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. Space Rider will have the potential to allow experiments in microgravity, such as exposure of materials to outer space and in-orbit validation of technologies, as well as deployment of small satellites. Its maiden flight is currently scheduled for Q1 2028. It is intended to be put into space by the Vega C medium lift launch vehicle.
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, launched on 11 February 2015. The cost of this phase, not including the launcher, is at least US$36.7 million. 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 â¬195.73 million.
The European Space Agency has a program called Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP), which made a call for submissions for a reusable spaceplane. One of the submissions was by the Italian Space Agency, that presented their own Programme for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator in Europe (PRIDE programme) which went ahead to develop the precursor called Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) and the resulting Space Rider. By 2025, the ESA plans to privatise the Space Rider, with Arianespace the likely operator.
The qualification flight of Space Rider is scheduled for Q1 2028. On completion of the two-month long maiden mission, Space Rider will return to Earth with the payloads stowed in its cargo bay. The maiden flight will be followed by several missions to demonstrate a range of capabilities and orbits, before handing over the project to the private sector.
The Space Rider design inherits technology developed for the earlier Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle, also within the PRIDE programme. The design team considered the trade-offs of using only a lifting body and also using optional wings or vertical fins. It was then decided in 2017 that the design should optimise the internal volume of the Vega rocket fairing, so its aerodynamic shape will be a simple lifting body, as tested on its predecessor, the IXV. A 3-axis control during reentry is achieved by the use of rear flaps.
Space Rider is designed to launch atop the Vega-C+ launch vehicle from Guiana Space Centre, utilizing the new P160C first stage due to mass requirements.The spacecraft is being designed to conduct missions up to two months long in low Earth orbit with up to 600 kg of cargo. The re-entry module itself is a testbed for entry technologies as the IXV precursor was, so future improvements are envisioned, including point-to-point flights, even space tourism.
Space Rider's service module is a modified version of the Vega-C AVUM+, which will extend the time that can be spent in orbit by at least two months before Space Rider returns with its cargo to Earth to land on the ground. The Vega C Avum+ upper stage is upgraded with the addition of the AVUM Life Extension Kit (ALEK), developed by Beyond Gravity, which includes the two deployable solar wings. The service module will provide power, attitude control and deorbit capability, and it will separate from the spacecraft just before atmospheric reentry.
Upon atmospheric entry, the lifting body shape will decelerate the spacecraft to subsonic speed (below Mach 0.8), when one or two drogue parachute will be deployed at about 15âÂÂ12 km altitude to slow it further (to Mach 0.18 - 0.22) Then, a controllable gliding parachute called parafoil will be deployed to begin the controlled descent phase for a nearly horizontal touchdown (âÂÂ35 m/s) using no wheels. The landing concept is similar to the NASA X-38 landing system. The baseline landing site is the Guiana Space Centre. For orbits with inclination >37ð, landings could be performed at the Portuguese Santa Maria Island in the Azores archipelago.
ESA's General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) is supporting the development of a 12U CubeSat technology demonstrator called Space Rider Observer Cube (SROC) which is intended to fly aboard Space Rider on its maiden flight and once in orbit, to test various technologies and manoeuvres for small satellite proximity operations, optical navigation, inspection, and rendezvous and docking. The CubeSat will include a miniaturised docking adapter and retractable solar panels. SROC is being built by an Italian consortium of Tyvak International, Politecnico di Torino, University of Padova, and Stellar Project.
'RM' is reentry module, 'AOM' is the service module.