Engineering model of the landing leg structure forming part of the CALLISTO demonstrator’s Approach and Landing System
CALLISTO (Cooperative Action Leading to Launcher Innovation in Stage Toss-back Operations) is a joint project between the French space agency (CNES), the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Japanese aerospace agency (JAXA). With it, the goal is to develop a reusable demonstrator for a vertical take-off and vertical landing (VTVL) rocket stage. Reusability in launch systems can help reduce launch costs and increase operational versatility. The project also seeks to improve understanding of VTVL rocket stages and demonstrate the capabilities and technologies required to develop and commercialise such a reusable system. Results from flight tests will be used to optimise the design for a future reusable space transportation system.
Nine DLR institutes across Germany, led by the DLR Institute of Space Systems in Bremen, are involved in the project. DLR contributions include work by the Institute of Structures and Design in Stuttgart on the development of CALLISTO’s landing legs – part of the Approach and Landing System – with a focus on their structural and thermal design.
Link:
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Space Systems
E-Mail contact-dlr@DLR.de
