Project description
Investigating technologies for reusable vertical landing launch vehicles
Reusable launch vehicles are changing the global market of space transportation systems, promising to drive down the cost of access to space. Existing rockets use a vertical take-off and vertical landing launch and decelerate by firing their engines against the velocity vector, the so-called retropropulsion. The EU-funded RETALT project aims to investigate key technologies for retropropulsion reusable launch systems. The consortium will examine the aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics (in-flight surface temperatures) and flight dynamics during both the outward and return flight phases, as well as navigation and control. It will also explore structural components, materials and mechanisms of reusable rockets.
Objective
For Europe’s non-dependence, access to space is crucial. To foster the European industry competitiveness, the costs of the European launch systems need to be reduced and flexibility needs to be improved. The development of reusable launch vehicle (RLV) is currently changing the global market of space transportation systems and is promising immense cost savings. The only operational approach of RLV to date is the Vertical Take-off Vertical Landing launcher (VTVL), which is decelerating by firing its engines against the velocity vector, the so called retro propulsion. The know-how in the technologies of retro propulsion assisted landing in Europe is spares. In this project we aim to investigate and developed these technologies.
Therefore, the two main scientific and technological objectives of the RETALT project are:
• To investigate the launch system reusability technology of VTVL TSTO (Vertical Take-off Vertical Landing - Two Stage To Orbit) by applying retro propulsion combined with aerodynamic control surfaces that is currently dominating the global market.
• To investigate the launch system reusability technology of VTVL SSTO RLV (Vertical Take-off Vertical Landing - Single Stage To Orbit) applying retro propulsion for future space transportation systems.
To meet these two main project objectives of the project, described above, two reference launch vehicle configurations will be defined:
• A configuration similar to the SpaceX rocket “Falcon 9” that will be the reference for the state-of-the-art TSTO RLV.
• A configuration similar to the DC-X that will serve as a reference for a VTVL SSTO.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.2.1.6. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies – Space
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.2.1.6.1. - Enabling European competitiveness, non-dependence and innovation of the European space sector
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
RIA - Research and Innovation action
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-SPACE-2018-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
51147 KOLN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.