Updates Advanced Reentry Vehicle (ESA)

[SiberianTiger]

Advanced Reentry Vehicle activities begin with contract signature

ARV would provide ESA with the means of undertaking complete space transportation missions, from launch to landing, using the International Space Station (ISS) as its initial destination. Launched on an Ariane 5, the ARV would have a forward section to return payloads to Earth. This concept could then be used as a basis for developing a crew return vehicle.

 

[garyw]

Isn't this the fourth time ESA has come up with the idea of a crewed space vehicle? Hermes was the last one and that went nowhere.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Isn't this the fourth time ESA has come up with the idea of a crewed space vehicle? Hermes was the last one and that went nowhere.

Did they sign a contract for building Hermes with anyone?

 

[garyw]

Yes.

The French national space agency CNES awarded the prime industrial contract to Aerospatiale in October 1985.

Source: http://www.astronautix.com/craft/hermes.htm

 

[Dig Gil]

I thought they already used the Soyuz, for that didn't they?

 

[SiberianTiger]

Yes.

The French national space agency CNES awarded the prime industrial contract to Aerospatiale in October 1985.

Source: http://www.astronautix.com/craft/hermes.htm

There is a difference between the current states Hermes in 1985 and the ARV in 2009 - the ATV is already a real flying vehicle. They only have to add it on with a reentry capsule.

 

[Urwumpe]

There is a difference between the current states Hermes in 1985 and the ARV in 2009 - the ATV is already a real flying vehicle. They only have to add it on with a reentry capsule.

And the reentry capsule will come - for unmanned payloads. The question is just if the manned capability (Full ECLSS) will also come.

 

[SiberianTiger]

1985 is a long time ago.
I thought they already used the Soyuz, for that didn't they?

Sorry, what do you mean? The flights of Jean-Loup Chrétien, perhaps? But that Soyuz (T-6) was not a French vehicle, regardless of any view upon it.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

I hope this vehicle gets further than a drawing on a piece of paper, this time.

It would be great if the ESA had their own method for launching humans into space.

ESA certainly has the expertise, what is lacking is the funding....

 

[Ark]

Hopefully they can actually do it this time. The ESA is long overdue for developing their own crewed space vehicle.

 

[Notebook]

I wonder if this is part of the developement?

http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEMJNO916XF_index_0.html

Edit:- seems it is, maybe I should read my own posts...

N.

 

[Notebook]

Bit more help for ATV

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8161395.stm

Space cone, Space truck, whats next...?
N.

 

[Urwumpe]

The space trucker!

 

[Notebook]

Of course, it just has to be!

Haven't seen this before, unless I have and they chaged the name?

http://www.esa.int/esapub/bulletin/bulletin128/bul128h_tumino.pdf

Edit: False alarm, I have seen it before. It was the Kiruna landing site that threw me.
Have to wait for Vega before they proceed, I suppose.


N.

 

[Moonwalker]

It would be great if the ESA had their own method for launching humans into space.

ESA certainly has the expertise, what is lacking is the funding....

Yes. ESA actually is a terrifying small agency if we talk about budget and employees. But I hope and I have no doubt that Europe will go into space manned on its own in the long term. ESA definitely has the expertise.

Too bad NASA and ESA don't join to go to the Moon and Mars.

 

[Urwumpe]

Is a different project it seems, closer in the configuration to a early payload return study for the ATV.

---------- Post added at 10:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:25 AM ----------

Yes. ESA actually is a terrifying small agency if we talk about budget and employees.

ESA only has 3 times more funding than the Russians, but only 33% of the funding of NASA... yeah, terrible small for trying to be like NASA.

 

[Notebook]

I think we've all seen this before, but its still a good animation.

http://www.esa.int/esa-mmg/mmg.pl?collection=&mission=&keyword=+--%3E+Keyword&idf=SEMWAF9FTLF&Ic=on&Vc=on&Ac=on&Gc=on&subm3=GO

Wonder why they are going for a Pacific splashdown, rather then Kiruna as planned?

N.

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: Europe's re-entry capsule to build upon ATV experience:

PRAGUE -- European officials say developing a re-entry module for its conceptual two-way space station cargo freighter would best position the continent for future human spaceflight applications, but its realization will depend on budget decisions starting late this year.

The European Space Agency plans to request approval from its member states by the end of this year for continued participation in the International Space Station through 2020 and further development of an Advanced Re-Entry Vehicle.

...

Instead of ordering more copies of the ATV, the agency is proposing development of the ARV with the ability to return supplies and pressurized equipment, a significant need for the station after next year's retirement of the space shuttle.

The ARV would include a shielded capsule designed to withstand the heat of atmospheric re-entry and return cargo to Earth.

The ARV could be ready for a demonstration flight by 2017 if ESA receives approval in 2012. Early requirements show it will carry at least 4,400 pounds of dry cargo to the station and return about 3,300 pounds.

...

Astrium's Phase A studies have identified several major upgrades required for the ATV system to support a return capsule bolted on the forward end of the spacecraft.

The ARV would be outfitted with ESA's new international docking and berthing mechanism, permitting it to dock with both the Russian and U.S. segments of the station. ATV missions are currently restricted to docking with the aft port of the Russian Zvezda service module.

Studies show the ATV's guidance and navigation systems can accomplish an approach and docking with the forward end of the complex, where space shuttles pull into port for their assembly and maintenance visits, according to Marco Caporicci, chief of human orbital transportation and the re-entry division in ESA's human spaceflight program.
...

[table="width=400"]

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Diagrams of the ARV and crewed capsule atop an Ariane 5 rocket. Credit: ESA|The ARV would splash down in the Atlantic Ocean near the Azores and the Canary Islands. Credit: Astrium/ESA[/table]​

BBC News: Decision needed on European space truck upgrade:

European countries will soon be asked if they wish to press on with design work to upgrade the ATV space truck.

The robotic craft takes supplies to the International Space station (ISS), but could be enhanced to return cargo to Earth and even carry a human crew.

...

Spaced trucks

The 20-tonne ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) flew a maiden voyage to the ISS in 2008. A second truck will launch next year.

The ship has sophisticated automatic rendezvous and docking technology - it can find its own way to the ISS and attach itself without any human intervention.

What it cannot do, however, is return to Earth at high speed through the atmosphere. At present, it simply burns to destruction.

An Advanced Re-entry Vehicle (ARV) would have that survivability. It could be a significant asset for the space station which, when the US space shuttle retires next year, will have limited means of getting heavy cargo - including science experiments - back to Earth.

Esa initiated a 21m euro feasibility study in 2009 to specify the basic requirements for an ARV. On the basis of that "phase A" work, officials now expect to go to member states to ask for 150m euros to develop the concept further.

Phase boundary

On the table for discussion currently is the idea that the procurement of two future ATVs be dropped in favour of getting the ARVs flying before the end of the decade.

And with the chance that ISS operations could yet be extended deep into the 2020s, there would then be ample time to exploit the new capability.

"If I get 'phase B' approval by the end of the year or the beginning of next year, I can then present an informed proposal for 'phase C/D', the development phase, at the next Ministerial [Council of Esa]," Simonetta Di Pippo, Esa's director of human spaceflight, told BBC News.

"In that way, I can be confident to launch ARV by 2018. But for sure, what we want to do is re-use to the maximum extent possible our expertise on ATV. It is a unique spacecraft."
...

ARV would have a conical re-entry capsule and a more capable service module.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Link removed by author - was posted previously.

 

[orbitingpluto]

:woohoo:
I really like the Pegase addon, and seeing that it may happen for real is too joyous for words! Good luck ESA!