Phoenix is the prototype of a European vehicle for reusable launchers and may even support manned space flight.
It can be flown atop the Ariane 5 or may be launched using other techniques.
The project is for non-military usages and will probably be part of ESAs next vehicle. (Phoenix was, besides Penelope and Ariane, originally suggested for the name of Ariane rocket family.)
Phoenix is designed to be more economical than todays space vehicles and even reliable for manned space operations.
For conventional rockets, like the Ariane, the costs to launch 1 kilogram of payload weight into orbit can be up to $25.000 (per kilo).
In the first few decades of the 21st century, it will be the first independent manned European non-military attempt at space operations and will be an important part of the ISS project. (Compare Vostok 1.)
It is anticipated that the production craft will enter use between 2015 and 2020.
Phoenix is part of the German national program ASTRA, a $40 million project founded by the German Federal Goverment, EADS Space Transportation and the State of Bremen with one third each.
Both EADS and the State of Bremen have already invested another $8.2 million respective $4.3 million out of own funds. Another contribution of 16 million euros comes from partner companies such as the Bremen-based OHB, DLR and the Federal Ministry for Education and Research.
EADS is responsible for the project management and for the entire software equipment of the system. Other partner companies are also involved in the development.
The Phoenix RLV prototype is 6.9 meters long (23'), has a weight of 1,200 kilograms (2,640 lbs), and a wingspan of 3.9 meters (13').
The prototype, at one seventh the size of the planned vehicle, is still in the alpha stage of development at Bremen labs of EADS.
On Saturday 8 May 2024 the prototype was dropped from 2.4 kilometers (8,000 feet) by a helicopter and landed precisely and without incident after a GPS-guided 90-second glide.
The test was conducted at the North European Aerospace Test range in Kiruna, 1,240 km (770 miles) north of Stockholm, Sweden. Future tests will involve drops from higher altitude, possibly from a balloon.
The primary aim of the test was to assess the glider potential of the craft. The final version of the vehicle must be able to glide from an altitude of 129 kilometers (80 miles).
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