13.04.2019
On 11 April 2019, Spain’s PLD Space, supported by ESA, demonstrated the recovery of the first stage of their orbital microlauncher, Miura 5, in a first step towards reusability.
A Chinook CH-47 helicopter carried the 15 m long 1.4 m diameter Miura 5 demonstration booster to an altitude of 5 km. It was then dropped over a controlled area of the Atlantic Ocean, 6 km off the coast of Huelva in southern Spain. Three parachutes were released to slow down the booster during the descent.
Spain’s PLD Space, supported by ESA, has demonstrated the technologies for a reusable first stage of their orbital microlauncher, Miura 5.
Miura 5 (formerly Arion 2) is aimed to provide dedicated launches for small satellites of up to 300 kg to low Earth orbit, in 2021. It weighs 14 t at liftoff, and is powered by liquid oxygen–kerosene engines.
This drop test was carried out yesterday from El Arenosillo Experimentation Center in Spain.
A Chinook CH-47 helicopter lifted the 15 m long 1.4 m diameter Miura 5 demonstration first stage to an altitude of 5 km then dropped it over a controlled area of the Atlantic Ocean, 6 km off the coast of Huelva in southern Spain.
During the descent, electronic systems inside the demonstrator controlled a carefully timed release of three parachutes to slow it down until its splashdown at a speed of about 10 m/s.
On 11 April 2019, Spain’s PLD Space, supported by ESA, demonstrated the recovery of the first stage of their orbital microlauncher, Miura 5, in a first step towards reusability.
A Chinook CH-47 helicopter carried the 15 m long 1.4 m diameter Miura 5 demonstration first stage to an altitude of 5 km. It was then dropped over a controlled area of the Atlantic Ocean, 6 km off the coast of Huelva in southern Spain. The demonstrator released three parachutes to slow down its descent before splashdown.
A team of divers recovered the demonstrator and hoisted it onto a tugboat, which returned to the port of Mazagón. The demonstrator looks in good shape and will now be transported to PLD Space, in Elche, for inspection and further analysis.
A team of divers recovered the demonstrator and hoisted it onto a tugboat, which returned to the port of Mazagón. The demonstrator looks to be in good shape and will now be transported to PLD Space, in Elche, for inspection and further analysis.
The same parachute system will also be used on their Miura 1 suborbital microlauncher, on track for a first launch this year.
In a next step, PLD Space intends to develop a propulsive landing system in addition to the parachutes.
These technologies are being developed with support from ESA's Future Launchers Preparatory Programme.
Quelle: ESA