DREAM CHASER FOR EUROPEAN UTILIZATION (DC4EU): ESA PILOT PHASE

Paper number

IAC-16,D1,1,3,x33842

Coauthor

Ms. Andrea Jaime-Albalat, OHB System AG - Munich, Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Marco Berg, OHB System AG-Bremen, Germany

Coauthor

Mrs. Antonella Sgambati, OHB System AG-Bremen, Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Timo Stuffler, OHB System AG - Munich, Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Olson John, Sierra Nevada Corporation, United States

Coauthor

Mr. John Roth, Sierra Nevada Corporation, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Bernhard Hufenbach, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Coauthor

Dr. Andreas Borggräfe, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Marco Caporicci, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Coauthor

Dr. Dario Castagnolo, Telespazio, Italy

Year

2016

Abstract

As a response to the ESA “Call for Ideas for Strategic Partnership with the private sector in the field of ‎Space Exploration”, Sierra Nevada Corporation, OHB System AG and Telespazio jointly worked to develope the DC4EU Idea.‎


DC4EU enables:‎

•	An independent European access to LEO using the world’s only commercial runway-landing, ‎reusable, ‎lifting body spacecraft, Dream Chaser® (DC), ‎enabling full end-to-end European space ‎missions.‎

•	Uncrewed autonomous European LEO service ‎missions using European infrastructure, ‎systems, ‎launchers, control centers, and landing sites. ‎

•	‎Free-flight Space Utility Vehicle (SUV) platform for ‎multiple missions: scientific research, ‎technology ‎development, and operational demos (e.g. on-orbit ‎assembly, repair) and maturation ‎of European ‎capabilities for space exploration.‎

•	‎Pioneering pursuit of broader markets and ‎customers, fostering space as a major ‎economic ‎opportunity that delivers significant value to ‎Europe.‎


DC4EU was one of the 8 selected partnerships to start with a Pilot Phase within ESA. This paper ‎summarizes the key elements of this pilot phase, objectives, benefits for ESA and Europe, as well as ‎how international collaboration and New Space can join forces together towards LEO exploitation, post-‎ISS activities and exploration beyond LEO.‎

Abstract document

IAC-16,D1,1,3,x33842.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-16,D1,1,3,x33842.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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