European Recovery System (ERS)

Abstract

Up to the TEXUS-44 microgravity research mission, successfully launched in February 2008, the payloads of the TEXUS vehicles were exclusively equipped with the Magellan (former Bristol Aerospace Ltd.) ORSA recovery system, integrated into the ogive nose cone. With the intention to gain more independency from the North American market and the inherent procurement and ITAR regulations problems, the European Space Agency (ESA) has taken initiative to contract industry for the development and built-up of a new European Recovery System (ERS) in 2006. For the design, manufacturing and qualification task sharing, a cooperation of DLR Moraba and the Kayser-Threde GmbH has been initialized. The ERS is designed to recover payloads of up to 450 kg mass and 17 inch (438 mm) diameter by a two-stage subsonic parachute system. It features a separating ogive nose tip with a forward deploying recovery parachute. The assembly incorporates a 3:1 fineness ratio ogive which forward portion is ejected exo-atmospherically to permit subsequent parachute recovery system operation. The aft ogive houses the parachute system, autonomous redundant pyrotechnic ignition system, housekeeping electronics, TM interface, beacon system, camera system and pyrotechnic and electronic batteries. The parachute system activation is controlled by barometric switches on the descent trajectory at a nominal altitude of 15 kft (4.6 km) in the combination of an electronic timing activation unit (ignition unit). Together with the heat shield ejection the drogue parachute is deployed and the payload is mainly stabilized from flat spin and decelerated. After complete stabilization the drogue parachute is separated and extracts the main parachute out of the deployment bag. At fully opened main parachute the final sink rate is around 8 m/sec.