IXV

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IXV redirects here. For the IATA code see Along Airport

The IXV (Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle) is a project of the European Space Agency. It is intended to validate re-entry technologies for future European reusable launchers which could be evaluated in the frame of the FLPP program. The IXV development would be carried out under the leadership of the NGL Prime SpA company. It would inherit of the principles of previous studies such as Pre-X and AREV.

Studies for this are already underway and the IXV is scheduled to make its first orbiting flight, launched by Vega, Europe’s new small launcher, in 2010.

[edit] External links

• ESA re-entry technologies page
• IXV: the Intermediate eXperimental VehiclePDF (525 KiB)