Space Rider

Names Space Rider
Mission type Reusable spaceplane
Operator ESA
Website Space Rider
End of mission
Landing site Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric

The Space Rider is a planned unmanned orbital spaceplane aiming to provide the European Space Agency (ESA) with affordable and routine access to space,[1] with a scheduled first launch in 2020.[2]

History

Funding was initially approved by the ESA in 2016, with the project being managed by CIRA.[3] Thales Alenia Space and Lockheed Martin were tasked with completing the design by 2019. In November 2017, the ESA provided funding to Thales Alenia Space and Avio to build reentry and service modules, respectively.[4] The Italian Space Agency subsequently contracted with Virgin Galactic for a suborbital research flight on SpaceShipTwo for research related to Space Rider.[5]

By 2025, the ESA plans to privatize the Space Rider, with Arianespace the likely operator.[6]

Design

The Space Rider design is based on the earlier Programme for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator in Europe (PRIDE) design,[3] and utilizes technologies from the sub-orbital Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle.[4] The spacecraft is expected to conduct two month missions in low earth orbit with up to 800kg of cargo.

Space Rider is to launch atop a Vega-C rocket from the French Guiana and land on a runway on Santa Maria Island, in the Azores.[6]

Specifications

  • Crew: None
  • Length: 2–5 m (6.6–16 ft)
  • Cargo: 800 kg (1,760 lb)
  • Max altitude: 800 km (500 mi)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Space Rider". ESA. ESA. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  2. ↑ Coppinger, Rob (13 June 2011). "Europe Aims to Launch Robotic Mini-Shuttle By 2020". SPACE.com. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  3. 1 2 Coppinger, Rob (11 April 2017). "The reusable spaceplane launched inside a rocket". BBC. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  4. 1 2 Henry, Caleb (30 November 2017). "ESA pours $107 million into Vega E and a reusable spaceplane". Space News. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  5. ↑ Foust, Jeff (19 December 2017). "Virgin Galactic signs SpaceShipTwo research flight deal with Italian space agency". Space News. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  6. 1 2 Coppinger, Rob (22 June 2017). "ESA aims to privatize Space Rider unmanned spaceplane by 2025". Space News. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
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