| SPACE TRAVEL | SPACE DAILY | SPACE WAR | TERRA DAILY | MARS DAILY | SPACE MART | GPS DAILY | ENERGY DAILY |
 |
Paris, France (ESA) Jun 28, 2007 This week, ESA signed two key contracts with NGL Prime S.p.A. of Italy, one for the definition of launcher system concepts for the European Next Generation Launcher and the other for the development of a European Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV). Both contracts are part of ESA's Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP), which aim is to develop and demonstrate the technologies for a Next Generation Launcher (NGL) for Europe, which is expected to become operational after 2020. A secondary aim is to enhance the reliability and competitiveness of European launchers, including those operational today. The contracts have a total value of more than 20 million euros and integrate key European competences and expertise in launcher and re-entry systems from 43 industrial and research organisations from 11 ESA member states. The launcher systems studies will prepare key technical and programme data for the ESA Ministerial Conference in 2008, when strategic decisions about future launcher development will be made. The studies will examine the different options that Europe could adopt for the NGL. In parallel, the IXV will demonstrate Europe's advanced re-entry technologies and integrated system design capabilities. The IXV reference mission calls for a lift off from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, aboard a Vega launch vehicle, followed by a fully automatically controlled re-entry, descent and landing in the Pacific Ocean. The IXV is scheduled to fly in 2010. The contracts were signed by ESA's Director of Launcher Programmes, Antonio Fabrizi, and Axel Roenneke, CEO of NGL Prime S.p.A. "These contracts are a very important step in preparing for future decisions on European next generation launchers and in the development of critical technologies for re-entry", underlined Antonio Fabrizi at the signing. NGL Prime S.p.A., a joint venture owned by EADS Astrium N.V. (70%) and Finmeccanica S.p.A. (30%), and located in Turin, Italy, was created in 2006 to act as the industrial prime contractor, managing the development and production of Europe's next generation launch systems. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Space at Finmeccanica EADS Astrium Rocket Science at ESA Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com
DARPA And Australia Collaborate On Successful Hypersonic Flight Test
Arlington, VA (SPX) Jun 22, 2007The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Australia's Defence Science and Technology Organisation announced that the Hypersonic Collaborative Australia/United States Experiment (HyCAUSE) program has successfully flown a hydrogen-fueled, axisymmetric, inward-turning scramjet engine. A two-stage Talos Mk-11/Castor 1 XM-33 sounding rocket lifted off June 15 from the Woomera Test Range in Southern Australia at approximately 12:05 pm. (local time).
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
