocity).<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/pbIUjd8WFKA Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201102205252/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbIUjd8WFKA&feature=youtu.be Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbIUjd8WFKA&t=1821s| title = Future of Rockets - Keynote | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The EcoRocket will launch partially submerged in the [[Black Sea]], in a similar manner to the [[Sea Dragon (Rocket)|Sea Dragon]].<ref name="EcoRocket_Sea_Launch">{{cite web |last1=Popescu |first1=Dimitru |title=🟢 #LaunchGreen - Mission10 - Teaser Trailer |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5ml6DhmaQs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/C5ml6DhmaQs |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=YouTube |publisher=Google |access-date=7 March 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Both the first and second stages are intended to be reusable, parachuting back into the ocean for recovery. The vehicle is intended to demonstrate technologies for the upcoming EcoRocket Heavy. As of mid-2024, ARCA announced the reactivation of the Demonstrator program, and has begun work on the refurbishment of a first stage tank to support at least one flight test.
=== EcoRocket Heavy ===
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=== AMi Cargo ===
The AMi Cargo vehicle is the vehicle designed to support ARCA's asteroid mining operations, and as the primary payload for the EcoRocket Heavy. The AMi Cargo vehicle will approach an asteroid, and then release the battery-powered Recovery Capsule (which, in the first iteration, appeared to be derived from the earlier suborbital capsule for the Haas 2B<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morrison |first=Patrick |date=20 July 2022 |title=Tweet |url=https://twitter.com/TurbulentSphere/status/1549899505352560646 |access-date=20 July 2022 |website=Twitter}}</ref>), which will use the engine on its service module to approach the target asteroid. The spacecraft will then harpoon the asteroid, then reel itself in to begin mining operations. Upon completion of mining, it will return to the AMi Cargo vehicle, which will propel it back to Earth. Upon reaching Earth, the capsule will detach and jettison the service module prior to reentry. The capsule will then perform a high-velocity landing at sea, without the use of a parachute, relying on the structural integrity of the 7-meter diameter heat shield on the front of the return capsule for safe recovery of the material inside. A subscale demonstration of this technique was performed in October 2023, using a manned hot air balloon during Mission 12, carried out alongside the RTV’s Mission 16. ARCA intends to eventually upgrade the spacecraft for uncrewed missions to other planets. To support deep space operations, ARCA intends to construct their own Deep Space Network, akin to [[NASA Deep Space Network|NASA's system]].<ref name=":0" />
=== A1 Interceptor ===
The A1 is a strategic anti-ballistic interceptor system, based on the EcoRocket technology, announced in December of 2023. The commercially available vehicle comes in two versions; the A1A & A1B. The basic premise and interception method of the vehicle consists of a 6-10 metric ton device (referred to as the “warhead”) carrying between 200,000-2,000,000 metal pellets, chaff, and flares, all of which are “electromechanically” deployed. Following the deployment of the warhead, the enemy ICBM, IRBM, CM, HM, or other form of conventional or nuclear weapon, impacts the dome, cloud, or dome sector created by the warhead. The impact either compromises the enemy weapon’s airframe, deceives and deviates it from the target, or destroying it before reaching the target. As of May 2024, ARCA has constructed one A1 vehicle, and plans to launch it on a demonstration flight in August of 2024. ARCA has stated that the interception method was tested and/or demonstrated by the US government under the “Star Wars” program in the 1980s.
=== Commercial EcoRocket ===
While the organization’s main focus remains on the development of the EcoRocket orbital launchers, they have begun work on several other systems, in order to generate technical data and revenue for the AMi program’s hardware. The Commercial EcoRocket, or CER, is a series of 10 suborbital rockets, including the two A1 interceptor variants. The series consists of the CER-160, CER-500, CER-1200, the RTV & MIRTV, and the Target Rocket (“TR”) versions of all three vehicles. The CER-160 is the smallest vehicle in the series, with the 1200 being the largest. The civilian CER-160 is capable of reaching 20 kilometers in altitude, with a maximum speed of Mach 1.9, all while carrying a payload of up to 3 kilograms. The CER-500 rocket reaches 30 km and Mach 2.1, with a payload of 100kg. Finally, the CER-1200 is able to reach 40 km and Mach 2.6 with a 1,000kg payload. All civilian CER rockets launch from “canisters” (akin to silos) proportional to the rocket size. The Target Rocket versions of all 3 vehicles are available only to military customers, and feature canister angle support to allow for various firing angles, to alter the vehicle’s flight parameters. The RTV (Reentry Target Vehicle) & MIRTV (Multiple Independent Reentry Target Vehicles) are products designed to simulate the terminal flight of ballistic missiles, allowing for military forces to train their anti-missile systems in a cost-effect way. Both the RTV and MIRTV are launched by the CER-1200 rocket, though modified to feature an upper “booster” stage. ARCA proposes these products as alternatives to the expensive option of firing a real, but inert missile/weapon to train interception forces. The A1 is being developed and sold under the CER program.
==Rocket engines==
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The Launch Assist System was an aerospike engine that was to use electrically heated water to produce steam, which would then generate thrust. The LAS was to reduce cost of rockets by manner of reducing the associated complexity, since steam powered rockets are far less complex than even the simplest liquid fueled engines. It was to be a self contained unit including both the engine and propellant tank. It could theoretically achieve a specific impulse of 67 seconds. The LAS was proposed to be a first stage for the Haas 2CA rocket, or to serve as a strap-on booster for existing vehicles, including the [[Atlas V]], [[Falcon 9]], [[Delta IV]], and [[Ariane 6]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.arcaspace.com/docs/ARCA_LAS_White_Paper_January_14_2020_Issue_2.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2021-01-04 |archive-date=2020-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129202928/https://www.arcaspace.com/docs/ARCA_LAS_White_Paper_January_14_2020_Issue_2.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The EcoRocket Demonstrator and Heavy will use a reworked version of this system with two nozzles (one for launch, and one for landing) called the LAS 25D.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Popescu |first1=Dimitru |title=Future of Rockets: Keynote |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbIUjd8WFKA&t=1821s |website=YouTube |publisher=ARCASpace |access-date=4 January 2021}}</ref>
=== AMi
The AMi Cargo vehicle will use a new propulsion system, described by ARCA as "electric-arc propulsion." The reaction mass will be water, and the impulse will be provided electrically using electricity from large solar arrays. Beyond this, not much is known about the nature of this system, however, ARCA intends it to be capable of running for days on end.<ref name=":0" />
===Propulsion Module===
The Propulsion Module (PM) is the specific rocket engine used by the first and second stages of the EcoRocket Heavy. Its propellant is water, which is heated and exits the nozzle as steam. The engine has a thrust of ~30 tons, using nearly 500 modules for the first two stages.
===Universal Propulsion Module===
The UPM is slightly different than the regular PM, in the ways it is employed. The UPM is derived from the PM and serves to the creation of the CER1200/TR/RTV/MIRTV, the A1 anti-ballistic interceptor, and other civilian rockets. It is the most powerful engine developed by ARCA.
==Missions==
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| Mission 4 || Lunar Project (Helen 2 Test Rocket) || Uncrewed || 100.000 m || Carrier balloon + Helen 2 (2 stages) || Yes || Unsuccessful
|-
| Mission
|-
| Mission 5 || Avionics & TV transmission test || Crewed || 5.000 m || Carrier balloon + Stage 1 (Helen 2) + ELL || No || Completed
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|-
| Mission 10 || First orbital flight test of EcoRocket || Uncrewed || >100 KM || EcoRocket || N/A || Planned<ref name="EcoRocket_Ep_3">{{cite web |last1=Popescu |first1=Dimitru |title=EcoRocket Episode 3 |url=https://www.facebook.com/arcaspace/posts/10160560998463332?__tn__=-R |website=Facebook |access-date=22 January 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Mission 11 || Launch sequence test of CER-160TR || Uncrewed || <100m || EcoRocket Nano/CER-160TR || Yes || Successful
|-
| Mission 12 || AMi capsule drop test || Uncrewed || ~600m || Subscale AMi capsule demonstrator || N/A || Successful
|-
| Mission 13 || Underwater engine test || Uncrewed || <300m || LAS-1 || Yes || Successful
|-
| Mission 15 || EcoRocket space launch || Uncrewed || 180km || EcoRocket 5 + Nano || N/A || Planned
|-
| Mission 16 || RTV drop test || Uncrewed || ~600m|| RTV || N/A || Successful
|-
| Mission 17 || Military homologation flight || Uncrewed || Unknown || CER-160TR || Yes || Successful
|-
| Mission 18 || Military homologation flight || Uncrewed || Unknown || CER-160TR || Yes || Successful
|-
| Mission 19 || Interceptor flight test || Uncrewed || >200m|| A1A interceptor || Planned || Planned
|}
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===Mission 10===
Mission 10 will be the first orbital flight of the EcoRocket Demonstrator. <ref name="EcoRocket_Ep_3"/><ref name="EcoRocket_Sea_Launch"/>
===Mission 11===
Mission 11 was the first mission under the new Commercial EcoRocket (CER) program. The test validated the canister exist sequence of the CER-160TR artillery target rocket, in a similar manner to the silo exit of a missile or interceptor. The test took place in November 2023.
===Mission 12===
Mission 12 tested the new design and landing technique for the AMi capsule in October 2023. Since the capsule’s full scale diameter is ~7 meters, ARCA constructed a subscale vehicle for the test. The demonstrator was carried to an altitude of ~600m by a manned hot air balloon and was released. The vehicle took roughly 15 seconds to impact the ground, where the parachute-less, high-velocity landing method was validated by the acceptable damage the vehicle sustained.
===Mission 13===
Mission 13 was a launch of the LAS-1 rocket from an ARCA-built water tower, to validate and assess the performance of the engine’s start and thrust while submerged. This will be the case for the EcoRocket Demonstrator, 5, and Heavy’s sea launch procedure. In March 2023, following some delays, the LAS-1 was launched and the test was successful.
===Mission 15===
The Mission 15 series of EcoRocket flights will eventually lead to ARCA’s first orbital spaceflight. Mission 15 has been described as using the EcoRocket 5 vehicle, with an unknown ecological third stage. Mission 15A aims to reach the orbital altitude of 180km during a suborbital/vertical flight. 15B intends to place the company’s first satellite into orbit. Timeline is unknown.
===Mission 16===
Mission 16 was performed with the CER program’s RTV vehicle, a payload launched by a CER rocket in order to simulate an enemy attack and to train anti-ballistic forces. It was performed minutes before Mission 12, as both vehicles were carried by the same manned hot air balloon. The drop test collected data on the vehicle’s stability and flight parameters at low speeds and altitudes, without using the spin stabilization system.
===Mission 17===
Mission 17 was a launch of the CER-160TR rocket from Cape Midia AFB, Romania, for the purpose of military certification. It was one of at least three flights planned for the homologation process, which will allow the Romanian military forces to use the launch system to train the anti-ballistic forces against enemy missile attacks. It was the first launch of a CER-160TR configuration, the first commercially used vehicle, and the first from the canister featuring “angled support” (the ability to change the firing angle of the system to achieve various flight trajectories). Mission 17 was successful, followed just 2 hours later by the next sequential flight, Mission 18.
== See also ==
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