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Airbus unveils 'Adeline' re-usable rocket concept Airbus unveils 'Adeline' re-usable rocket concept
(about 3 hours later)
Airbus, which leads the production of Europe's Ariane rocket, has developed a concept that could make future vehicles partially re-usable.Airbus, which leads the production of Europe's Ariane rocket, has developed a concept that could make future vehicles partially re-usable.
Code-named "Adeline", the system would see a booster's main engines fly themselves back to Earth after a launch.Code-named "Adeline", the system would see a booster's main engines fly themselves back to Earth after a launch.
The returned elements would then be refurbished and put on another mission.The returned elements would then be refurbished and put on another mission.
Airbus says it has been working on the concept since 2010 and has even flight-tested demonstrators. Airbus says it has been working on the concept since 2010 and has even flight-tested small demonstrators.
The European aerospace giant is in a fierce battle to defend the market position of Ariane, which has launched roughly half of all the large telecommunication satellites in orbit today. Reporters were let into the Ariane production centre at Les Mureaux on the outskirts of Paris on Friday to inspect them.
Competitors such as America's SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) are both working towards making their rockets re-usable - an approach that is expected to drive down prices across the industry. The European aerospace giant is in a fierce multi-billion-dollar battle to defend the market position of Ariane, which has launched roughly half of all the large telecommunication satellites in orbit today.
Competitors such as America's SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) are also working towards making their rockets re-usable - an approach that is expected to drive down prices across the industry.
Airbus has recently begun development of its next-generation Ariane, and, in the present design, the recovery of components is not envisaged. But the company says the Adeline concept could be grafted on to this vehicle in due course.Airbus has recently begun development of its next-generation Ariane, and, in the present design, the recovery of components is not envisaged. But the company says the Adeline concept could be grafted on to this vehicle in due course.
Indeed, the firm's engineers believe the basic Adeline idea could be incorporated into any launcher, however big or small. "The current design for Ariane 6 is fixed. For its maiden flight in 2020, it will not change," explained Francois Auque, the head of space systems at Airbus Defence and Space.
"But it is normal that in parallel we should think about the evolution of Ariane 6, because if we don't do it now we won't be in a position to fly those evolutions in say 2025 or 2030."
The firm's engineers believe the basic Adeline idea could be incorporated into any liquid-fuelled launcher, however big or small.
It takes the form of a winged module that goes on the bottom of the rocket stack.It takes the form of a winged module that goes on the bottom of the rocket stack.
Inside are the main engines and the avionics - the high-value parts on all rockets.Inside are the main engines and the avionics - the high-value parts on all rockets.
The module would lift the mission off the pad in the normal way but then detach itself from the upper-stages of the rocket once the propellants in the tanks above it were exhausted. The module would be integral to the job of lifting the mission off the pad in the normal way, but then detach itself from the upper-stages of the rocket once the propellants in the tanks above it were exhausted.
The Adeline module's next step would be re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. For this, it would have a protective heat shield on its bulbous nose.The Adeline module's next step would be re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. For this, it would have a protective heat shield on its bulbous nose.
At a certain point in the descent, Adeline would pull up using its small winglets, and steer itself towards a runway.At a certain point in the descent, Adeline would pull up using its small winglets, and steer itself towards a runway.
Small deployable propellers would aid control as it essentially operated like a drone to find its way home.Small deployable propellers would aid control as it essentially operated like a drone to find its way home.
Airbus is talking about having the Adeline system in service by 2025, five years after the planned maiden flight of its new Ariane 6. The ambition is that an evolution of Ariane 6 would use the system. The recovered engines and avionics could then be serviced and readied for the next launch.
If that were the case, early calculations suggest that a 30% saving in the cost of Ariane production could be achieved. Herve Gilibert, a chief technical officer at Airbus Defence and Space, told BBC News that Ariane engines could be re-flown perhaps 10-20 times.
California's SpaceX is currently trialling its rocket recovery system on its launches from Florida. Its methodology is slightly different from Airbus. It is looking to bring back the entire first-stage booster, propellant tanks and all. "We have the conviction that we will generate savings for one given launch on the order of 20-30%, which will make us highly competitive."
In the past year, SpaceX has got the first-stage of its Falcon rocket very close to making a controlled, vertical return to a floating barge. Naturally, there is a penalty in the performance of the rocket overall because mass is being taken up only to be flown back down again. But Mr Gilibert said this was maybe as little as 10%.
ULA is going for an alternate model, too. The Boeing and Lockheed Martin joint venture, which launches America's military and spy satellites, as well as Nasa science missions, is working on a new rocket called Vulcan. California's SpaceX is currently trialling its rocket recovery system on launches from Florida. Its methodology is slightly different to the Airbus one. It is looking to bring back the entire first-stage booster, propellant tanks and all.
In the past year, SpaceX has got the first-stage of its Falcon 9 rocket very close to making a controlled, vertical return to a floating barge.
ULA is going for an alternate model, too. The Boeing and Lockheed Martin joint venture, which launches America's military and spy satellites, as well as many Nasa science missions, is working on a new rocket called Vulcan.
This would detach its engines and protect them with a heat shield on re-entry, similar in that sense to Adeline. But ULA's idea is for a helicopter to catch the engines in mid-air as they are parachuted towards the Earth's surface.This would detach its engines and protect them with a heat shield on re-entry, similar in that sense to Adeline. But ULA's idea is for a helicopter to catch the engines in mid-air as they are parachuted towards the Earth's surface.
Rocket companies have talked for years about making their traditionally expendable rockets wholly or partially re-usable. And people will remember that the space shuttle was designed so that many segments could be recycled. Rocket companies have talked for years about making their traditionally expendable rockets wholly or partially re-usable. And people will remember that the space shuttle was designed as a recyclable system. But the complexities of refurbishing the vehicle swamped any savings. The shuttle main engine - an engineering marvel - contained 50,000 parts.
But the complexities of refurbishing the vehicle ready to fly again swamped any savings. The shuttle main engine - an engineering marvel - contained 50,000 parts.
To realise significant economies, all the rocket players - Airbus, SpaceX and ULA - will have to avoid this trap.To realise significant economies, all the rocket players - Airbus, SpaceX and ULA - will have to avoid this trap.
They will also have to get satellite operators comfortable with the idea of launching their precious hardware on what would essentially be second-hand systems. These operators will not embrace the developments if they think reliability is being compromised.They will also have to get satellite operators comfortable with the idea of launching their precious hardware on what would essentially be second-hand systems. These operators will not embrace the developments if they think reliability is being compromised.
Airbus says it has spent perhaps 15m euros so far on its reusable technology programme, and plans now to push ahead with an even bigger demonstrator.
The company is in the process of turning over Ariane manufacturing to a joint venture with French engine maker Safran, and it is this new commercial entity that will determine whether Adeline becomes reality.
The same will be true for other evolutions. Engineers also have an idea for how the upper-part of Ariane 6 could be modified to link up with space tugs that are kept permanently in orbit.
Ariane would deliver satellites and fuel to these tugs, which would then carry out the business of placing the spacecraft in their correct slots on the sky.
The tactic could work to reduce the size of satellites and the rockets needed to get them off the Earth.
Europe's next-generation rocket - the Ariane 6Europe's next-generation rocket - the Ariane 6
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmosJonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos