N° 27-1994: ESA signs ARD contract with AEROSPATIALE
19 September 1994
Europe chooses the "simple, fast and economical" option.
Europe has two years to develop and prepare for launch by
Ariane-5 a space vehicle demonstrator that can be considered
as the first step towards a future crew transport vehicle.
The demonstration vehicle, called the ARD or Atmospheric
Re-entry Demonstrator, is the tangible result of the
reorientation of ESA's manned space programme towards
affordable concepts paving the way for Europe's contribution
to the International Space Station programme.
ESA has decided to appoint A.rospatiale (France) as prime
contractor for the ARD development contract.
The unmanned ARD capsule, measuring 2.8 m in diameter
and weighing about 3000 kg, will be launched in April 1996
by Ariane 502
This venture will be a first for Europe in many respects:
- . It will be the first time time a launcher operating in dual
launch configuration, in this case Ariane-5, injects a
satellite into geostationary transfer orbit and a re-entry
vehicle into low orbit.
- . It will also be the first time a space vehicle of this size
is developed to such a tight schedule (20 months) and
under such severe budget constraints (firm fixed price
contract).
- . The aims of the ARD are to validate Europe's ability
to cope with the aerothermodynamic problems of
atmospheric re-entry, demonstrate its mastery of the
materials and measurement techniques involved, and
provide operational experience in navigation,
guidance and control along a re-entry and recovery
trajectory. The contract will thus combine the ongoing
technology development effort with the work on the
concept for the development of the future Crew
Transport Vehicle (CTV), currently being carried out in
parallel by two separate groups of European firms, one
headed by A.rospatiale and the other by DASA
(Germany).
- . The management approach is an unusual one, involving:
- a very sharp reduction in the number of models
and tests
- - maximum use of existing equipment and software.
- . Finally, A.rospatiale, applying streamlined management
methods, will head up a team of 22 contractors from 9
different countries.
Jean-Marie Luton, ESA's Director-General, and Louis
Gallois, Chief Executive of A.rospatiale, will sign the
contract on Friday, 30 September 1994, at ESA
Headquarters in Paris.
The signing ceremony will feature a briefing on the ARD
programme by J.rg Feustel-B.echl, Director of ESA's
Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity Programmes, and
Bernard Humbert, Head of the Manned Spaceflight
Programme Group at A.rospatiale Espace & D.fence.
Members of the press wishing to attend are asked to fill in
the enclosed form and return it to ESA's Public Relations
Department, if possible by fax ((33.1) 42.73.76.90).
The briefing will take place at 10 a.m., after which drinks
will be served..
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