STATUS OF NEW GENERATION EXPENDABLE LAUNCHER CONCEPTS WITHIN THE FLPP PROGRAM
- Paper number
IAC-08.D2.4.4
- Author
Mr. Yann Letourneur, NGL Prime S.p.A, Italy
- Coauthor
Mr. Joerg Krueger, EADS Space Transportation GmbH, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Mauro Balduccini, ELV S.p.A., Italy
- Coauthor
Mr. Didier Pinard, Astrium Space Transportation, France
- Coauthor
Mr. Frederic Leleu, NGL Prime SpA, Italy
- Year
2008
- Abstract
In the framework of the preparation of the next generation of launchers to be developed in Europe, the European Space Agency (ESA) has contracted NGL Prime and his industrial team to conduct system and stage design and programmatics analyses for two types of launchers: • An alternative/complementary launcher to Ariane 5, based on available propulsion “building -blocks”, to be operational by 2015, • A Next Generation Launcher (NGL) that will replace Ariane 5 at its withdrawal from operational service by 2020-25. The design reference missions include a 5 metric tons performance requirement into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), to meet the European institutional need, with the increased capability to 8 metric tons into GTO by the addition of solid boosters, to meet the commercial market needs. In a first step, a series of trade-offs were conducted to select the concepts that best fit the requirements of the NGL and “building-block” launcher options, in terms of propulsion (thrust level, engine characteristics), propellant choice (hydrogen, methane or solid propellants), launcher architecture (with or without strap-on boosters, bi or three stages architecture). In a second step, more detailed analyses were carried out in term of thermo-mechanical design, functional architecture, as well as in term of versatility capacity, i.e. the capability of the launcher to perform different missions than the reference ones. Consistently with this technical activity, a programmatic evaluation was consolidated by the industrial team. This paper details the outcomes of the activity carried out during this second step targeting at selecting one or two concepts. The paper will also give an overview and first results of the follow-on contract in which selected NGL concepts are being further investigated, in the prospect of creating a new European launcher family encompassing versions dedicated to the institutional needs and the commercial market (reference missions), as well as some versions dedicated to more demanding institutional missions (heavy low orbit payload insertions or escape missions) based on a Common Core Booster approach.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.D2.4.4.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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