VORTEX (Véhicule Orbital Réutilisable de Transport et d’Exploration)

A Strategic Asset for Power and Autonomy

As an architect and integrator of complex airborne systems, Dassault Aviation intends to take advantage of its space expertise to develop spaceplane solutions that disrupt current systems.

VORTEX (Véhicule Orbital Réutilisable de Transport et d’Exploration)

Designed to operate in space and return to Earth like an aircraft, these intrinsically dual-use vehicles have the potential to transform space operations—enabling new applications across commercial, scientific, and military missions.

  • Space transportation to orbital stations
  • Free Flyer autonomous orbital platform
  • In-orbit servicing
  • Pre-positioning of assets in orbit
  • Intervention in space

Specifications

  • Orbital and atmospheric maneuvrability
  • Reutilisability
  • Runway landing
  • Large bay

VORTEX Roadmap

Dassault Aviation intends to build on the Newspace models, through:

  • Inherently dual-use architectures
  • A business model meeting the expectations of the new space economy
  • Partnerships with the best players in the orbital sector
  • International partnerships to expand market opportunities
  • Public/private partnerships aligning the VORTEX roadmap with institutional roadmaps

An incremental innovation process to initiate, adapt and accelerate the development of spaceplane capabilities

  • Phase 1 : VORTEX – D – Flight Demonstrator Scale 1:3
  • Phase 2: VORTEX – S – Smart Free Flyer Scale 2:3
  • Phase 3: VORTEX – C – Cargo Scale 1:1
  • Phase 4: VORTEX – M – Manned Scale 1:1

Missions

  • Objects Retrieval
  • Payload Delivery
  • In-Orbit Servicing and intervention
  • Transport to Space Stations

VORTEX – D: Flight Demonstration

An incremental innovation process to initiate, adapt and accelerate the development of spaceplane capabilities
Objectives

  • Mitigate the risks associated with the configuration of the spaceplane in the critical phases of hypersonic re-entry
  • Validate flight control principles
  • Integrate and test a number of key systems and technologies
Video "VORTEX" Photo Gallery "VORTEX" MediaPro Photo

To Discover

IXV (Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle)