Reusable 'Susie' spacecraft could launch future European deep-space missions

Ariane Group is planning to bring astronauts to space.

A new upper stage was announced by the European rocket-launching giant to carry out crewed or uncrewed missions on Arianespace rockets.

Susie is the upper stage that will be mounted on the upcoming Ariane 64 rocket, which will herald fully re-usable rockets in the future.

The International Space Station's legacy is being looked at by NASA.

The first image of 11.

Ariane Group said a modular and flexible space station would fit the needs of multiple clients. Arianespace is a launching entity that is part of the Ariane Group.

"Susie is a completely re-usable rocket stage project," Ariane Group wrote in a Sept. 16 release. It is capable of carrying out many different types of missions in space, whether automated or crewed, and returning to Earth.

The crewed version of Susie would have an abort system that could work at any time. As NASA and its partners reach for crewed Artemis program missions on the moon in the coming decade, load capacity will continue to increase, according to Ariane Group.

Ariane 6 and Vega C are Europe's new "Rideshare" rockets.

Susie would come back to Earth for a soft landing after each mission and be used for future flights. Satellite servicing, manufacturing orbital facilities, dealing with space debris or sending essential items to astronauts are some of the missions it is envisioned for.

The project is built on the existing know-how at Ariane Group. Morena Bernardini, Ariane Group's head of strategy and innovation, said in the same statement that it is consistent with ongoing or future technological developments.

Susie will be able to use several launchers, including the upcoming Ariane 6, according to the company. Susie was designed so that it could fit in the Ariane 6 launch vehicle.

Under the New European Space Transportation Solutions (NESTS) initiative, Susie fits into the European Space Agency's vision of a modular, reuseable launchers that can be built around common building blocks.

Ariane Group said future missions will fly to space hubs and then on to their destination.

Susie was revealed at the International Astronautical Congress in Paris.

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