Euorpe's mini space shuttle returns

[hab...@anony.net]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31421200

Europe's mini-space shuttle returns
11 February 2015 Last updated at 15:25 The IXV 'spaceplane' could
provide Europe with a new, re-useable space transportation system

A prototype for a versatile mini-spaceplane has successfully completed
its first test flight, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.

The IXV spaceplane resembles a smaller, robotically controlled version
of the US space shuttle and could provide Europe with a new,
re-useable space transportation system.

It blasted off on a Vega rocket from South America just after 13:40
GMT.

The test could inform future technology for landing payloads on Mars.

The test vehicle flew east around the globe, before splashing down in
the Pacific Ocean at about 15:20 GMT.

The wedge-shaped IXV (Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle) is designed
to gather information on how space objects fall back to Earth.

Commenting on the launch, Esa director-general Jean Jacques Dordain
said: "It couldn't have gone better."

"But the mission itself is not over because now it is necessary to
analyse all the data gathered during the flight."

At the time the craft re-entered the atmosphere, it was moving at
7.5km/s. As it pushed against the air, the temperatures on its leading
surfaces soared to 1,700C.

Flaps and thrusters controlled the trajectory, ensuring the IXV came
down close to a recovery ship some 3,000km west of the Galapagos
Islands.

The IXV is an Italian-led project within Esa. The vehicle is 5m long
and and weighs almost two tonnes
A parachute system deployed in the very late stages of the flight put
the two-tonne vehicle gently in the water. Floatation balloons came
out to stop it from sinking.

Europe's expertise on re-entry technologies is more limited than, say,
the US's or Russia's - something it wants to change with the help of
the IXV.

Esa's project manager Giorgio Tumino told BBC News: "Europe is
excellent at going to orbit; we have all the launchers, for example.
We also have great knowhow in operating complex systems in orbit. But
where we are a bit behind is in the knowledge of how to come back from
orbit.

"So, if we are to close the circle - go to orbit, stay in orbit, come
back from orbit - we need to master this third leg as well as other
spacefaring nations."

Esa has already approved a follow-on spacecraft, which looks very
similar in design to the X-37B mini shuttle, which is operated by the
American military.

However the X-37B is a classified programme, so no-one is quite sure
what missions are flown by this unmanned craft.

The Pride follow-on is expected to fly in space by 2020 Future
technologies could find their way into rocket stages that fly back to
a runway after use