D. Bonetti , G. De Zaiacomo , G. Blanco Arnao , G. Medici
DOI Number XXX-YYY-ZZZ
Conference Number HiSST 2018_128082
This paper presents the Space Rider Mission Analysis activities carried out during the phase A/B1 of the Space Rider ESA program. The Space Rider program is an ESA development program that aims to provide Europe with an affordable, independent, reusable end-to-end integrated space transportation system for routine access and return from low orbit. It will be used to transport payloads for an array of applications, orbit altitudes and inclinations. This paper presents the Mission Engineering process, which includes a range of activities in support to the system design: assessment of the orbital scenarios and definition of the re-entry opportunities to target the desired landing sites, computation of the End-to-End (de-orbiting to touchdown) optimum reference trajectories, sizing trajectories for subsystems specifications, characterization of the Entry Corridor for trajectory design (focusing in particular on the supersonic and transonic phases not covered by the IXV), specification of the optimum Centre of Gravity (CoG) box compatible with layout capabilities, selection of the optimum Angle of Attack (AoA) trim line to be flown and Flying Qualities performance, assessment of the mission performance through Monte Carlo simulation campaigns, analysis of the visibility from ground stations and support to safety analyses (off-nominal footprints).