Updates Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV)

[RGClark]

Is there an advantage to using a lifting body rather than just a capsule with the thermal protection only on the bottom?
There might be an advantage to return upper or lower stages for reuse since the roughly cylindrical shape of this design, or of the similar Japanese HYFLEX, could be used to return stages of a launcher for reuse.


Bob Clark

 

[Loru]

Is there an advantage to using a lifting body rather than just a capsule with the thermal protection only on the bottom?

Crossrange

 

[Pipcard]

An evolution of the IXV?

PRIDE-ISV (Program for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator in Europe - Innovative Space Vehicle)

(slightly larger images came from here; also note that this is not recent news)

 

[Scruce]

The spacecraft was originally due to launch today, but according to the ESA's website and the Spaceflight Now Launch Schedule, it has been postponed to February 4th, 2015.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

The spacecraft was originally due to launch today, but according to the ESA's website and the Spaceflight Now Launch Schedule, it has been postponed to February 4th, 2015.

This happened because someone at CNES failed to do the necessary range safety analysis of the Vega rocket and only realized that at the very last moment... :dry:

 

[Thunder Chicken]

As it stands now, one official said, France must accept the idea that with Vega, Italy has led development of a vehicle that at least in principle resembles an intercontinental ballistic missile. “Some people don’t like that,” this official said.

Yeah, the Italians might start lobbing ICBMs at France?

Is this for real? This was quoted off Spaceflightnews, not the Onion.

 

[Fabri91]

Yes, missiles filled with Gorgonzola space cheese. :blink:
Damn, was looking forward to this launch...hope that the reason wasn't so petty, though.

 

[Urwumpe]

Yeah, the Italians might start lobbing ICBMs at France?

Is this for real? This was quoted off Spaceflightnews, not the Onion.

France, the country that constantly managed to find excuses for letting the European launch vehicle development program be abused for building better SLBMs for their Force de Frappe and which still produces much more Plutonium than Iran...

But I can imagine it... it has the taste of modern French European politics. Which is like the British one with more smiling.

 

[Ravenous]

Yeah, the Italians might start lobbing ICBMs at France?

Should make it a heck of a lot cheaper to book a restaurant from now on...

 

[ISProgram]

You're kidding, right? France helped make Vega (right?) and NOW they're concerned that it's essentially a ICBM? Also, to quote the article:

Vega is a four-stage vehicle whose three lower stages are solid-fueled, meaning two fully loaded solid-propellant tanks will be overflying French Guiana in the early minutes of the IXV flight.

It's done this before...Or is it overflying a populated area because of its different flight trajectory, and French Guinea is NOT referring to the launch complex?

 

[Fabri91]

I'd imagine that Ariane's SRBs coupled with a nearly-full tank of cryogenic propellants poses much less of a safety risk, then.

 

[Ravenous]

I guess the solid upper stages are worse because they would still be full if the whole thing failed and came down. Liquid upper stages would at least be "emptied" by popping holes in the tanks (the range safety guys detonate small charges on the exterior).

At least that's how I think it works...

 

[Urwumpe]

I guess the solid upper stages are worse because they would still be full if the whole thing failed and came down. Liquid upper stages would at least be "emptied" by popping holes in the tanks (the range safety guys detonate small charges on the exterior).

At least that's how I think it works...

Well, you have to differ a lot there. SRBs for example are not filled with high explosive. While they are capable of burning even without oxygen from outside, they have a very defined combustion behaviour.

The simplest way to stop a SRB from producing thrust is simply punching more than one hole into it. You can either eject combustion gases into the opposite direction or simply reduce the chamber pressure to the point that thrust doesn't matter any more and the combustion ceases by removing the heat from the fire triangle (If the combustion gases have room to expand in a vacuum, the temperature of the burning fuel drops rapidly)

The worst kind of accident that I remember with SRMs is the Brazilian VLS disaster. But the Pershing II accident in Germany 1985 was also pretty grave - but as you notice: Accidents with SRMs are rare. But when they happen, they have power.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Just 5 days away from the other big "re-entry and landing" event this month! :thumbup:

More info on final approach once I find the time to write about.... :tiphat:

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

So as chances go, we now got 2 splashdowns and one barge landing inside 15 hours....

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

And it's still go for launch at this time. :tiphat:

Weather forecast for Kourou, French Guiana on February 11, 2015 (10 a.m.)

Showers in the morning, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High around 30C. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 km/h. Chance of rain 40%.

Time|Temps|Dew Point|Relative Humidity|Precip|Snow|Cloud cover|Pressure|Wind|Weather
10 AM|28°C|23°C|78%|37%|0%|56%|1014 hPa|11 km/h E|

Chance of Rain

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

....and in video:

Not to be beaten by a certain company that ends with X, ESA's recovery ship is ready too:

 

[Fabri91]

Today's the day citing from SFN: "The launch window opens at 1300 GMT (8 a.m. EST) and extends for an hour and 43 minutes, allowing plenty of time for any inclement weather to clear. "

 

[orb]

Live coverage is starting at Arianespace TV.

Link for external video player: http://wpc.58D2.edgecastcdn.net/hls-live/2058D2/arianespace/GBHD/VT_GBHD,450,1000,.m3u8

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Holding at T-4 minutes due to ground system issue. Window extends to 14:43 UTC.