Enabling & Support
12/12/2024 1views 0likes
In brief
ESA is charting the future of space transportation with the Pathfinder activity, an initiative to assess in detail how the business plan for the development of a very-heavy reusable launcher capable of delivering up to 60 tonnes of payload into low Earth orbit can be made sustainable in Europe. This bold step would ensure Europe’s autonomy, competitiveness and leadership in a rapidly evolving global space sector.
In-depth
ESA’s Ariane 6 and Vega-C rockets are poised to maintain Europe’s access to space as reliable workhorses for governments, academia and industry over the next years. However, as space exploration evolves beyond low Earth orbit (LEO) for both human and robotic missions, ESA is investigating steps to adapt. Important for this vision is the ‘Pathfinder Activity for a European Very-Heavy Reusable Launch System’ – an initiative to develop a credible and affordable business plan for a European very heavy reusable launcher capable of delivering up to 60 tonnes of payload into LEO.
ESA has looked into super-heavy lift vehicles before, up to the recent Protein study, but further detailed analysis is considered necessary, with the objective to identify the steps required for a sustainable business case of a potential future industrial development in Europe.
Why Europe needs a powerful reusable launch system
Ariane 6 liftoff
Ariane 6, ESA's latest heavy-lift launcher, will reliably and flexibly meet Europe’s space needs for the next decade. Yet its limitations beyond low Earth orbit pose challenges for longer-term goals in human and robotic exploration.
“Our goal is to work alongside Europe's top experts to develop credible pathways and investigate sustainable business plans” says Giorgio Tumino, ESA’s Space Transportation Chief Technical Advisor.
The reasons for such a reusable very heavy lift launch system are manifold, and the Pathfinder activity was conceived with five main objectives in mind:
Independence: Ensuring Europe’s autonomy in space exploration beyond LEO by reducing reliance on external providers.
Large-scale infrastructure: Enabling Europe to deploy large-scale infrastructure in LEO, advancing scientific, commercial and exploration goals.
Commercialisation: Unlocking the full potential of space exploitation for Europe through the establishment of consolidated business cases and plans.
Competitiveness: Reclaiming leadership in the global space market through innovative launch technologies.
Sustainability: Leveraging reusable systems to align with cost-efficiency and environmental goals.
Charting a sustainable path forward
Pathfinder activity European very heavy reusable rocket
The Pathfinder activity seeks to create a credible and sustainable roadmap for developing a very heavy reusable launcher based on a consolidated business case. Its primary focus is to answer two important questions: what industrial efforts and technological risks are needed to achieve this, and how these can be managed sustainably within Europe through a balanced public-private approach?
To answer these questions, the activity is structured around five interrelated tasks:
Consolidate use-cases and mission requirements, ensuring the system aligns with Europe’s strategic goals, including autonomy in space exploration and the deployment of large infrastructure into LEO.
A reference design will then be developed as a baseline framework for the launch system technical capabilities.
A technology and risk assessment will identify the technological needs, gaps and risks involved in creating such a system, guiding research priorities and reducing uncertainties.
Business cases and plans will be elaborated based on consolidated public-private risk-sharing models to distribute financial and operational responsibilities between institutional and commercial stakeholders.
Produce a comprehensive data package, including technical and programmatic information including risks, opportunities, planning and costs at completion to support informed decision-making.
The outcome of the activity will provide a comprehensive implementation plan covering the full scope of the very heavy reusable launch system, including infrastructure needs such as launch and landing facilities and industrial organisation.
“We rely on the collaboration of both established, legacy industry leaders and emerging players to achieve the perfect balance of proven expertise and fresh innovation, essential for the success of these activities,” adds Toni Tolker-Nielsen, ESA’s Acting Director of Space Transportation.
Next steps
The Pathfinder activity has garnered unanimous support from ESA States participating to the Human Space Transportation element of the Future Launchers Preparatory Programme including France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland and Spain.
Now, ESA is about to issue an Invitation to Tender (ITT) to award up to two parallel contracts worth €4 million each, fostering competition and innovation among European industrial stakeholders. The selected contractors will be requested to provide European pathways which include opportunities for the widest number of ESA Member States.
Securing Europe’s future in space
The European Reusable Launch System envisioned through the Pathfinder activity is more than a technical innovation – it is a strategic investment in Europe’s autonomy, competitiveness ensuring Europe a part of the future space economy.
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