21/06/2024
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Europe’s newest rocket will soon be launched, bringing with it many space missions, each with a unique purpose, a unique destination and a unique team back home to cheer them on. Whether launching new satellites to look back and study the Earth, to look into deep space or to test important new technologies in orbit, Ariane 6’s first flight will demonstrate its versatility and flexibility of this impressive, heavy launch vehicle. Read on for all about Nyx Bikini and see who else flies first.
Install Nyx Bikini on Ariane 6
Shortly after being selected for the European cargo transport initiative to the International Space Station, the Exploration Company’s Nyx Bikini plans to conduct a ballistic reentry demonstration.
Nyx Bikini is a 60cm diameter technology demonstrator – about the size of a large lampshade – that allows Exploration Company to obtain their first atmospheric return data and calibrate their mathematical models.
Artist’s rendering of Ariane 6 – Flight Model-1
At the end of the Ariane 6 mission, the upper stage of Europa’s new rocket will orbit the Earth at a speed of about 28,800 km/h. A few minutes before the upper stage sends itself to a fiery and safe disposal in Earth’s atmosphere, Nyx Bikini will detach to fall to Earth as well.
Unlike the upper stage of the Ariane 6, the Nyx Bikini is designed to survive the intense heat generated during reentry – up to 2100°C.
Developed in just nine months and at a cost of less than 2 million euros, Nyx Bikini is an example of the new European space sector.
Nyx Bikini Testing
Hélène Huby, CEO of The Exploration Company explains: “From an industrial point of view, the fact that we built Nyx Bikini in just nine months, from sketch to qualification, has allowed us as a start-up to prove ourselves to partners in the supply chain, to prove our development and production. processes, and it shows that we can build spacecraft quickly and at a fraction of the cost – while accepting risk.”
Some of the hardware in the reentry capsule is not designed for space. For example, the electronic hardware – the ‘brain’ of the spacecraft – has been adopted from the drone industry and is not qualified to withstand the radiation it may receive in space. Because the Nyx Bikini mission is only three hours long, the risk of a major failure is low and using established hardware for Earth is a way to reduce costs and construction time.
Another example is the way Nyx Bikini will call home during his descent into the Pacific Ocean: he will use a standard satellite phone. Simulations show it should work, but the phone terminal was, unsurprisingly, not designed to be used from a returning spacecraft.
Nyx Bikini artist impression
Bikini is an uncontrolled capsule, so to prevent it from falling over and going back in with the heat shield to the rear, three flaps ensure that Bikini goes back in with the heat shield to the front. This technical solution entails more risk, but is cheaper than expensive and complicated thrusters.
“If any of these risks materialize, we will not collect data and our mission will fail,” Hélène explains, “but we will have collected unique lessons about our technical capabilities, our industrial processes, our supply chain partners and the legal and technical path to obtain a re-entry permit.”
Installing Nyx Bikini alongside other first passengers on Ariane 6
Hélène continues: “This mission is a first step that paves the way for a European reusable space capsule. We receive countless messages from people from different backgrounds and countries in Europe, thanking us for their inspiration, because our company embodies that Europe can be bold and pioneer technologies that benefit the world.”
“This first launch with Ariane 6 will be a special time for all of us at The Exploration Company, as we also go into space for the first time. Our team will experience it together, and our emotions will be intense,” says Hélène. “Whatever the outcome of the mission, I am grateful for the continued work of our team and our partners who all contributed to building and qualifying our Bikini capsule at unprecedented high speed and low cost. This also means that we have accepted some risks of mission failure. It reflects our DNA: for our first missions, we prioritize learning and iterating quickly (which means more risk, but also faster learning), versus building the perfect capsule.”
And the name?
“The name was chosen jokingly because the capsule could be almost ‘naked’ when it splashes down, and bikini swimwear was quite innovative when it was invented in the 1960s,” concludes Helene.