EMSS - Guest Presentations
Lecturer:
Andreas Schütte, Program Manager Suborbital Missions, Airbus Defence and Space
“Why do we need microgravity?”
Airbus's TEXUS sounding rocket program opens up a unique opportunity for scientists to
conduct experiments in a microgravity environment for a brief six-minute period. Since its
inaugural launch in December 1977, a diverse range of experiment modules spanning
various fields such as biology, medicine, life science, fluid physics, fluid dynamics,
combustion, and material science have been successfully launched from the Esrange Space
Center near Kiruna in northern Sweden. Over the past 48 years, 6 MiniTEXUS, 60 TEXUS,
and 9 MAXUS missions have been successfully launched and executed for the German
Space Agency (DLR RFA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) as the primary
customers.
The presentation aims to offer an overview of the TEXUS sounding rocket program and
provide insights into the motivation of microgravity research.
At the core of Airbus's role in this program is the development of experiment hardware. A key
factor contributing to the program's enduring success is the streamlined development cycle,
beginning from the initial engagement with scientists, through design and development tests,
up to the approval of the experiment hardware for flight. Another critical aspect is the
standardization of key components and subsystems.
A permanent challenge is the ongoing modernization of established systems to meet the
ever-increasing demands from customers and the scientific community. Proven hardware
becomes obsolete, necessitating replacement with new technologies. This applies to all
elements of a sounding rocket mission: experiments, communication systems, supporting
ground infrastructure for the integration and test phase, and launch operations.
The presentation will conclude by sharing insights from the latest launch campaigns.
