Post 67 European Space Program in 1990s With creation of of European Union (EU) change allot for European Space Research Organisation in 1992
By majority vote by the politicians, ESRO became Europan Ministry with stable budget, with the British Jason Webb as new Director.
They gain allot of Money and additional research program and finally they would do serious programs with their allies ELGO GmbH and BAE.
ELGO GmbH with there successful Modular rockets ELGO A/B Series, prepare the C series, a modular Hydrolox stages With High performance Engine HDTW
They would drastic double the Payload compare to ELGO B series, who use storable propellant.
But ELGO conduct series of test of ELGO-X Concept in 1993. on reuse C series and if ballistic Reuse is commercial viable, use this technology.
BAE on other hand, build reusable MUSTARD and successful tested it in Australia and British Government were in negotiations with French for launch site in French Guiana,
For Equator orbit Mission, while Australia served for Polar military mission, who government were in negotiations with British Government to build launch site in Darwin north Australia.
ESRO director Jason WebbWith MUSTARD had ESRO finally a Spacecraft that could bring Europeans into Space independently from USA and USSR.
Jason Webb not hesitate to create European Astronaut Corps, ignoring NASA Group E of Europeans.
He also intervene in British French negotiations to get Launch pads for MUSTARD in French Guiana, Here Webb was ruthless, he not care about British-Australian relations.
ESRO wanted also own Space Station, idea the French and Germans favour,
Building a European Station make sense, since NASA de-orbit Starlab and USAF restricted access to Bold-Eagle Station in GEO.
(In this time Space Base Olympus was only proposal at Space Task Group at White House)
Alternative flights to USSR Space stations, again problematic, since Soviets insist that Europan Personen are train in USSR and Launch on Soviet Spacecraft.
Also had Mir restricted areas for Military purpose, what limited the Europeans on board operation, this also infuriated Webb.
So ESRO launch SpaceLab in 1995, it based on french SOLARIS concept, modified for manned operation, first temporary, later Permanent occupation of 3 astronauts.
Another goal were a Base on South pole of Moon, here ESRO found a Partners in USA and Japan.
In Mean time Earth orbit filled with manned Space Stations
Next US Bold Eagle station in GEO, the Soviet Mir complex, the Chinese Tianhe, Europa SpaceLab, came Japan JASDA with Kibō station serve with Fuji space capsule.
JASDA or Japan Space Development Agency, made long way from 1970s, with first copy of the US Delta Rocket now build own rockets the H-II and H-IIB in 1990s
the Fuji capsule was compromise since Development of Spaceplane HOPE and Kibō project was too expensive for their Budget.
India conducted Manned space flight with there Gaganyaan capsule, planning also small space station mostly for military applications.
While Private aerospace companies look into option to launch their own commercial space station.
Interview with Walter Kleinau Head of ELGO-X projectInterviewer:
You are part of MBB Team that work for ELGO GmbH ?
Kleinau:
yes ! we are responsible for ELGO Reusable study or how we call it ELGO-X.
ELGO-C with it HORA modular upper stage is unique launcher but, ELGO want to reuse it, so MBB got Order for study options for Reuse.
Interviewer:
There allot study by US companies like Titan V by Grumman-Martin corp. Dit this influence you work ?
Kleinau:
No, we started in 1982, far ahead of those studies, we came to conclusions that ballistic reuse would better options,
Dropping everything unnecessary stuff, like Wings, jet engines etc.
We not even needed a heat shield for first stage, just aerodynamic cover, and a barge were first stage landing on.
Interviewer:
Why landing on Barge on ocean ? ELGO-A splash in ocean and is recover.
Kleinau:
Those are robust build pressure fed rocket, impact into ocean and swimming in seawater dosen’t matter for them.
But the ELGO-C series is to sensitive for that.
Interviewer:
Is that reason why the ELGO-B are not recovered ?
Kleinau:
Yes and No, unlike ELGO-A, is mainly that ELGO-B stages return unstable, preventing secure deployment of parachute,
Do heavy engine block of stage, We tried to recover them in 1970s but failed, what let to ELGO-X project.
Interviewer:
So you solved the stability problem ?
Kleinau:
yes by putting the Frist stage inside Aerodynamic container, that allow stable return to Earth.
The biggest problems were the mass of this container and also restart and throttling the HDTW engines for landing.
The colleague of the „Raketentriebwerks Abteilung“ allot problems during testing to achieve the needed demands.
Interviewer:
Why ?
Kleinau:
The HDTW is unique rocket engine, it use the combustion chamber to power, direct the Turbopumps, eliminating the massive preburner such engine need.
Interviewer:
One moment, how power the combustion chamber the Turbopumps ?!
Kleinau:
The turbine that power both Turbopumps is installed in the combustion chamber itself, connected by vertical drive shaft with the pumps.
This allow a compact vertical engine construction, special since it run on 150 bar pressure !
But give also advantage of stepless throttleable Thrust, ideal for needs to land the first stage on barge !
Interviewer:
This gave some problems ?
Kleinau:
Yes, problems were restart of HDTW for slow down and landing burn, the colleagues lost allot engines during restart testing, but finally got it work.
Interviewer:
What is future for ELGO-X now ?
Kleinau:
It will enter service as ELGO-D
For moment it will reuse the first stage, what is adapted for it mission, while second stage HORA is expendable.
But we will in future build a reusable second stage from HORA for ELGO-D with option to bring payload from space !
Interviewer:
What Payload ?
Kleinau:
Various types mostly Satellites or cargo containers from Spacelab and material not suited for manned MUSTARD shuttle to return.
What are no problem for unmanned ELGO-D!
Interviewer:
Thanks for interview mr Kleinau
Kleinau:
your welcome, Goodbye