Tym razem za demonstrator oparty o kadlub nosny bierze sie ESA:
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Le Bourget, France (SPX) Jun 18, 2009
ESA and Thales Alenia Space have established the agreement for the
authorisation to proceed with the development of the Intermediate
eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) atmospheric reentry demonstrator.
The IXV project is part of the ESA Future Launchers Preparatory Programme
(FLPP). The objective of IXV is to develop a European autonomous atmospheric
reentry demonstrator system, characterised by high aerodynamic performance
due to its lifting body shape, equipped with a high-performance control
system based on propulsion and aerodynamic surfaces and having advanced
thermal protection for atmospheric reentry.

The vehicle will weigh about 1800 kg and will be launched by Vega from the
European Spaceport in Kourou. The launcher will place the IXV vehicle at an
altitude around 450 km from which IXV will start its flight back to Earth,
smoothly and safely splashing-down in the Pacific Ocean.

http://www.spacemart.com/reports/ESA_And_Thales_Establish_Agreement_For_Deve
lopment_Of_IXV_999.html
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A takie testy robiono juz w USA i ZSRR daaaaawno, daaaawno temu, w latch 60
XXw. (w USA: przy okazji Dynasoar) i w latach 70/80 (w ZSRR: przy okazji
Burana).