Ariane 6: the Susie project, a turning point for Europe in space?

The difficulty of deciding at 22 rather than at 1 or 2. This is the syndrome that has paralyzed space Europe for several decades for each of its major projects. It took him about fifteen years to find the parade against SpaceX and its reusable Falcon 9 launcher, thanks to the Ariane 6 program, the first copy of which will fly in 2023. It will need even more to ensure access independent in the firmament for its astronauts.

Thus, thirty years after the abandonment of its space shuttle project (Hermès), the European Space Agency (ESA) finally seems to make this autonomy an object of sovereignty. Its boss, the Austrian Josef Aschbacher even made it his priority at the start of the year, regretting that “Europe has no specific capacity for manned flights in low orbit – less than 2,000 kilometers from the Earth – let alone for exploration missions beyond the Moon.” A real disappointment at a time when all the other major space powers (United States, China, Russia) have their own solutions. Even India has invested nearly 1.5 billion dollars for its next launcher (GSLV Mark III) and its small manned capsule (Gaganyaan).

Giving Europe a new ambition

Under these conditions, ArianeGroup created a surprise at the International Astronautical Congress (IAS 2022) which takes place until September 22 in Paris (Porte de Versailles) by presenting “Susie” (for Smart Upper Stage for Innovative Exploration), a project prepared in the greatest secrecy by its teams for two years. This half-shuttle, half-cargo freighter is an innovative 100% reusable upper stage that will be placed at the top of the launcher, whether it is an Ariane 64 (its largest version) or its successor. “The idea is to replace the cap with this module, five meters in diameter, which would plug in easily. It is a fully integrated concept to reduce operating costs”, explains Joost Van Tooren, the manager manned flights to the Future Programs division of the European group.

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Susie is impressive above all by its dimensions since with a height of 12 meters and a mass of 25 tons, the machine has an interior volume of 43 cubic meters. This gives it great flexibility. “It is an intelligent and scalable solution, which opens the era of European reusability. It will make it possible to carry out missions of towing, inspection or upgrading of satellites and other payloads, refueling of space stations in fuel, food and equipment, transport of elements to build orbital infrastructures such as space stations”, details Morena Bernardini, director of strategy and innovation of ArianeGroup.

One day astronauts will take off from Kourou

Above all, this upper floor will have a “capsule” version for the transport of five astronauts (hence five portholes on the cabin) so that it becomes possible to see a crew of Europeans take off on board within ten years. of an Ariane 6 from the Kourou base (Guyana) without depending on the Americans or the Russians in order to reach the International Space Station (ISS), or even another private orbital complex that could succeed it.

Better, in a vision very Jeff Bezos (the boss of Blue Origin) according to which, the low orbit still remains to be colonized, Susie will be able to help in the construction of this type of structure thanks to its payload capacity. Finally, the spacecraft will also be able to register for more distant and long-distance missions, in any case to reach lunar orbit: it will be possible to add a transfer module to it to ensure propulsion and energy supply and in the air for the crew, like the European Service Module (ESM) that Airbus built for Orion, the space vehicle intended for the return of man to the Moon, as part of the American Artemis program. In reality, Europe is trying through this project to mobilize all its skills, the fruit of long heritages: that of the ESM therefore, but also that of the ATV, the cargo transfer vehicle which flew between 2008 and 2014 and finally, that of the Hermès shuttle abandoned in 1992.

“We have all the technologies and capabilities to meet future needs in space, which can only grow,” assures Morena Bernardini. With one exception: the Susie spacecraft must be able to return to Earth, either to bring back cargo or satellites or to bring back astronaut crews safe and sound. To do this, European engineers will have to achieve this return, which will involve a glide in the upper layers of the atmosphere and then a vertical landing “with high precision”.

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A whole section of reusable technology that Europe is far from mastering. But with China’s new ambitions, the acceleration of the aeronautics sector imposed by SpaceX or even the end of all space cooperation with Russia, Europe no longer has the choice to move forward slowly. The Susie project will be presented at the ministerial meeting of the European Space Agency next November. Its 22 members will have to decide on the budget for the next three years. And be bold at the risk of seeing Europe lose its status as a great world space power.