Space Rider

Development of Space Rider is being led by the Italian Programme for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator in Europe (PRIDE programme) in collaboration with ESA, and is the continuation of the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) experience,[https://www.cira.it/en/space/accesso-allo-spazio-satelliti-ed-esplorazione/pride/Space%20Rider%20PRIDE Space RIDER PRIDE] Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA) Accessed: 15 November 2018 launched on 11 February 2015. The cost of this phase, not including the launcher, is at least US$36.7 million. At the ESA Ministerial Council held in Seville in November 2019, the development of the Space Rider was subscribed by the participating member states with an allocation of €195.73 million.{{Cite journal |last=DLR |date=28 November 2019 |title=Launcher Programme Subscription |url=https://www.dlr.de/rd/PortalData/28/Resources/dokumente/publikationen/countdown/Countdown39_hires.pdf |journal=DLR Countdown Newsletter Special Edition |pages=43}}

The European Space Agency has a program called Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP), which made a call for submissions for a reusable spaceplane.[https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/New_milestone_in_IXV_development New milestone in IXV development] ESA 15 September 2010 One of the submissions was by the Italian Space Agency, that presented their own Programme for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator in Europe (PRIDE programme) which went ahead to develop the precursor called Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) and the resulting Space Rider.

This qualification flight of Space Rider will take place in 2027. On completion of the two-month long maiden mission, Space Rider will return to Earth with the payloads stowed in its cargo bay. The maiden flight will be followed by several missions to demonstrate a range of capabilities and orbits, before handing over the project to the private sector.[https://spacenews.com/esa-targets-2021-for-space-rider-demo-flight/ ESA targets 2021 for Space RIDER demo flight] Tereza Pultarova, SpaceNews 13 November 2018 By 2025, the ESA plans to privatise the Space Rider, with Arianespace the likely operator.{{cite news |last1=Coppinger |first1=Rob |date=22 June 2017 |title=ESA aims to privatize Space RIDER unmanned spaceplane by 2025 |url=http://spacenews.com/esa-aims-to-privatize-space-rider-unmanned-spaceplane-by-2025/ |access-date=19 December 2017 |publisher=SpaceNews}}

• Funding was initially approved by the ESA in 2016, with the project to be led by the Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA).{{cite news|last1=Coppinger|first1=Rob|title=The reusable spaceplane launched inside a rocket|url=http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170411-the-reusable-spaceplane-launched-inside-a-rocket|access-date=19 December 2017|publisher=BBC|date=11 April 2017}} Thales Alenia Space and Lockheed Martin were tasked with completing the design by 2019.

• In November 2017, the ESA approved funding to Thales Alenia Space and Avio to build reentry and service modules, respectively.{{cite news|last1=Henry|first1=Caleb|title=ESA pours US$107 million into Vega E and a reusable spaceplane|url=http://spacenews.com/esa-pours-107-million-into-vega-e-and-a-reusable-spaceplane/|access-date=19 December 2017|publisher=SpaceNews|date=30 November 2017}}

• Activities for Phase-B2/C, covering the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) started on 25 January 2018.[https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/space-rider.htm Space RIDER] Gunter's Space Page

• In April 2018, ESA released an Announcement of Opportunity (AoO) to fly small payloads on Space Rider's maiden flight.{{cite web |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2018/04/12/announcement-opportunity-fly-payloads-esas-space-rider/|title=Announcement of Opportunity to Fly Payloads on ESA's Space RIDER|publisher=Parabolic Arc|first=Doug |last=Messier|date=12 April 2018 |access-date=23 August 2018}} By June 2019, the project was advancing towards the Critical Design Review (CDR) at the end of 2019.

• The Critical Design Review (CDR) began in late 2019. In late November 2019, the project was fully approved by ESA and will be funded mostly by Italy,[https://spacenews.com/italy-satisfied-with-outcome-of-esa-ministerial/ Italy satisfied with outcome of ESA ministerial] Jeff Foust, SpaceNews 29 November 2019[https://www.science.org/content/article/europe-gives-space-programs-big-boost Europe gives space programs a big boost] Daniel Clery, Science 28 November 2019. An industrial reorganisation followed the ESA Ministerial Council held in 2019. To deal with it a design bridging phase was put in place with the System CDR planned in mid-2022.{{cite web |last1=Parsonson |first1=Andrew |title=ESA Space Rider update from programme manager Dante Galli |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-space-rider-update-from-programme-manager-dante-galli/ |website=European Spaceflight |access-date=14 February 2022 |ref=Space Rider programme manager update |date=14 February 2022}}

• In December 2020, ESA signed contracts with co-prime contractors Thales Alenia Space and Avio for delivery of the Space Rider flight model, which in turn manage a consortium of more than 20 European companies operating in the space sector. The Italian Space Agency (ASI) subsequently contracted with Virgin Galactic for a suborbital research flight on SpaceShipTwo for research related to Space Rider.{{cite news|last1=Foust|first1=Jeff|title=Virgin Galactic signs SpaceShipTwo research flight deal with Italian space agency|url=http://spacenews.com/virgin-galactic-signs-spaceshiptwo-research-flight-deal-with-italian-space-agency/|access-date=19 December 2017|publisher=SpaceNews|date=19 December 2017}}

• On June 20 2023, the Space Rider programme proceeded into Phase D of its development, allowing qualification and production to commence.{{cite web |last1=Parsonson |first1=Andrew |title=ESA's Space Rider Spacecraft Reaches Key Milestone |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/esas-space-rider-spacecraft-reaches-key-milestone/ |website=European Spaceflight |access-date=12 September 2023 |ref=Space Rider Spacecraft Reaches Key Milestone |date=20 July 2023}}

• In early August 2024, the first parafoil guided landing tests were performed in Sardinia by dropping a full-scale model from a helicopter.{{cite web |title=ESA Completes First Drop Test for Reusable Space Rider Spacecraft |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-completes-first-drop-test-for-reusable-space-rider-spacecraft/ |publisher=European Spaceflight |access-date=24 February 2025}}
• In November 2024, Portugal Space announced that the island of Santa Maria has been chosen as the landing site for the inaugural flight of Space Rider.{{Cite web |last=Parsonson |first=Andrew |date=2024-11-09 |title=Santa Maria to be Landing Site of Inaugural Space Rider Flight |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/santa-maria-to-be-landing-site-of-inaugural-space-rider-flight/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en-US}}
• In December 2024, Beyond Gravity has delivered the ALEK structure, a component of the service module, to Avio.{{Cite web |last=Parsonson |first=Andrew |date=2024-12-23 |title=Beyond Gravity Delivers Key Elements of ESA's Space Rider Vehicle |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/beyond-gravity-delivers-key-elements-of-esas-space-rider-vehicle/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en-US}}

• In January 2025, the main structure of the first service module was delivered for testing in the Netherlands, ahead of its inaugural flight later in the year.{{cite web |title=Avio Ships Space Rider Service Module Structure for Testing |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/avio-ships-space-rider-service-module-structure-for-testing/#:~:text=Space%20Rider's%20Reusable%20Re%2Dentry%20Module&text=The%20test%20was%20completed%20in,ground%20for%20a%20soft%20landing. |publisher=European Spaceflight |access-date=24 February 2025}}
• In February 2025, CIRA has announced the successful qualification of Space Rider’s body flaps.{{Cite web |last=Parsonson |first=Andrew |date=2025-02-26 |title=CIRA Qualifies Key Element of Space Rider's Thermal Protection System |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/cira-qualifies-key-element-of-space-riders-thermal-protection-system/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en-US}}
• In April 2025, the ALEK (AVUM Life Extension Kit) structure has finished its mechanical tests, qualifying for launch.{{Cite web |title=Space Rider’s smart ALEK passes bumpy, noisy, shocking testing |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Space_Rider/Space_Rider_s_smart_ALEK_passes_bumpy_noisy_shocking_testing |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}

The Space Rider design inherits technology developed for the earlier Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle, also within the Programme for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator in Europe (PRIDE). The design team considered the trade-offs of using only a lifting body and also using optional wings or vertical fins.[https://www.eucass.eu/doi/EUCASS2017-416.pdf Aeroshape Trade-Off and Aerodynamic Analysis of the Space RIDER Vehicle] M. Marini, M. Di Clemente, G. Guidotti, G. Rufolo, O. Lambert, N. Joiner, D. Charbonnier, M.V. Pricop, M.G. Cojocaru, D. Pepelea, C. Stoica, and A. Denaro, 7th European Conference for Aeronautics and Space Sciences (EUCASS) 2017 It was then decided in 2017 that the design should optimise the internal volume of the Vega rocket fairing, so its aerodynamic shape will be a simple lifting body, as tested on its predecessor, the IXV. 3-axis control is achieved by the use of rear flaps.

Space Rider will have the potential to allow experiments in microgravity, such as exposure of materials to outer space and in-orbit validation of technologies, as well as deployment of small satellites.

Space Rider is designed to launch atop the Vega-C+ launch vehicle from Guiana Space Centre, utilizing the new P160C first stage due to mass requirements.The spacecraft is being designed to conduct missions up to two months long in low Earth orbit with up to 600 kg of cargo.{{cite web |url=https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/space_transportation/Space_Rider_factsheet_HiRes_ok.pdf|title=SPACE RIDER|publisher=ESA|access-date=2018-11-16}} The re-entry module itself is a testbed for entry technologies as the IXV precursor was, so future improvements are envisioned,[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319980436_Mission_and_GNC_Challenges_from_IXV_to_Space_Rider Mission and GNC Challenges from IXV to Space RIDER] Rodrigo Haya Ramos, Davide Bonetti, Research Gate Conference: Fourteenth International Planetary Probe Workshop, The Hague, The Netherlands June 2017 including point-to-point flights, even "space tourism".

Space Rider's service module is a modified version of the Vega-C AVUM+, which will extend the time that can be spent in orbit by at least two months before Space Rider returns with its cargo to Earth to land on the ground.[https://phys.org/news/2018-11-focus-vega.html Focus on Vega developments] European Space Agency Published by PhysOrg on 26 November 2018 The Vega C Avum+ upper stage is upgraded with the addition of the AVUM Life Extension Kit (ALEK), developed by Beyond Gravity, which includes the two deployable solar wings.{{Cite web |last=Parsonson |first=Andrew |date=2024-12-23 |title=Beyond Gravity Delivers Key Elements of ESA's Space Rider Vehicle |url=https://europeanspaceflight.com/beyond-gravity-delivers-key-elements-of-esas-space-rider-vehicle/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=European Spaceflight |language=en-US}} The service module will provide power, attitude control and deorbit capability, and it will separate from the spacecraft just before atmospheric reentry.{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Space_Rider_Europe_s_reusable_space_transport_system |title=Space Rider: Europe's reusable space transport system |work=ESA |date=5 June 2019 |access-date=9 April 2022}}

File:X-38 Landing (cropped).jpg for landing, as used by the NASA X-38 in 1999.]]

Upon atmospheric entry, the lifting body shape will decelerate the spacecraft to subsonic speed (below Mach 0.8), when one or two drogue parachute will be deployed at about 15–12 km altitude to slow it further (to Mach 0.18 - 0.22)[https://www.eucass.eu/doi/EUCASS2017-624.pdf Conceptual Design of the Descent Subsystem for the Safe Atmospheric Re-Entry Flight of Space RIDER] {{doi|10.13009/EUCASS2017-624}} Alessandro Balossino, Luciano Battocchio, Matteo Giacci, Giuseppe Guidotti, Giuseppe Rufolo, Angelo Denaro, Nicola Paletta, Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali 2017 Then, a controllable gliding parachute called parafoil will be deployed to begin the controlled descent phase for a nearly horizontal touchdown (≈35 m/s) using no wheels. The landing concept is similar to the NASA X-38 landing system.

The baseline landing site is the Guiana Space Centre. For orbits with inclination >37°, landings could be performed at the Portuguese Santa Maria Island in the Azores archipelago.

'RM' is reentry module, 'AOM' is the service module.

{{Portal|Spaceflight}}

• Boeing X-37, a winged spaceplane by the U.S. Air Force
• RLV-TD, similar project being developed by ISRO
• Dream Chaser, a private lifting body spaceplane developed by Sierra Nevada Corporation
• Hermes (spaceplane), CNES/ESA spaceplane concept from 1975
• SUSIE, a 2022 ArianeGroup proposal for a reusable, crewed, spacecraft
• List of spaceplanes
• List of European Space Agency programmes and missions

• [https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/edu/Space_Rider_Payload_Cargo_Bay_User_Guide.pdf Official User Guide], ESA. v2.0, December 2023

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