Smart Upper Stage for Innovative Exploration

The Smart Upper Stage for Innovative Exploration (SUSIE) is a proposal for a reusable spacecraft capable of being either an "automated freighter" or to carry up to 5 astronauts to low Earth orbit, designed by ArianeGroup to be launched on the Ariane 64 for European Space Agency (ESA) missions.[1]

"SUSIE" redirects here. For other uses, see Susie.
Smart Upper Stage for Innovative Exploration
DesignerArianeGroup
Country of originFrance
OperatorESA
Specifications
Spacecraft typeReusable spacecraft
Launch mass25t
Payload capacity7t/40m3
Crew capacity5
Dimensions
Length12m
Diameter5m
Production
StatusProposed

The proposal was announced at the 2022 International Astronautical Congress in Paris.[2][3] It was created with research-funding from ESA's "New European Space Transportation Solutions" (NESTS) initiative[4] – in response to the strategic priority to ensure it has "autonomous logistics capabilities".[5] Intended to replace the payload fairing the total mass would be 25 tons, "...corresponding to Ariane 64’s low Earth orbit (LEO) performance"[6] and capable of carrying 5 astronauts or, in automated cargo configuration, up to 7 tons of payload.[7] It would propulsively land (rather than under parachutes), meaning the mission abort safety system would remain effective at all stages of a crewed mission, not just at launch.[7] SUSIE could later be used in conjunction with a proposed ArianeGroup reusable heavy-lift launcher. [1] A 2m tall, 100kg, scale model was test-fired by ArianeGroup for the first time at their facility in Les Mureaux near Paris, on 25 October 2023.[8]

Especially due to the “bellyflop maneuver” on atmospheric re-entry, comparisons are made with the SpaceX Starship, whereas it is more directly comparable to the SpaceX Dragon and Boeing Starliner.[9]

  • Scale model of SUSIE on an Ariane 64, and comparison to other current crew vehicles

References
  1. "This Reusable Space Freighter Would 'Open the Door' to European Space Exploration". Gizmodo. 2022-09-19. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  2. "Ariane presenta Susie, progetto per uno stadio completamente riutilizzabile - Trasporti-Italia.com". www.trasporti-italia.com (in Italian). 19 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-19.}
  3. Federation, International Astronautical. "IAF : Meet SUSIE". www.iafastro.org. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  4. "ESA defines elements of future European space transportation solutions". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  5. "Terrae Novae: Europe's exploration vision". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  6. Sohier, Camille (2022-09-16). "ARIANEGROUP UNVEILS SUSIE AT IAC". ArianeGroup. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  7. Bagno, Nicolò (2022-09-19). "ArianeGroup annuncia SUSIE, uno stadio riutilizzabile per il trasporto di astronauti e cargo su Ariane 6". AstroSpace (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  8. Nouvelle, L'Usine (2023-10-25). "Premier allumage réussi pour le démonstrateur du module réutilisable Susie d'ArianeGroup". L'Usine Nouvelle (in French). Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  9. Pozdnyakov, Anton (2022-09-19). "Is Europe Building its Own Starship? Not Exactly". Universe Today. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
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