ESA's IXV Returns Safely to Earth

ESA's IXV "near-space ship" vehicle, designed to replace the space-shuttle and to compete with the Russians in delivering astronauts into space-- took off inside a Vega rocket, separated according to plan, and its baptism of fire, the re-entry, worked perfectly. The whole flight took about 100 minutes and the vessel landed in the Pacific about 3000 kilometers west of the Galápagos Islands. "It couldn't have been better" said ESA boss Jean-Jacques Dordain after landing.



For more information, see www.esa.int...

a reply to: Utnapisjtim
Awesome!!!!

a reply to: NwFgHr

I love the design of the craft. Really slick and relevant, and I love the FLAPS, it has floppy feet! And looks rather like a Lego man

Compare:

...with:

...and finally with:

Congratulations ESA!

a reply to: Utnapisjtim
It really does! I had no idea that they had a spacecraft that's this cool! Great find!

a reply to: Utnapisjtim

Nice booby

originally posted by: Phage
a reply to: Utnapisjtim

Nice booby

Thanks. Who knew there were ancient astronauts on the Galapagos?