{"id":1200,"date":"2020-03-16T11:57:48","date_gmt":"2020-03-16T11:57:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/horizon.peachpuff-wolverine-566518.hostingersite.com\/?p=1200"},"modified":"2020-03-16T11:58:21","modified_gmt":"2020-03-16T11:58:21","slug":"the-mission-to-build-a-reusable-launcher-for-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/1200\/the-mission-to-build-a-reusable-launcher-for-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"The mission to build a reusable launcher for Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The race is on to develop a European reusable rocket that can ensure Europe’s autonomous and cost-effective access to space while increasing the sustainability of launches.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Launch vehicles \u2013 or rockets \u2013 are essential to deliver satellites and space probes into space. Once they\u2019ve served their purpose, they\u2019re typically disposed of. But with the annual number of new satellites expected to grow\u00a0four-fold in the next decade<\/a>, researchers are now developing more sustainable, less costly reusable launchers.<\/p>\n

The first reusable launch system \u2013 where some or all components are recovered \u2013 was NASA’s Space Shuttle, in use from 1981 – 2011. All of its parts were reused except for the external fuel tank which would burn up in the atmosphere. But maintenance costs were high, which led to the view that it was cheaper to use expendable systems.<\/p>\n

Ansgar Marwege from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and his colleagues think that reusable rockets can be cost effective if they are landed upright. \u2018The Space Shuttle was very complex, because it had wings and so on,\u2019 said Marwege. \u2018With a vertical landing, you want to make that all simpler.\u2019<\/p>\n

One of the advantages of landing upright is that the load during take-off and landing is similar, which is easier in terms of design. Although more fuel is required for the descent compared to other landing configurations due to braking manoeuvres, Marwege says that it would have little impact on the overall cost since fuel is relatively cheap.<\/p>\n

Marwege and his team \u2013 along with other research and industry partners \u2013 are investigating the key technologies necessary to land a launcher vertically after a mission as part of the\u00a0RETALT<\/a>\u00a0project. They are looking at landing a rocket by using retro-propulsion, where the vehicle is decelerated by generating thrust in the opposite direction to its motion. They will also examine how to steer a vehicle during landing. Since the base of a rocket is expected to heat up, one of the project partners is designing thermal protection out of cork.<\/p>\n

Launchers<\/strong><\/p>\n

The team has concepts for two different types of launchers. One is a heavy lift launcher that can carry a payload of up to 14,000 kg, like a weather forecasting satellite, to an orbit about 36,000 km above the Earth\u2019s surface. The second design is for smaller payloads of up to 500 kg that need to be transported to distances of up to about 140 km. \u2018This configuration could theoretically be used for zero gravity experiments or demonstrator flights,\u2019 said Marwege.<\/p>\n

So far, the researchers have started on all the technical work such as initial designs of the landing legs. In the next year, they will conduct structural tests and wind tunnel experiments to test the aerodynamic behaviour using scaled-down models of their launchers. One experiment will test the rocket motors in the wind tunnel using hot combustion, which is challenging and not often done. Using hot gases, however, better mimics how motor power is generated in real life.<\/p>\n

In addition to reducing costs, Marwege and his colleagues expect their technologies to have a positive environmental impact. Expendable systems create debris when they break up in the atmosphere, where some parts fall to the ground while others remain in space. Reusable systems will pollute the environment and space less, according to Marwege.<\/p>\n

Currently, in Europe, there are no launchers available to get small satellites in orbit.<\/p>\n

When a small satellite needs to be transported to space, it typically hitches a ride on a heavy launcher with a bigger satellite. But that means that the departure date and the orbit are chosen by the contractor sending the larger load.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s like a bus that leaves (the small satellite) a little bit far from their orbit so they need a propulsion system to go to their desired orbit,\u2019 said Xavier Llairo, the co-founder and COO of Pangea Aerospace in Barcelona, Spain.<\/p>\n

Service<\/strong><\/p>\n

A launch service for small satellites is currently offered by the American-New Zealander company: Rocket Lab. Although it allows for a tailored service, it\u2019s more expensive than ride-sharing on a heavy launcher. And Europe is set on having its own small launchers so it can control its access to space. \u2018It\u2019s important for geostrategic reasons,\u2019 said Llairo. \u2018And because it\u2019s a new market it would be great to create growth and give opportunities in Europe.\u2019<\/p>\n

For a project called\u00a0RRTB<\/a>, Llairo and his team are aiming to create a small launcher that is cost effective and can be reused at least ten times. They are developing a novel landing system using electric ducted fans, a propulsion system currently used in drones and UAVs. It allows for a soft and precise landing, which is important if the system will be reused.<\/p>\n

\u2018The technology is already proven and exists in other sectors so it\u2019s not very expensive,\u2019 said Llairo.<\/p>\n

The main engine isn\u2019t used to land which limits thermal stress and increases reusability.<\/p>\n

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\u2018We believe that (sustainability) is the way to go in this market.\u2019<\/p>\n

Xavier Llairo, Pangea Aerospace in Barcelona, Spain<\/p>\n

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The project, which kicked off last month, is now looking at how to make the fuel tanks reusable since they are expensive components of a launcher. The team is also starting to investigate how to control the vehicle during re-entry into the atmosphere by doing simulations. It\u2019s a challenging part of the mission due to the weight and high speed of the launcher and will require either generating some lift or finding a way to slow down the vehicle. \u2018We are analysing different scenarios and we’ll choose the most promising one,\u2019 said Llairo.<\/p>\n

In addition to transporting small satellites into space for scientific, commercial and civil uses, Llairo thinks that some of their components could have other applications too. The lightweight aerospike engines they are developing, for instance, could also be adapted as propulsion systems for satellites in space. And their landing system could be used to deliver relief to disaster areas. \u2018Right now, you have planes with a parachute to land (supplies) but our system could be used to have a more precise landing,\u2019 said Llairo.<\/p>\n

Having less of an environmental impact is one of their goals too. Apart from the greener credentials earned by being reusable, the rocket will use liquid oxygen and liquid methane as propellants, where 80% of the emissions will simply be water. And their aerospike engines should be about 15% more efficient than current designs. \u2018We believe that (sustainability) is the way to go in this market,\u2019 said Llairo. \u2018In 10 or 20 years from now, it will be absolutely common.\u2019<\/p>\n

The research in this article was funded by the EU. If you liked this article, please consider sharing it on social media. <\/em><\/p>\n

Published by Horizon<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The race is on to develop a European reusable rocket that can ensure Europe’s autonomous and cost-effective access to space while increasing the sustainability of launches. Launch vehicles \u2013 or rockets \u2013 are essential to deliver satellites and space probes into space. Once they\u2019ve served their purpose, they\u2019re typically disposed of. But with the annual … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":318,"featured_media":1201,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"generate_page_header":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-space"],"yoast_head":"\nThe mission to build a reusable launcher for Europe - Horizon Magazine Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/1200\/the-mission-to-build-a-reusable-launcher-for-europe\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The mission to build a reusable launcher for Europe\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The race is on to develop a European reusable rocket that can ensure Europe’s autonomous and cost-effective access to space while increasing the sustainability of launches. 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By Jonathan O\u2019Callaghan For decades, we have been littering space with\u00a0decommissioned satellites and rocket parts orbiting our planet. Now\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Space"","block_context":{"text":"Space","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/space\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1195,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/1195\/docking-rendezvous-and-newtons-third-law-the-challenge-of-servicing-satellites-in-space\/","url_meta":{"origin":1200,"position":1},"title":"Docking, rendezvous and Newton\u2019s third law \u2013 the challenge of servicing satellites in space","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"March 10, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by\u00a0Jonathan O\u2019Callaghan If you want to build or fix something in space, you might think you\u2019d need a human to do it. But what if you didn\u2019t? What if robotic spacecraft could be used to refuel satellites in orbit, add new instruments to outdated machinery and even build entire structures\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ICT"","block_context":{"text":"ICT","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/ict\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Satellite-fixing robots could revive the more than 3,000 dead satellites in orbit today. Image credit \u2013 Pxhere, licenced under CCO","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/03\/atmoshere-sm.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/03\/atmoshere-sm.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/03\/atmoshere-sm.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/03\/atmoshere-sm.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/03\/atmoshere-sm.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2346,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2346\/in-booming-satellite-market-micro-rockets-are-the-next-big-thing\/","url_meta":{"origin":1200,"position":2},"title":"In booming satellite market, micro-rockets are the next big thing","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"April 10, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"More and more miniature satellites are being launched every year, driving up demand for smaller rockets. By\u00a0\u00a0GARETH WILLMER Contemporary life would hardly be possible without satellites. Much of what people do on Earth today relies heavily on what\u2019s happening high above their heads \u2013 from monitoring wildfires, deforestation and sea-surface\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Space"","block_context":{"text":"Space","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/space\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/04\/10-spacex--scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/04\/10-spacex--scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/04\/10-spacex--scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/04\/10-spacex--scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/04\/10-spacex--scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/04\/10-spacex--scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":747,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/747\/fleets-of-autonomous-satellites-to-coordinate-tasks-among-themselves\/","url_meta":{"origin":1200,"position":3},"title":"Fleets of autonomous satellites to coordinate tasks among themselves","author":"Rex Merrifield","date":"March 27, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Space missions have long benefited from some autonomous operations being carried out aboard spacecraft, but with a sharp increase expected in the number of satellites being launched in the next few years, researchers are using automation and artificial intelligence to make them smarter and more effective. Technology firms and researchers\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Space"","block_context":{"text":"Space","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/space\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Image credit - Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/03\/summer-clouds-atlantic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/03\/summer-clouds-atlantic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/03\/summer-clouds-atlantic.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/03\/summer-clouds-atlantic.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/03\/summer-clouds-atlantic.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/03\/summer-clouds-atlantic.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2970,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2970\/space-researchers-build-traffic-light-system-to-warn-of-dangerous-solar-storms\/","url_meta":{"origin":1200,"position":4},"title":"Space researchers build traffic light system to warn of dangerous solar storms","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"January 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Researchers have created an improved traffic light system for predicting geomagnetic storms. They are now testing how well these algorithms can prepare us for incoming space storms that can wreak havoc by knocking out satellites in space and power grids on Earth. By Jonathan O\u2019Callaghan Yuri Shprits, a space scientist\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Space"","block_context":{"text":"Space","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/space\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Geomagnetic storms in space can wreak havoc on Earth by knocking out satellites and power grids. \u00a9 Elena11, Shutterstock.com","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/24.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/24.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/24.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/24.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/24.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/24.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":297,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/297\/microsatellite-swarms-could-paint-clearer-picture-of-our-planet\/","url_meta":{"origin":1200,"position":5},"title":"Microsatellite swarms could paint clearer picture of our planet","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"May 28, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Gareth Willmer Tiny, low-cost satellites that can work together to boost their output and a technology that reduces the loss of satellite data are two of the latest innovations to hit the Earth observation market \u2013 and the results promise to reveal a more detailed image of our planet.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Space"","block_context":{"text":"Space","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/space\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Microsatellites such as those developed by ICEYE not only reduce the size of the satellite but also cut costs significantly.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/05\/ICEYE-X1-bakeout-1600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/05\/ICEYE-X1-bakeout-1600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/05\/ICEYE-X1-bakeout-1600.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/05\/ICEYE-X1-bakeout-1600.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/05\/ICEYE-X1-bakeout-1600.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/05\/ICEYE-X1-bakeout-1600.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/318"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1200"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1200\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}