As the USA bows out of leading the world in space exploration, ESA far from sitting on their thumbs is looking at a low orbit reusable space transport vehicle by what the next decade you say? Nope, 2013. ESA's test bed will be the IXV Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle which will explore autonomous reentry, space transportation, exploration and robotic servicing of space infrastructure, according to their news release here.
The article gives a lot of information about the experimental lifting body and mission plans.
Check it out here.
The article gives a lot of information about the experimental lifting body and mission plans.
Check it out here.
