Development Contracts Signed For Future European Launchers

ROCKET SCIENCE

ESA and NGL Prime S.p.A. of Italy sign two key contracts, 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). The contracts were signed by ESA's Director of Launcher Programmes, Antonio Fabrizi (on the left), and Axel Roenneke, CEO of NGL Prime S.p.A. Credits: ESA - S. Corvaja

by Staff Writers
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.

Email This Article

Blog This Article

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS
Solar Energy Solutions
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ...

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

ROCKET SCIENCE

DARPA And Australia Collaborate On Successful Hypersonic Flight Test

Arlington, VA (SPX) Jun 22, 2007
The 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).

ENERGY TECH PSE And G To Install More Energy Efficient Equipment Standards Body Appeals For World's Experts To Help Harness Renewable Energy From Waves and Tides GE Unit's First Investment In NY Wind Energy To Boost State's Wind Power By Over 70 Percent Southern Company And Georgia Tech Study Offshore Wind Power Potential	CIVIL NUCLEAR Russia Ratifies Deals On ITER Research Reactor Baltic And Polish Premiers To To Build A New Nuclear Power Plant Electricite de France In Running To Build Slovak Nuclear Plant Cooling Problem Halts Russian Nuclear Reactor
BLUE SKY Main Component For World Latest Satellite To Measure Greenhouse Gases Delivered AIRS Global Map Of Carbon Dioxide From Space Widespread Twilight Zone Detected Around Clouds Rand Says Further Study Warranted On Save The World Air Technology	WOOD PILE Scientists Close In On Missing Carbon Sink Indonesia Aims To Halve Haze-Causing Fires Researchers Demonstrate Way To Control Tree Height Human Activities Increasing Carbon Sequestration In Forests
FARM NEWS Organic Farms Provide A Clue For India's Struggling Farms Wines Knocked Into Carbon Reduction Banned Chinese GM Rice Protein Found In Dutch Shipment To Cyprus Down On The Virtual Farm With GrassGro 3	CAR TECH Lawmakers Urge US Recall Of Chinese-Made Tires Billionaire Hopes To Move Entire Plant From Brazil To China US Senate Clinches Fuel Economy Deal Hybrids Or Diesels A Tough Call For Nissan-Renault
AEROSPACE Too Little Scope For Development Of Current Aircraft Technology France Supports Cap On Airline Carbon Emissions F-35 Lightning 2 Pushing Ahead On All Fronts EU And US Launch Airline Pollution Initiative	NUCLEAR SPACE Could NASA Get To Pluto Faster? Space Expert Says Yes - By Thinking Nuclear NASA plans to send new robot to Jupiter Los Alamos Hopes To Lead New Era Of Nuclear Space Tranportion With Jovian Mission Boeing Selects Leader for Nuclear Space Systems Program

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