Study Trade-Offs on Future European Expendable Launchers

Abstract

The paper describes latest results of recent activities in Germany in the technical assessment of future European launcher architecture. In a joint effort of DLR-SART with German launcher indus-try a next generation upper-medium class expendable TSTO and options for new liquid fuel upper stages for the small VEGA-launcher are addressed. The WOTAN study has investigated fully cryogenic launchers as well as those with a combination of solid and cryogenic stages, fulfilling a requirement of at least 5000 kg single payload into GTO. With this study finished, final performance data as well as critical technical and programmatic issues are presented. The VENUS research on potential new VEGA upper stages is focused on storable and on Vinci-based cryogenic propulsion and includes not only the VEGA solid propellant lower composite, but also its potential more powerful future upgrade. The challenges in achieving a considerable per-formance gain compared to VEGA are revealed.