The european launcher option for exploration

Paper number

IAC-06-D2.7.-A3.7.07

Author

Mr. David Iranzo-Greus, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), France

Coauthor

Mr. Christophe Talbot, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France

Coauthor

Mr. Christophe Chavagnac, EADS Astrium, France

Year

2006

Abstract

The year 2005 was a major milestone for the European Ariane 5 Heavy Lift Launcher with the full qualification of the most powerful version of the launch system to date featuring the ESC-A Cryogenic Upper Stage using the HM7-B engine. With this part of the growth potential of the Ariane System was demonstrated by injecting a payload mass well beyond 8 metric tons in GTO.

Considering the architecture of the current Launch System and existing building blocks, including solid or liquid propulsion system, French Space Agency CNES and two major contractors of the Ariane 5 System, EADS SPACE Transportation and SNECMA, assessed a set of options for Space Exploration applications. The alternatives investigated ranged from quite “limited” modifications to extensive redesign of the Launch System benefiting from European assets:

1. the most straightforward solution is to adapt the upper composite with a possible enhancement of the propulsion system of the Upper Stage benefiting from the Vinci demonstrator development ;

2. a further step is to envisage local modifications to the lower composite by adding additional solid boosters directly derived from the EAP currently operated ;

3. the most demanding alternative, but also the one with the highest performance, would imply an extensive redesign of the Launch System and its liquid stages relying on solid and liquid propulsion systems developed in Europe in the last decades.
 
The performance that could be reached for exploration missions ranges from a couple of metric tons to the Moon up to several tens of metric tons for Martian missions. The impact on both the ground segment and the launcher segment was evaluated. With such performance available, the “Space train”-like definition varies greatly depending on the end-user needs, e.g. the mission type, need for man-rating, etc... For the sake of the scenario, the volume available under the fairing was defined by comparison to orbital infrastructures’ historical data.

This paper will concentrate on a comprehensive overview of the investigated evolutions of the Ariane 5 System in a mid-term perspective. An indication of the possible related scenarios supporting Space Exploration over the next decades from a European perspective will be provided.

Abstract document

IAC-06-D2.7.-A3.7.07.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-D2.7.-A3.7.07.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.