The Space Rider Programme: End user's needs and payload applications survey as driver for mission and system definition

Abstract

The Space Rider Programme, previously named Pride, is an ESA programme whose objective is to define and develop an affordable reusable European space transportation system to be launched by VEGA-C, to be used as a platform for several types of payload applications. Payloads and related applications strongly drive the definition of Space Rider mission and system, then an analysis of end user's needs has been necessary to adequately feed the design process. This paper reports a survey and an analysis with respect to the following payloads classes: 1- Free-Flyer (Micro-gravity experimentation and Radiation exposure); 2- In-Orbit Demonstrations and Validation for several technologies (Exploration, Orbital infrastructures servicing, Earth observation, Earth science, Telecommunication, Reentry); 3- In-Orbit applications (Earth monitoring and Satellites inspection). In particular, the analysis has been carried out with investigation of the current microgravity platforms and payloads needs, In-Orbit Demonstrations (IOD) flight opportunities status and demand from different stakeholders both on scientific and industrial side. Key assets of the Space Rider platform with respect to payload have been defined and the results of the work has been flow down into the identification of a set of requirements for the Space Rider mission and system focusing on main aspects as operations, mass, power, volume and interfaces.