Description du projet
Un véhicule spatial réutilisable pour la recherche scientifique et les applications commerciales dans l’espace à un prix abordable
La conception d’engins spatiaux réutilisables constitue l’un des moyens de rendre l’exploitation de l’espace plus accessible (et plus abordable). Le projet EARS, financé par l’UE, concevra un engin spatial réutilisable et peu coûteux. Plus précisément, ce véhicule spatial sera conçu pour être lancé en orbite terrestre basse afin de permettre diverses petites expériences et des activités de fabrication en microgravité pendant des périodes orbitales de plus d’un an. Une fois sa mission terminée, il reviendra sur Terre de manière autonome pour être réutilisé moyennant une remise en état minimale. Le véhicule spatial pourra se repositionner et effectuer une rentrée contrôlée. Après sa rentrée dans l’atmosphère, un parachute orientable sera déployé pour décélérer le véhicule spatial et assurer son atterrissage en douceur sur un site désigné.
Objectif
This program proposes to design and build a low-cost spacecraft capable of supporting a variety of small experiments for orbital periods potentially longer than a year. The vehicle is to be designed to operate and return to Earth autonomously, to be reusable with minimal refurbishment, and to be compatible with common launch vehicles secondary payload attachments. The spacecraft is based on a current microsatellite platform with the addition of a heat shield, a powerful propulsion system and a recover system. The spacecraft is launched in LEO and perform its mission, which can be IOD/IOV, microgravity scientific experiments, or commercial activities like microgravity manufacturing. Thanks to its own propulsion system the spacecraft can re-position itself and perform a controlled reentry. After reentry and when the vehicle slows to the designated Mach number, a drogue parachute will be deployed which will decelerate the vehicle to a condition permitting deployment of the steerable gliding parachute. Terminal descent on the main parachute is controlled so that the vehicle soft-lands at a designated landing site. The reusability feature has four main advantages:
- Recover of the payload for usage/inspection/analysis
- Possibility to reuse the satellite for different missions
- Possibility to abort a mission without loss of the payload
- Limited pollution, debris mitigation both on ground and in orbit
This platform follows the call indications as it deals with re-entry technologies, green propulsion, advanced GNC. Marketing surveys have indicated that there is considerable user interest for such a platform.
Champ scientifique
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringastronautical engineeringspacecraft
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technology
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesremanufacturing
Mots‑clés
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinateur
00185 Roma
Italie