Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Scaling Down: X-2000 and Russia to the Rescue (1991–1992)

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Spaceplane HERMES

Part of the book series: Springer Praxis Books ((SPACEE))

  • 611 Accesses

Abstract

Going into the Munich Meeting, it was clear it was not going to be an easy one. The Hermes project, now under ESA’s wings for already 7 years, was 40 % over budget and was trying to cope with a 50 % stretch in schedule. Hermes’ first flight seemed further away than ever. And with the possibility of cancellation hanging in the air, some were plainly loosing faith and giving up on the hope of ever seeing Hermes leave the drawing board, let alone the launch pad.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Europe’s Space Programme, Brian Harvey, Springer-Praxis Books 2003, pp 300–303

    Google Scholar 

  2. Norway withdraws from Hermes Program, JPRS-EST-92-005, 18 February 1992, p 3

    Google Scholar 

  3. Confusion, Chaos reign at Munich Conference, Space News, 25 November–1 December 1991

    Google Scholar 

  4. French Acquiescence Surprises Other Ministers in Munich, Space News, 25 November–1 December 1991, p 11

    Google Scholar 

  5. L’Europe spatiale en crise, Air & Cosmos, 13 April 1992, p 46

    Google Scholar 

  6. Reve d’Hermes, Philippe Couillard, 1993, p 74

    Google Scholar 

  7. ESA Ministers Give Mixed Signals On Europe’s Long-Term Space Plan, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 25 November 1991, p 106

    Google Scholar 

  8. European Space Industry Divided Over Impact of Development Phase Delays, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 16/23 December 1991, pp 56–57

    Google Scholar 

  9. ESA Ministers Give Mixed Signals On Europe’s Long-Term Space Plan, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 25 November 1991, p 108

    Google Scholar 

  10. European Space Industry Divided Over Impact of Development Phase Delays, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 16/23 December 1991, p 57

    Google Scholar 

  11. L’allemagne souhaiterait retarder sa decision sur l’avion spatial Hermes à 92, Les Echos, 15 November 1991

    Google Scholar 

  12. Private communication with Paul Quilès, 28 February 2016

    Google Scholar 

  13. Officials Differ on Hermes, Space News, 24 February–1 March 1992, p 6

    Google Scholar 

  14. ESA Proposed Delaying Hermes In Attempt to Hold Down Spending, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 14 October 1991, pp 68–69

    Google Scholar 

  15. L’ESA reporte les decisions d’un an, Hermes et Columbus restant en attente, Air & Cosmos, 25 November 1991, p 49

    Google Scholar 

  16. ESA/PB-ARIANE(92)13, 30 January 1992, HAEU ESA-16286

    Google Scholar 

  17. ESA/PB-ARIANE(92)33, 5 June 1992, HAEU ESA-16306

    Google Scholar 

  18. Hermes reduit a un ‘demonstrateur’ pour un vol automatique en 2000, Air & Cosmos, 29 June 1992, p 52

    Google Scholar 

  19. Interview with CNES official, JPRS-EST-92-004, 6 February 1992, pp 4–5

    Google Scholar 

  20. Future of Hermes Spaceplane discussed, JPRS-EST-92-004, 6 February 1992, p 3

    Google Scholar 

  21. ESA/PB-ARIANE(92)39, 3 June 1992, HAEU ESA-16312

    Google Scholar 

  22. Hermes Programme Evolution File, GMV SA, 31 March 1993, pp IV.29–30

    Google Scholar 

  23. Hermes Programme Evolution File, GMV SA, 31 March 1993, pp IV.86-87

    Google Scholar 

  24. ESA/PB-ARIANE(92)39, 2 June 1002, HAEU ESA-16312

    Google Scholar 

  25. ESA/PB-ARIANE(92)9, 19 February 1992, HAEU ESA-16282

    Google Scholar 

  26. ESA/PB-ARIANE(92)45, 16 June 1992, HAEU ESA-16318

    Google Scholar 

  27. Essai du caisson composite de derive d’Hermes a l’IABG, Air & Cosmos, 9 December 1991, p 43

    Google Scholar 

  28. Une ‘premiere’ mondiale: le caisson ceramique d’Hermes, Air & Cosmos, 16 December 1991, p 30

    Google Scholar 

  29. ESA/PB-ARIANE(92)WP/3, 8 April 1992, HAEU ESA-19205

    Google Scholar 

  30. Europe must balance plans, says Gibson, Flight International, 18–24 March 1992, p 22

    Google Scholar 

  31. Europe Faces Painful Choices, Space News, 17–23 February 1992, p 1

    Google Scholar 

  32. Space Agency Leaders Debate Funding, Pace of ESA Programs, Space News, 4–10 February 1991

    Google Scholar 

  33. A New Force at a New Frontier, Kevin Madders, Cambridge University Press, 1997, p 322–323

    Google Scholar 

  34. Creation d’EuroHermespace et preparation d’EuroColumbus, Air & Cosmos, 20 January 1992, p 43

    Google Scholar 

  35. EuroHermespace prend ses quartiers a Colomiers, Air & Cosmos, 3 February 1992, p 43

    Google Scholar 

  36. Polar vision, Flight International, 12–18 February 1992, p 34

    Google Scholar 

  37. ESA/PB-ARIANE(92)51, 17 July 1992, HAEU ESA-16324

    Google Scholar 

  38. Hermes: une nouvelle approche pour le développement, EuroHermespace 1992

    Google Scholar 

  39. Descriptive file of the Hermes X-2000 SOFT version, Mechanical Configuration, EuroHermespace H-DD-1-59-EHS, 9 July 1992

    Google Scholar 

  40. European Manned Space Vehicle Hermes, Aerospatiale 1991, p 27

    Google Scholar 

  41. X-2000 remplace Hermes, Air & Cosmos, 18 May 1992, p 47

    Google Scholar 

  42. The Hermes Program: Hermes X2000 Project, Michel Courtois, IAF -92-0830, IAF Congress, Washington, August 28–September 5, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  43. Hermes X-2000 mission analysis, B. Belon et al, IAF -92-0882, IAF Congress, Washington, August 28–September 5, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  44. Hermes X2000 Offers Hope for Programe’s Future, JPRS-EST-92-034, Foreign Broadcast Information Service, 10 November 1992, p 9

    Google Scholar 

  45. ESA/PB-ARIANE(92)51, 17 July 1991, HAEU ESA-16324

    Google Scholar 

  46. ESA/PB-ARIANE/MIN/124, 11-12-13 June 1992, HAEU ESA-16268

    Google Scholar 

  47. Interview with Patrice Brudieu by the author, Paris, 17 June 2015

    Google Scholar 

  48. HOPE, Hermes cooperation, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 29 June 1992, p 13

    Google Scholar 

  49. Consequences of the Changing Political Landscape for Future Space Projects, ESA Bulletin 70, May 1992, pp 10–11

    Google Scholar 

  50. ESA (92)50, 11 June 1991, HAEU ESA-15687

    Google Scholar 

  51. ESA/PB-ARIANE(92)53, 31 August 1992, HAEU ESA-16326

    Google Scholar 

  52. Riesenhuber: Even Unmanned Hermes Unaffordable, JPRS-EST-92-032, 27 October 1992, p 6

    Google Scholar 

  53. Crew Rescue Vehicle for Space Station Studied as Alternative to Hermes Program, 25 May 1992, pp 80–81

    Google Scholar 

  54. L’Europe devrait construire une station Euro-GUS avec la CEI, Air & Cosmos, 15 June 1992, p 51

    Google Scholar 

  55. Europeans in Orbit? Not So Fast, Christian Science Monitor, 17 June 1992, http://www.csmonitor.com/1992/0617/17141.html

  56. L’ESA va passer 500 millions de Roubles de contrats a la Russie pour Hermes, Air & Cosmos, 13 April 1992, p 48

    Google Scholar 

  57. Russia wins ESA contracts, Flight International, 15–21 April 1992, p 6

    Google Scholar 

  58. ESA, Russians in Courting Ritual, Space News, 6–12 April 1992, p 1

    Google Scholar 

  59. Curien Calls for ESA Program Review, Space News, 18–24 May 1992, p 24

    Google Scholar 

  60. ESA May Give Up on Hermes, Space News, 7–13 September 1992, p 20

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hilversum, The Netherlands

    Luc van den Abeelen

Authors
  1. Luc van den Abeelen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

van den Abeelen, L. (2017). Scaling Down: X-2000 and Russia to the Rescue (1991–1992). In: Spaceplane HERMES. Springer Praxis Books(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44472-7_14

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation