ESA Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV)

IXV was ESA’s uncrewed lifting-body reentry demonstrator, built by Thales Alenia Space Italia to test controlled return at speeds representative of low Earth orbit. On 11 February 2015 it flew a suborbital Vega mission, used thrusters and two aerodynamic flaps for guidance, and descended under parachutes for Pacific splashdown and recovery by Nos Aries. Its wingless body carried thermal-protection experiments and instrumentation; the flight supplied experience for Europe’s later Space Rider development. IXV was recovered for examination rather than operated as a reusable orbital transport.