Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) atmospheric re-entry demonstrator, Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV), has reached the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, ahead of its planned launch in mid-November aboard the Vega rocket.

Planned to be launched by Arianespace, the IXV is designed to flight-test technologies and critical systems to aid in designing Europe’s new-generation re-entry vehicles.

It will reach an altitude of around 420km prior to its descent.

During its atmospheric re-entry, the spacecraft will use its aerodynamic shape, thrusters and two tail flaps and reach a speed of around 7.7km/s at an altitude of 120km, replicating as if returning from low-Earth orbit.

ESA IXV project manager Giorgio Tumino earlier said: "In this mission, we are not only monitoring the spacecraft all along its autonomous flight, but also tracking its progress back to Earth to a particular spot. This is different to what we are used to."

"We are not only monitoring the spacecraft all along its autonomous flight, but also tracking its progress back to Earth to a particular spot."

Earlier this year, the spacecraft was subjected to noise and vibration profiles, which it will experience at lift-off and the shock of separation from its rocket.

Tests conducted at the ESA’s Technical Centre in Noordwijk demonstrated IXV’s capabilities to withstand the challenging conditions of launch, the ESA said.

The guidance, navigation and control systems were also evaluated through a series of mission simulations, including the Mission Control Centre in Turin monitoring the telemetry.

The IXV vehicle design, development and integration works were carried out by Thales Alenia Space, which leads a consortium comprising European manufacturers, research centres and universities.

Image: The IXV is designed to flight test technologies and critical systems to aid in designing Europe’s new-generation re-entry vehicles. Photo: courtesy of Thales Group.

Defence Technology