Questionnaire on future European suborbital science, research and development

The FAST20XX project, which is funded by the 7th Framework programme (FP7) of the European Commission and coordinated by ESA, is trying to advance technologies and know-how of suborbital flight in a broad range, including market and business case analysis.

The potenial use of suborbital flights for applications such as science, research,  technology development or hardware testing, both manned and unmanned, has gained interest in recent years because suborbital flights could fill the gap between aircraft parabolic flights (20-30 seconds µ‑gravity) and human orbital space flight, both in terms of duration and cost.

This survey has the objective to assess the potential interest ("feeling for the market") for conducting suborbital research in Europe and to help identifying mission and vehicle requirements.

It should take about 5-10 minutes to complete the questionnaire.
If you have questions please email questionnaire@orbspace.com.

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Definition: The terms “micro-gravity” and “reduced gravity” are used because they are most commonly associated with the subject under discussion. However the terms “seeming weightlessness” or “free fall” are considered more accurate because gravity (g=GM/r²) changes only little in the vicinity of Earth.

Questionnaire

For the following questions, please assume a future scenario with one or several operational reusable suborbital vehicles, which can carry human passengers and/or payloads to altitudes of 100 km or more, return them on–board and if so desired, repeat the flight within a short period of time.

 

1. Category and type of application

Please select the category for your application:

(if other)

Application:

(e.g.: combustion research, crystal growth, etc.)

2. Duration of µ-gravity

Required minimum duration of µ-gravity (select multiple if different applications):

Please consider that longer µ-gravity durations are technically more demanding (e.g. requiring two stages) and could be over-proportionally more expensive.

3. Quality of µ-gravity

What is the required level of µ-gravity quality?

4. Seats, size and weight

What number of seats is required per fligh?

What will be the estimated size and mass of a payload?

5. Characteristics and requirements

Please mark the requirements needed and relevant characteristics for your application:

(e.g. toxic or harmful substances, risk of explosion or fire, etc.)

Other requirements of characteristics:

6. Flight rate and repetition

Which would be the desired average flight rate (if cost would allow)?

Would a rapid repetition of flights be of interest? What would be the preferred time between subsequent flights?

7. Flight preparation and recovery

Could payload preparation and flight be done without using local facilities (payload handled by launch service provider like air cargo)?

What local facilities would be required for payload preparation and flight:

Is the payload recovery and return a benefit even if all measurement data are obtained (e.g. by telemetry)?

8. Price

Initial prices for one seat or a 100 kg payload are estimated around 160 000 € (200 000 US$). Prices are expected to fall with the years of operation.

Which price would you be willing to pay?

For payloads smaller than 100 kg, please consider an equicalent fraction of the price (e.g. 50% for 50 kg).

9. About you

Any published results will be anonymous. Providing your name will help us to give your response the proper importance and weight. Your personal data will not be disclosed to any third party and will only be used in the context of this survey.

Title

Given name

Family name

Organisation

Region

Country

Email

10. Comments

Please provide additional comments and details (e.g. additional requirements, references, web-links, etc.) in the field below: