CALLISTO: A Demonstrator for Reusable Launcher Key Technologies

Abstract

JAXA, CNES and DLR have decided to join their force to develop and fly a scaled reusable VTVL rocket stage called CALLISTO (Cooperative Action Leading to Launcher Innovation in Stage Toss - back Operations). This vehicle will pave the way for future reusable launch vehicles. One of its main goals is to demonstrate the mastering of key techniques and technologies that will be needed later by operational reusable launch vehicles. Indeed in the frame of CALLISTO numerous challenging technologies are being matured for the specific case of reusable launch vehicles. The challenges of a selection of key technologies developed for CALLISTO are discussed and the solutions retained for CALLISTO are presented.