Hot topics

Participants in the workshop listed several topics to make a crew vehicle for low Earth orbit a reality. The experts identified eight areas of synergy:

– Airbreathing propulsion as a key to reach hypersonic speeds.

– Wing body designs and morphing structures. Adaptable geometries in combination with high-temperature and lightweight materials for aerodynamic efficiency.

– Insulation and thermal management. Thermal protection systems, novel materials, and cryogenic propellant.

– Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC). Specific challenges associated with high-speed flight, including precision.

– Reuse of lightweight high-temperature materials. Evaluation of fatigue and reflight capabilities for two distinct cases: controlled reentry and long-duration flights.

– Safety considerations specific to crew vehicles. There is a need to regulate human roles and responsibilities. This includes the distinction between passengers, crew members, ground operators and considerations for the environment.

– Crew survival systems. Crew safety and survival systems for anomalies as major drivers in the design of the vehicle.

– Cryogenics storage and distribution systems. Cryogenic fuel and oxidiser storage technologies, and their management.