• Home
  • Current congress
  • Public Website
  • My papers
  • root
  • browse
  • IAC-06
  • D2
  • 5
  • paper

    • Future launcher roadmap technological demonstrator activities in cnes programme

    Paper number

    IAC-06-D2.5.05

    Author

    Mr. Sylvain Guedron, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France

    Year

    2006

    Abstract
    Since several years, an important work was performed in Europe and especially in France to prepare the next future launcher generation that could be decided soon i.e. before the end of the decade for the early scenario.
In the mean time, the lack of significant launcher development programmes in Europe led to a tremendous problematic of competence maintaining.

To face these objectives, in 2004 CNES has initiated (and sometime reinforce) the development of technological demonstrators in the field of In-Flight Experimentation, Cryogenic Propulsion, Structure linked to propellant tank and its functional aspects.

The objectives of these demonstrators are to test at significant scale new technologies focusing on performance, reliability and robustness, cost decrease. An exploratory objective concerns also the life duration in the potential perspective of reusable launchers. The inputs considered for these demonstrators come from the system studies and mainly from the heritage of years of research and technology activities. 
Of course the synergy and coherence with Europe programme such as FLPP where France is the main contributor will be insure, considering also that all these demonstrators are performed in a bilateral or multi lateral cooperative way with European partners or non European ones.  

This paper will present the technological demonstrator roadmap up to 2010, included in an overall roadmap and will present the current status of these demonstrators that are:

Vulcain X that is a new technological support for future LOX/LH2 engine. In a first step the objective will be to develop and test at Vulcain Engine Scale the power pack that will include several new generation subsystems currently in development: a LH2 turbo pump (TP-X), a Gas Generator (GGP-X), electrical valves. The functional domain will correspond to Vulcain 2 engine but soft transient phases and throttling will be tested. The tests are planned to be started by end of 2007. 
In a second step other subsystem could be added to the power pack and integrated at engine level (engine Vulcain X) and tested in 2010. In the mean time, some subsystem could take benefit from the ARTA campaign. This is the case for the new Sandwich Nozzle Extension developed by Sweden. 

Structure X that is a technological integrator of upper stages as well as lower stages but focusing mainly on the tank subsystem and its insulation. The ELV and RLV technologies are addressed and as Structure X is a ground based demonstrator, some functional aspects could be considered in the demonstration if relevant.
The demonstrator is planned to be developed and test in 2010 in cooperation with Russia.
The functional aspects linked to an upper stage powered by the re-ignitable engine VINCI will be addressed through the frame of the demonstrator H-X. A close synergy will search between Structure-X and H-X   

Pre-X is an experimental vehicle initiated in 2001 and dedicated to mastering of glided atmospheric re-entry. The phase A was closed by end of 2005 and the phase B is currently on-going with the involvement of Germany and other European partners. The flight is expected by end of 2009.
The Pre-X project is supported by subsystem development support such as Shingle Generic whose tests are currently ongoing. 
An important effort is currently performed in order to insure the convergence between Pre-X project and FLPP IXV project. The goal is to have only one project at European level developed in the frame of an ESA programme.
Technically speaking, an important progress has already been performed and a great maturity is expected by end of 2006 using ESA and national contributions and allowing development commitment. 
 
All these topics will be addressed by the proposed paper
    Abstract document

    IAC-06-D2.5.05.pdf

    Manuscript document

    IAC-06-D2.5.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

    To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.