ESA Announces Reusable Upper Stage Demonstrator Project angielski

The European Space Agency has published a call to begin work on a demonstrator of a reusable launch vehicle upper stage.

Published on 13 March, the call outlines a project in its very earliest stages of development. Its primary aim is the “identification of the technology maturation needs for the reusable upper stage demonstration.” This will include identifying critical and enabling technologies required for the project, consolidating high-level requirements that would be used to initiate phase 1 development, and the exploration of commercial applications for the technology.

In addition to the reusable upper stage initiative, ESA is also pursuing the development of reusable rocket boosters and a high-thrust reusable staged combustion engine.

Glad to see Europe finally making moves toward reusability.