Space Rider

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Space Rider [1]
Space Rider ESA.jpg
Artist's rendering of Space Rider spaceship (RM on front,left, AOM behind,on right)
NamesSpace Reusable Integrated Demonstrator for Europe Return [2]
Mission type Reusable spaceplane
Operator ESA
Website m.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Space_Rider
Mission duration60 days (planned)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftSpace RIDER
Spacecraft type Lifting body spaceplane
Manufacturer Avio and Thales Alenia Space [1]
Launch massApprox. 4900 kg (Full stack AOM + RM, including fluids and propellants) [1]
Landing massup to 2850kg [1]
Payload mass600 kg (1,300 lb) [1]
DimensionsLength: 8.044 m (26.39 ft) (Full stack AOM + RM) [1]
Power600 watts [3]
Start of mission
Launch date2027 (planned)
Rocket Vega-C+
Launch site Guiana Space Centre
Contractor Arianespace
End of mission
Landing site Guiana Space Centre [1]
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth orbit
←  IXV

The Space Rider (Space Reusable Integrated Demonstrator for Europe Return) is a planned uncrewed orbital lifting body spaceplane aiming to provide the European Space Agency (ESA) with affordable and routine access to space. [4] [5] [6] Contracts for construction of the vehicle and ground infrastructure were signed in December 2020. [7] Its maiden flight is currently scheduled for 2027. [8]

Contents

Background

Development of Space Rider is being led by the Italian Programme for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator in Europe (PRIDE programme) in collaboration with ESA, and is the continuation of the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) experience, [2] [9] launched on 11 February 2015. The cost of this phase, not including the launcher, is at least US$36.7 million. [10] At the ESA Ministerial Council held in Seville in November 2019, the development of the Space Rider was subscribed by the participating member states with an allocation of €195.73 million. [11]

The European Space Agency has a program called Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP), which made a call for submissions for a reusable spaceplane. [12] One of the submissions was by the Italian Space Agency, that presented their own Programme for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator in Europe (PRIDE programme) which went ahead to develop the precursor called Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) and the resulting Space Rider. [2]

This qualification flight of Space Rider will take place in 2027. On completion of the two-month long maiden mission, Space Rider will return to Earth with the payloads stowed in its cargo bay. [13] The maiden flight will be followed by several missions to demonstrate a range of capabilities and orbits, before handing over the project to the private sector. [14] By 2025, the ESA plans to privatise the Space Rider, with Arianespace the likely operator. [15]

Timeline

Design

The Space Rider design inherits technology developed for the earlier Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle, also within the Programme for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator in Europe (PRIDE). [2] [10] [16] The design team considered the trade-offs of using only a lifting body and also using optional wings or vertical fins. [9] It was then decided in 2017 that the design should optimise the internal volume of the Vega rocket fairing, so its aerodynamic shape will be a simple lifting body, as tested on its predecessor, the IXV. [9] 3-axis control is achieved by the use of rear flaps. [9]

Space Rider will have the potential to allow experiments in microgravity, such as exposure of materials to outer space and in-orbit validation of technologies, as well as deployment of small satellites. [13]

Space Rider is designed to launch atop the Vega-C+ launch vehicle from Guiana Space Centre, utilizing the new P160C first stage due to mass requirements. [8] The spacecraft is being designed to conduct missions up to two months long in low Earth orbit with up to 600 kg [1] of cargo. [3] [27] The re-entry module itself is a testbed for entry technologies as the IXV precursor was, so future improvements are envisioned, [28] including point-to-point flights, even "space tourism". [10]

Service module

Space Rider's service module is a modified version of the Vega-C AVUM+, which will extend the time that can be spent in orbit by at least two months before Space Rider returns with its cargo to Earth to land on the ground. [29] The Vega C Avum+ upper stage is upgraded with the addition of the AVUM Life Extension Kit (ALEK), developed by Beyond Gravity, which includes the two deployable solar wings. [30] The service module will provide power, attitude control and deorbit capability, and it will separate from the spacecraft just before atmospheric reentry. [6]

Landing

Space Rider will use a controllable parafoil for landing, as used by the NASA X-38 in 1999. X-38 Landing (cropped).jpg
Space Rider will use a controllable parafoil for landing, as used by the NASA X-38 in 1999.

Upon atmospheric entry, the lifting body shape will decelerate the spacecraft to subsonic speed (below Mach 0.8), when one or two drogue parachute will be deployed at about 15–12 km altitude to slow it further (to Mach 0.18 - 0.22) [27] Then, a controllable gliding parachute called parafoil will be deployed to begin the controlled descent phase for a nearly horizontal touchdown (≈35 m/s) using no wheels. [27] The landing concept is similar to the NASA X-38 landing system. [27]

The baseline landing site is the Guiana Space Centre. [1] For orbits with inclination >37°, landings could be performed at the Portuguese Santa Maria Island in the Azores archipelago.

Preliminary specifications

'RM' is reentry module, 'AOM' is the service module.

Space RiderParameter/units
CrewNone (robotic only)
Length (RM+AOM)≥ 8.044 m (26.39 ft) [1]
- RM Length≥ 4.6 m (15 ft) [1]
- AOM Length≥ 3.5 m (11 ft) [1]
Payload volume≥ 1.2 m3 (1200 liters)
MassMax. 4,900 kg (10,800 lb) [1]
Payload mass620 kg (1,370 lb) [1]
Flight timeAt least 60 days [29]
Landing mass2,850 kg (6,280 lb) [1]
Landing accuracy150 m [27]
Landing speedsHorizontal: 35 m/s; vertical: 3 m/s [27]
Parachute deployment shock< 4 g [27]
Power600 watts [3]
Reusability6 flights [3]
Turnaround time<6 months [3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Parsonson, Andrew (14 February 2022). "ESA Space Rider update from programme manager Dante Galli". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Space RIDER PRIDE Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA) Accessed: 15 November 2018
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "SPACE RIDER" (PDF). ESA. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
  4. ↑ "Space Rider". esa.int. ESA. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  5. ↑ ESA's reusable Space RIDER capsule would carry equipment to orbit and back Michael Irving, New Atlas 6 June 2019
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Space Rider: Europe's reusable space transport system". ESA . 5 June 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "ESA signs contracts for reusable Space Rider up to maiden flight". ESA. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  8. 1 2 Parsonson, Andrew (25 January 2025). "ESA Member States to Vote on Future of Space Rider in November". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Aeroshape Trade-Off and Aerodynamic Analysis of the Space RIDER Vehicle M. Marini, M. Di Clemente, G. Guidotti, G. Rufolo, O. Lambert, N. Joiner, D. Charbonnier, M.V. Pricop, M.G. Cojocaru, D. Pepelea, C. Stoica, and A. Denaro, 7th European Conference for Aeronautics and Space Sciences (EUCASS) 2017
  10. 1 2 3 4 Coppinger, Rob (11 April 2017). "The reusable spaceplane launched inside a rocket". BBC. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  11. ↑ DLR (28 November 2019). "Launcher Programme Subscription" (PDF). DLR Countdown Newsletter Special Edition: 43.
  12. ↑ New milestone in IXV development ESA 15 September 2010
  13. 1 2 3 Messier, Doug (12 April 2018). "Announcement of Opportunity to Fly Payloads on ESA's Space RIDER". Parabolic Arc. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  14. ↑ ESA targets 2021 for Space RIDER demo flight Tereza Pultarova, SpaceNews 13 November 2018
  15. ↑ Coppinger, Rob (22 June 2017). "ESA aims to privatize Space RIDER unmanned spaceplane by 2025". SpaceNews. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  16. 1 2 Henry, Caleb (30 November 2017). "ESA pours US$107 million into Vega E and a reusable spaceplane". SpaceNews. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  17. ↑ Space RIDER Gunter's Space Page
  18. ↑ Italy satisfied with outcome of ESA ministerial Jeff Foust, SpaceNews 29 November 2019
  19. ↑ Europe gives space programs a big boost Daniel Clery, Science 28 November 2019
  20. ↑ Foust, Jeff (19 December 2017). "Virgin Galactic signs SpaceShipTwo research flight deal with Italian space agency". SpaceNews. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  21. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (20 July 2023). "ESA's Space Rider Spacecraft Reaches Key Milestone". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  22. ↑ "ESA Completes First Drop Test for Reusable Space Rider Spacecraft". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  23. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2024-11-09). "Santa Maria to be Landing Site of Inaugural Space Rider Flight". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
  24. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2024-12-23). "Beyond Gravity Delivers Key Elements of ESA's Space Rider Vehicle". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
  25. ↑ "Avio Ships Space Rider Service Module Structure for Testing". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  26. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2025-02-26). "CIRA Qualifies Key Element of Space Rider's Thermal Protection System". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Conceptual Design of the Descent Subsystem for the Safe Atmospheric Re-Entry Flight of Space RIDER doi : 10.13009/EUCASS2017-624 Alessandro Balossino, Luciano Battocchio, Matteo Giacci, Giuseppe Guidotti, Giuseppe Rufolo, Angelo Denaro, Nicola Paletta, Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali 2017
  28. ↑ Mission and GNC Challenges from IXV to Space RIDER Rodrigo Haya Ramos, Davide Bonetti, Research Gate Conference: Fourteenth International Planetary Probe Workshop, The Hague, The Netherlands June 2017
  29. 1 2 Focus on Vega developments European Space Agency Published by PhysOrg on 26 November 2018
  30. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2024-12-23). "Beyond Gravity Delivers Key Elements of ESA's Space Rider Vehicle". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
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