Go-ahead for new, reusable space transport system

  • Federal Government, Laender and industry jointly involved in PHOENIX development 
  • Testing of a "small" prototype to be completed by 2003 
  • National ASTRA program to secure technology know-how 
With a total of DM 32 million, the Federal Government, the Land of Bremen, the German Aero-space Center (DLR, Cologne), OHB System GmbH (Bremen) and Astrium are involved in the development of a demonstrator for reusable space transport systems to be carried out within the framework of the national technology program ASTRA. Development of PHOENIX will be the first step towards the realization of a European, reusable space transport system.

The demonstrator PHOENIX is intended to prove the feasibility of a future, reusable space transport system. The use of such a "small" prototype is required as due to physical influences in the atmosphere not all the design features can be demonstrated with the help of computer simulations and wind tunnel tests. A demonstrator will also help to cut costs in the devel-opment phase of the future space transport system. 


 Development, construction and testing are scheduled for completion by the end of the year 2003. The demonstrator will be just under seven meters long. It will have a wingspan of 3.8 meters, a weight of 1,200 kilograms and will be similar in appearance to the US Space Shuttle. 

PHOENIX forms an essential part of the german national program ASTRA (Selected systems and technologies for future space transport system applications). In addition to Astrium and DLR, companies such as MAN-Technologie, OHB-System and Kayser-Threde, ZARM as well as three DFG special research departments of the Technical Universities of Aachen, Munich and Stuttgart are involved in ASTRA. 

Technology development will particularly focus on structures, construction, materials, propulsion systems, flight guidance and control.