Future Reusable Launcher Options for Europe: the Heavy Class Segment

Kurzfassung

The heavy class segment has gained new interest also in Europe because of the SpaceX Starship&SuperHeavy launcher configuration under development. In a first step, the paper provides a thorough technical analysis of Starship's estimated capabilities in its early operational phase, based on independent modeling with openly available data. The main part of the paper is dedicated to the technical evaluation of European options in serving a roughly similar payload class approaching 50 Mg in single launch to LEO. A launcher system analysis looks into Ariane 6 evolution options and explores the technical limits based on the assumption of expendable stages. A signifi�cantly better performance perspective can be achieved through a completely new architectures with first stages designed reusable and exclusively liquid cryogenic propellants chosen. Both, VTVL and VTHL designs are compared including different return technologies with related strong impact on system performance. Fully re�usable, vertically landing configurations are addressed complementary to the small ESA-funded PROTEIN�study. The paper concludes with a comparative evaluation of main technical characteristics of launch vehicle options and indication of promising development roadmaps.