Callisto

Active Re-Usable

National Center of Space Research (CNES)

None

Description

Callisto is a demonstrator designed to conduct flight testing and mature the complex technologies required to return a launcher to Earth, as well as refurbishment operations between flights, and to precisely cost an operational European launcher with a reusable first stage (it is not intended to become an operational launcher). Standing for “Cooperative Action Leading to Launcher Innovation in Stage Toss-back Operations”, Callisto is a project being pursued with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the German space agency DLR. A large number of international contractors are also contributing to the experiment, among them ArianeGroup and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Specifications
  • Stages
    1
  • Length
    13.0 m
  • Diameter
    1.1 m
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
  • Thrust
    46.0 kN
  • Apogee (Sub-Orbital)
    20.0 km
Family
  • Name
    Callisto
  • Family
  • Variant
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Callisto
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

National Center of Space Research

Government
CEO: François Jacq
CNES 1961

The National Center of Space Research, or CNES, is a French National Agency in charge of France's space program. In partnership with the US and Russia, they have put 10 people in space. CNES works in tandem with the larger ESA to develop the Ariane 5 and work on other probes and satellites. They are working with Germany to develop a cheaper and more efficient reusable rocket, which hopefully will be ready to fly by 2026.

Upcoming Spaceflights


Callisto | Flight 1

National Center of Space Research | France
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
TBD December, 2027
Status: To Be Determined
Mission:

First test flight of the Callisto VTVL demonstrator.

Suborbital Callisto - Maiden Flight Diamant Launch Area Landing Pad
Explore Share

Falcon 9
Success
2 days, 13 hours ago
NROL-105
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Twelfth batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Office …


Ceres-2
Failure
2 days, 13 hours ago
Demo Flight
Launch Area 95A - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

First test launch of Galactic Energy’s Ceres-2 rocket.


Long March 3B/E
Failure
3 days, 1 hour ago
Shijian 32
Launch Complex 2 (LC-2) - Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Chinese experimental spacecraft of unknown purposes.


Ceres-1S
Success
3 days, 21 hours ago
Tianqi 37-40
Rizhao offshore launch location - Haiyang Oriental Spaceport

4 small satellites for LEO Internet of Things (IoT) communication purposes.


Long March 2C
Success
4 days, 14 hours ago
AlSat 3A
Launch Area 94 (SLS-2 / 603) - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Earth observation satellite built by China's CAST for the Algerian Space Agency.