Sener is preparing the de-risking of an actively controlled parafoil system with ESA enabling stage recovery for future European reusable space transportation systems

The European Space Agency (ESA) has entrusted Sener to lead the preparation and identification of the de-risking roadmap for a new actively controlled parafoil system in collaboration with CIRA (Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali) research centre and other partners. This so-called recovery building block will enable the increased precision landing of reusable launchers’ stages, up to, potentially, re-entry vehicles.

This technology was identified by ESA as an interesting building block to foster innovation and to increase the competitiveness of future European space transportation systems, enabling their reusability and modularity, in a context of booming space applications and services market around the world which is generating a significant increase in the demand for launch services.

The harsh and uncertain environmental conditions that parafoil systems must endure make them difficult to guide and control, particularly when high landing precisions of less than 10m are required. HALER-BB seeks to derisk and resolve this technical challenge. A solution would target a wide range of applications within, as well as outside, the space market. Among others, this includes space re-entry vehicles (where Europe has outstanding examples, such as ARD, Huygens, ExoMars, IXV and Space Rider), precision delivery of supplies in remote areas that are difficult to access, in both civil and defence operations, emergency recovery systems for UAV and aircraft in flight, or urban air mobility systems.

Experience in parafoil-based descent and landing systems

 Sener has extensive experience in the field of parafoil-based descent and landing systems, with notable examples such as IXV and Space Rider as well as other ESA R&D initiatives such as SPADS and REFAIR. In the case of Space Rider – a mission that seeks to give Europe a low-Earth orbit space transport vehicle that can return to Earth after delivering its payload into orbit – Sener is responsible for designing the guidance, navigation and control (GNC) system of the re-entry module.

New solutions like those developed in HALER-BB are based on modular approaches and building blocks that provide Europe with more autonomy in its access and use of space in a safe and secure environment. Sener is pleased to help achieve this goal by providing solutions with the highest technical, economic, operational and environmental standards.

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