The European Space Agency Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (ESA-FLPP) is commencing the “PROTEIN” investigation about European reusable and cost-effective heavy lift transport.
This study will assess the feasibility and identify key technologies needed to develop an European Heavy Lift Launcher (EHLL), a high-capacity launch vehicle that can provide access to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond at both a low cost and high cadence. ESA has secured contracts both with ArianeGroup and Rocket Factory Augsburg which will last until September 2023.
ESA is projecting a fully reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle, initially optimised for missions to LEO and built with the minimisation of environmental impact in mind, that will be able to advance European capability in space and enable the deployment of large-scale in-space infrastructure projects like In-Space Datacenters, Solar Power and Manufacturing.
Pairing an EHLL with In-Space Transportation Vehicles (ISTVs) will provide autonomous capability to deploy the large space infrastructure at the scale of ASCEND and SOLARIS.
