CALLISTO, a demonstrator for reusable launchers

Abstract

Japan and Europe are now getting ready for the maiden flight of their new workhorse launch vehicles: H-3, Vega-C and Ariane 6. But continued improvements, especially in term of costs, are necessary to continue to offer an affordable access to space. To prepare this next step, three countries and their space organizations: CNES for France, DLR for Germany and JAXA for Japan have developed the CALLISTO system as a joint project. This include the CALLISTO vehicle which is a flight demonstrator for future reusable launcher stages. The challenge is to develop, all along the project, the skills of the partners. This know-how includes products and vehicle design, ground segment set up, and post-flight operations for vehicle recovery then reuse. The first tests will be conducted in 2024 from the CSG, Europe's Spaceport for commercial launches, and this paper presents an overview of the status of the CALLISTO project. General development status is described. Next step of the development will be the Critical Design Review.