Space Rider
 | It has been suggested that Programme for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator in Europe be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since February 2018. |
 Space RIDER will use the same lifting body aeroshape as the precursor IXV, illustrated here. | |
| Names | Space Reusable Integrated Demonstrator for Europe Return[1] |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Reusable spaceplane |
| Operator | ESA |
| Website | www |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Space RIDER |
| Spacecraft type | Lifting body spaceplane |
| Manufacturer | CIRA and Thales Alenia Space |
| Launch mass | Approx. 3,000 kg[2] |
| Payload mass | 800 kg |
| Power | 600 W [2] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | Planned: late 2021[2][3] |
| Rocket | Vega-C |
| Launch site | Guiana Space Centre |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| End of mission | |
| Landing site | Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Transponders | |
| Band | S band [2] |
The Space RIDER (Space Reusable Integrated Demonstrator for Europe Return) is a planned uncrewed orbital spaceplane aiming to provide the European Space Agency (ESA) with affordable and routine access to space.[4] Its expected maiden flight is for late 2021. [2][3]
Development of Space RIDER is being lead by the Italian PRIDE programme in collaboration with ESA, and is the continuation of the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) experience,[1][5] launched on 11 February 2015. The cost of this phase, not including the launcher, is at least $36.7 million.[6]
History
The European Space Agency has a program called Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP), which made a call for submissions for a reusable spaceplane.[7] One of the submissions was by the Italian Space Agency, that presented their own Programme for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator in Europe (PRIME program) which went ahead to develop the precursor called Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) and the resulting Space RIDER.[1]
Funding was initially approved by the ESA in 2016, with the project being lead by the Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA).[6] Thales Alenia Space and Lockheed Martin were tasked with completing the design by 2019. In November 2017, the ESA provided funding to Thales Alenia Space and Avio to build reentry and service modules, respectively.[8] The European Space Agency has designated the Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA) and Thales Alenia Space–Italia as co-prime contractors, which in turn manage a consortium of more than 20 European company operating in the space sector.[1] The Italian Space Agency subsequently contracted with Virgin Galactic for a suborbital research flight on SpaceShipTwo for research related to Space RIDER.[9]
In April 2018, ESA released an Announcement of Opportunity to fly small payloads onboard Space Rider's maiden flight.[10] On completion of the 2-month long mission, Space RIDER will return to Earth with the payloads stowed in its cargo bay.[10] This qualification flight of Space RIDER will take place in late 2021,[3] followed by several missions to demonstrate a range of capabilities and orbits, before handing over the project to the private sector.[3] By 2025, the ESA plans to privatise the Space RIDER, with Arianespace the likely operator.[11]
Design
The Space RIDER design inherits technology developed for the earlier Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle, also within the Programme for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator in Europe (PRIDE).[1][6][8] The design team considered the trade-offs of using only a lifting body and also using optional wings or vertical fins.[5] It was then decided in 2017 that the design should optimise the internal volume of the Vega rocket fairing, so its aerodynamic shape will be a simple lifting body, as tested on its predecessor, the IXV.[5] 3-axis control is achieved by the use of rear flaps.[5]
Space RIDER will have the potential to allow experiments in microgravity, such as exposure of materials to outer space and in-orbit validation of technologies, as well as deployment of small satellites.[10] The re-entry module itself is a testbed for entry technologies as the IXV precursor was, so future improvements are envisioned,[12] including point-to-point flights, even "space tourism".[6]
In 2019, some parafoil guided landing tests will be performed by dropping a full-scale model from helicopters or balloons.[13]
Space RIDER is designed to launch atop the Vega-C rocket,ref name='private'/> [2] and its maiden flight]] will be from the French Guiana in 2021, to land on a runway on Santa Maria Island, in the Azores.[11] The spacecraft is designed to conduct missions up to two-months long in low Earth orbit with up to 800 kg of cargo.[2][14] Activities for Phase-B2/C, covering the preliminary design review and the critical design review, started on 25 January 2018.[15]
Landing
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Upon atmospheric entry, the lifting body shape will decelerate the spacecraft to subsonic speed (below Mach 0.8), when one or two drogue parachute will be deployed at about 15-12 km altitude to slow it further (to Mach 0.18 - 0.22)[14] Then, a controllable gliding parachute called parafoil will be deployed to begin the controlled descent phase for a nearly horizontal touchdown (≈35 m/s) using no wheels.[14] The landing concept is similar to the NASA X-38 landing system.[14]
For orbits with inclination > 37°, landings will be performed at the Portuguese Santa Maria Island in the Azores archipelago. For lower inclination missions, French Guiana and Dutch Curaçao are being considered.[2]
Preliminary specifications
| Space Rider | Parameter/units |
|---|---|
| Crew | None (robotic only) |
| Length | ≥ 4.4 m (14 ft)[6] |
| Payload volume | ≥ 1.2 m3 |
| Mass | Max. 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) [2] |
| Payload mass | 800 kg (1,760 lb)[2][14] |
| Landing mass | 1,900 to 2,550 kg [14] |
| Landing accuracy | 150 m [14] |
| Landing speeds | Horizontal: 35 m/s; vertical: 3 m/s [14] |
| Parachute deployment shock | < 4 g [14] |
| Power | 600 W [2] |
| Reusability | 6 flights [2] |
| Turnaround time | < 6 months [2] |
See also
- List of spaceplanes
- Boeing X-37, a winged spaceplane by NASA
- Dream Chaser, a private lifting body spaceplane
- RLV-TD, a winged spaceplane by India
References
- ^ a b c d e Space RIDER PRIDE. Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA). Accessed: 15 November 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "SPACE RIDER" (PDF). ESA. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
- ^ a b c d ESA targets 2021 for Space Rider demo flight. Tereza Pultarova, Space News. 13 November 2018.
- ^ "Space Rider". ESA. ESA. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d Aeroshape Trade-Off and Aerodynamic Analysis of the Space-Rider Vehicle. (PDF) M. Marini, M. Di Clemente, G. Guidotti, G. Rufolo, O. Lambert, N. Joiner, D. Charbonnier, M.V. Pricop, M.G. Cojocaru, D. Pepelea, C. Stoica, and A. Denaro. 7th European Conference for Aeronautics and Space Sciences (EUCASS). 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Coppinger, Rob (11 April 2017). "The reusable spaceplane launched inside a rocket". BBC. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
- ^ New milestone in IXV development. ESA. 15 September 2010.
- ^ a b Henry, Caleb (30 November 2017). "ESA pours $107 million into Vega E and a reusable spaceplane". Space News. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (19 December 2017). "Virgin Galactic signs SpaceShipTwo research flight deal with Italian space agency". Space News. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
- ^ a b c Messier, Doug. "Announcement of Opportunity to Fly Payloads on ESA's Space Rider". Parabolic Arc. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- ^ a b Coppinger, Rob (22 June 2017). "ESA aims to privatize Space Rider unmanned spaceplane by 2025". Space News. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
- ^ Mission and GNC Challenges from IXV to Space Rider. Rodrigo Haya Ramos, Davide Bonetti. Research Gate. Conference: Fourteenth International Planetary Probe Workshop, At The Hague, The Netherlands. June 2017.
- ^ The reusable spaceplane launched inside a rocket. Rob Coppinger, BBC News. 11 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Conceptual Design of the Descent Subsystem for the Safe Atmospheric Re-Entry Flight of Space Rider. (PDF) doi:10.13009/EUCASS2017-624 Alessandro Balossino, Luciano Battocchio, Matteo Giacci, Giuseppe Guidotti, Giuseppe Rufolo, Angelo Denaro, Nicola Paletta. Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali. 2017.
- ^ Space RIDER. ESA Space Transportation. 10 April 2018,