F R 1 2 - 9 6

Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 12/96 LIFTING BODY OR CAPSULE? by Wolfgang Engelhardt Even after giving up the Hermes space vehicle program, Europe does not want to give up the idea of its own vehicle for astronauts. The European space organization ESA is currently evaluating the technical and financial feasibility of developing a simple capsule to transport astronauts and material to and from the space station. Since September of this year, Aérospatiale, MAN-Technologie, and Alenia are working on the definition of such an astronaut shuttle. The plans are now becoming complicated. The American NASA has invited ESA to take part in a separate study for a so called "astronaut life boat" since the Russian Sojus capsules are not suitable for this mission. The result of this 90-day study is now on the table and forces ESA now to make technical, organizational, and financial decisions. The Americans want to use a so called lifting body for their crew rescue vehicle. This concept was already theoretically and practically tested by NASA in the sixties. It is an aircraft-like design with short delta wings which make the vehicle controllable when entering the atmosphere and during the landing approach. One result of the joint study is the limited possibility to combine both concepts. The problem is that the Americans are setting a fast pace to have the "life-boat" available from the beginning of space station operation. However, the machinery in Europe turns slower. Long-term conceptional and financial decisions can not be made at the extent the Americans would like them to be. Also, ESA would switch from its favored capsule concept to the lifting body technology. The next ESA meeting in December is to make the decision whether the cooperation with the US in this project will be continued. The first extensive study phase continuing until the spring of 1997 would require 100 to 150 million Marks. However, the ESA council granting these funds is doubtful. Only the next ESA minister conference in the beginning of 1998 will be able to make a final decision on the development of the "life-boat" together with the Americans. The vehicle needs to be available beginning in the year 2002. The costs for Europe would be around three billion Marks. Much will also depend on NASA's agreement to the astronaut vehicle. A strictly European vehicle would make sense if not only European men and material would be carried with it. The USA should agree on a joint usage of the vehicle, US astronauts would have to fly on board this system to the space station, launched with an Ariane 5. NASA obviously wants to convince its European partner of the industrial political and financial advantages of a cooperation in the lifting body technology. On the other hand, neither the Space Shuttle nor the Sojus capsule are reliable and efficient enough to render a third means of transportation superfluous. The ESA delegates are facing difficult political, technical, and financial considerations. From page 44 of FLUG REVUE 12/96 Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 12/96 Copyright 1996 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved. Last updated November 19, 1996