Phoenix was the prototype of Hopper, a proposed unmanned European reusable launch vehicle. (Phoenix was, besides Penelope and Ariane, originally suggested for the name of Ariane rocket family). Hopper, for which Phoenix is a prototype, was a proposed design, to be more economical than today's space vehicles and even reliable enough for manned space operations. In the first few decades of the 21st century, it might have been the first independent manned European non-military attempt at space operations and could have been an important part of the ISS project. (Compare Vostok 1.) The project appears to have been canceled like the proposed European shuttle, Hermes. Phoenix is part of the German national program ASTRA, a €40 million project founded by the German Federal Government, EADS Astrium Space Transportation and the State of Bremen with one third each. Both EADS and the State of Bremen have already invested another €8.2 million respective €4.3 million out of their own funds. Another contribution of €16 million comes from partner companies such as the Bremen-based OHB-System, DLR and the Federal Ministry for Education and Research. EADS is responsible for the project management and for the entire software equipment of the system. Other partner companies are also involved in the development. The Phoenix RLV prototype is 6.9 meters long (23 ft), has a weight of 1,200 kilograms (2,640 lb), and a wingspan of 3.9 meters (13 ft). The prototype, at one sixth the size of the planned vehicle, is still in the alpha stage of development at Bremen labs of EADS. On Saturday 8 May2004, the prototype was dropped from 2.4 kilometers (8,000 ft) by a helicopter and landed precisely and without incident after a GPS-guided 90 second glide. The test was conducted at the North European Aerospace Test range in Kiruna, 1,240 km (770 miles) north of Stockholm, Sweden. Future tests will involve drops from higher altitude, possibly from a balloon. The primary aim of the test was to assess the glider potential of the craft. The final version of the vehicle must be able to glide from an altitude of 129 kilometers (80 miles).
