IXV space plane returned to Earth

February 11 The European Space Agency (ESA) conducted a успешные Test autonomous space plane IXV (Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle).

Running implemented from Kourou in French Guiana at 13.40 GMT. UAV successfully separated from the launch vehicle Vega at 15.59 at an altitude of 333 km, then rose to a height of 412 km, flew across the Atlantic Ocean, Europe, Asia, spent braking maneuvers and began the descent.

Wedge-shaped unit planned in the atmosphere before releasing the parachute and drive in the Pacific Ocean about 3000 km west of the Galapagos Islands. Flight took about 100 minutes.



Balloons with air kept the unit before the arrival of the evacuation of the vessel.



Such devices may in the future perform transportation, says ESA. Within a few hours they are able to deliver the goods at a given point on the globe. Research is being conducted as part of an international program PRIDE (Programme for Reusable In-Orbit Demonstrator for Europe).

The wedge-shaped space plane has a size of approximately from the truck 5 and 5 m in length and 2, two in width. All - 0, 5 tonnes without cargo, 1, 9 tons with cargo.



The bottom side is covered with a protective layer of carbon fiber panels woven into the ceramic matrix. One of the main goals of yesterday's experiment was to see how the bottom of the coating behaves when entering the Earth's atmosphere (at an altitude of 120 km speed unit was 7, 5 km / c). For this purpose it have built in over 300 sensors. Engineers will soon remove them and analyze evidence.

By the way, along with IXV successfully coped with the test light and the 30-meter carrier rocket Vega, for which it was only the fourth run. Maximum payload of the rocket is 2 m. The carrier may take satellites into polar orbit at an altitude of 700 km. The estimated cost of the launch - $ 4-5 million.



Design, construction and related work on the project IXV cost of € 150 million. The project involved 40 European companies. The project budget Vega - € 700 million (involving seven countries, 65% of the budget accounted for Italy).

Source: geektimes.ru/post/245742/