Next Generation Launcher: CNES approach and associated Demonstration Logic
- Paper number
IAC-05-D2.5.01
- Author
Mr. Christophe Bonnal, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France
- Coauthor
Mr. Sylvain Guedron, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France
- Coauthor
Mr. Jean-Marc Astorg, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France
- Year
2005
- Abstract
The Next Generation Launcher, potential successor to Ariane 5 by 2025, is currently the subject of a very widely open trade-off. There are numerous solutions, depending mainly on the idea of the missions to be covered by such a system, some 20 years from now. The conventional ELVs are well apprehended: through the initiative ELV-2020, CNES is studying together with a large industrial team the various possibilities ranging from mere adaptations of Ariane 5 to more exotic solutions. Fully reusable RLVs, studied as a support to the ESA FLPP, show promising results with no show-stopper: solutions such as the Everest concept need to be refined in order to lower the development costs and increase the mission reliability, but seem very appropriate to a context implying a large number of flights to Low Earth Orbits. Interim solutions such as Semi-Reusable concepts may also play a major role in a step by step approach to RLVs: concepts such as Bargouzin, studied with our russian partners of Tsniimash, are feasible, affordable and could turn to be attractive in a Low Earth Orbit servicing scheme. In order to prepare efficiently the major orientation decisions expected by 2013-2015, CNES has prepared with its partners an important demonstration program, considering ground tests as well as in-flight demonstrators: - advanced turbo-pump technologies demonstrations are already on-going, with the TPTech and the TP-X currently under development, - cryogenic propulsion demonstrators are under definition, mainly with DLR, aiming at testing technologies for both Close Cycle engines and Low Cost ones; testing of New Generation Nozzles are also under definition, - demonstrations on advanced avionics and propulsive functional systems will be started in md-2006 - the first european glided reentry experiment, called Pre-X, is also well advanced, its phase B being decided and funded, aiming at a flight by 2008 In addition to these demonstrators, a very comprehensive demonstration program has been decided together with Roskosmos, dubbed OURAL, approuved in mid-March 2005. It consists in supporting system studies and macro-demonstrators, as generaic as possible for both ELVs and RLVs, proposed as federative Europeano-Russian efforts: - the Pre-X is included in this frame, - experimentation and demonstration of LOX-LHC propulsion, considering Staged Combustion Reusable engines started early this year, aiming at preliminary tests on a modified existing cryogenic engine, - a large sub-assembly dubbed Structure-X, merging new technologies for cryogenic tanks, including cold and hot insulations, and new generation complex structures, representative of future multi-engine thrust frames or wing boxes was kicked-off in january 2005, - last, a refliable experimental vehicle called FLEX is under study, its phase 0 currently runing up to mid-2006. It will enable to test and refly all the above mentionned new technologes, and gather an important experience on operations associated to reusability.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-D2.5.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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