 Artist's rendering of Space Rider spaceship | |
| Names | Space Reusable Integrated Demonstrator for Europe Return [2] |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Reusable spaceplane |
| Operator | ESA |
| Website | m |
| Mission duration | 60 days (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Space RIDER |
| Spacecraft type | Lifting body spaceplane |
| Manufacturer | Avio and Thales Alenia Space[1] |
| Launch mass | Approx. 4900 kg (Full stack AOM + RM, including fluids and propellants)[1] |
| Landing mass | up to 2850kg[1] |
| Payload mass | 600 kg (1,300 lb)[1] |
| Dimensions | Length: 8.044 m (26.39 ft) (Full stack AOM + RM)[1] |
| Power | 600 watts[3] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | Q3 2025 (planned)[4] |
| Rocket | Vega-C |
| Launch site | Guiana Space Centre |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| End of mission | |
| Landing site | Guiana Space Centre[1] |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
The Space Rider (Space Reusable Integrated Demonstrator for Europe Return) is a planned uncrewed orbital lifting body spaceplane aiming to provide the European Space Agency (ESA) with affordable and routine access to space.[5][6][7] Contracts for construction of the vehicle and ground infrastructure were signed in December 2020.[8] Its maiden flight is currently scheduled for the third quarter of 2025.[4]
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,[2][9] launched on 11 February 2015. The cost of this phase, not including the launcher, is at least US$36.7 million.[10] 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.[11]
- ^ a b c d e f g Cite error: The named reference
Space Rider programme manager updatewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Space RIDER PRIDE Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA) Accessed: 15 November 2018
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
SR Factsheetwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Richards, Bella (26 August 2023). "ESA's Space Rider likely to launch third quarter of 2025, program manager says". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
- ^ "Space Rider". esa.int. ESA. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
- ^ ESA's reusable Space RIDER capsule would carry equipment to orbit and back Michael Irving, New Atlas 6 June 2019
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
esa-20190605was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "ESA signs contracts for reusable Space Rider up to maiden flight". ESA. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Rider Aeroshape 2017was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
bbcwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ DLR (28 November 2019). "Launcher Programme Subscription" (PDF). DLR Countdown Newsletter Special Edition: 43.