ESA preps for its first space-plane blast off
euronews (in English)
2015-02-10
Views 33
The European Space Agency is making the final preparations for its first ever space-plane launch on Wednesday.
The IXV, short for Intermediate Experimental Vehicle, would give Europe its very own shuttle-like, re-usable space vehicle.
The mission will provide data vital to eventually develop technology for a sample return mission to Mars or to shuttle astronauts back from the International Space Station.
This is where the heart beats with regard to tomorrow's flight: The #IXV Mission Control Centre in Torino, IT. pic.twitter.com/C0IYjwF9WO— ESA IXV (@esa_ixv) February 10, 2015
On February 11, the prototype IXV will undertake a 100 minute unmanned test flight. Taking off from Kourou, French Guiana it will coast up to 420km before beginning the crucial re-entry phase.
“Now the important thing to keep in mind is that this really is an experimental test flight and anything could happen,” Euronews’ space expert Jeremy Wilks explains.
“The reason it has been organised is that
The IXV, short for Intermediate Experimental Vehicle, would give Europe its very own shuttle-like, re-usable space vehicle.
The mission will provide data vital to eventually develop technology for a sample return mission to Mars or to shuttle astronauts back from the International Space Station.
This is where the heart beats with regard to tomorrow's flight: The #IXV Mission Control Centre in Torino, IT. pic.twitter.com/C0IYjwF9WO— ESA IXV (@esa_ixv) February 10, 2015
On February 11, the prototype IXV will undertake a 100 minute unmanned test flight. Taking off from Kourou, French Guiana it will coast up to 420km before beginning the crucial re-entry phase.
“Now the important thing to keep in mind is that this really is an experimental test flight and anything could happen,” Euronews’ space expert Jeremy Wilks explains.
“The reason it has been organised is that
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