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IXV (former Pre-X)

The Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) project objectives tackle the basic European needs for reentry from LEO, consolidating the knowledge necessary for the development of any future European reentry system while allowing risk limitation.
The Intermediate Experimental Vehicle, IXV, is designed to separate from Europe�s Vega small-satellite launcher at an altitude of 320 kilometers. The vehicle will reach an apogee of some 412 kilometers and follow a low-inclination trajectory on its way to a re-entry and parachute-softened splashdown in the South Pacific. Its end-to-end mission on the Vega launcher is planned for 2015.



Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV)



                
 

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USV



The Unmanned Space Vehicles (USV) program is a science and technology knowledge development program, whose strategic target is the development of a multi-purpose flying laboratory able to execute atmospheric re-entry from low earth orbit.
USV 1: CIRA has built �Castore� and �Polluce�, two identical Flying Labs designed to dropped from stratospheric balloons to achieve transonic and low supersonic flight.