Preparing IXV for installation on its payload adapter

The IXV Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle is being prepared on 23 January 2015 at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

IXV will be launched 320 km into space on top of a Vega rocket, VV04, climbing up to 420 km before beginning a long glide back through the atmosphere. In the process, IXV will gather data on reentry conditions to help guide the design of future spaceplanes.

More about IXV: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/IXV

Connect with IXV on Twitter: twitter.com/esa_ixv