The TEXUS project is a sounding rocket program with the primary aim to investigate the properties and behaviour of materials, chemicals and biological substances in a microgravity environment.
The TEXUS program gives around six minutes of microgravity. The programme started in 1977 and is carried out at Esrange Space Center jointly by DLR and EADS Astrium. SSC is responsible for the launch operations. The TEXUS campaigns are sometimes financed by ESA or jointly financed by DLR and ESA.
TEXUS 48
The rocket vehicle Skylark 7 was used very successfully for the first 25 years until the motor was no longer available. The Brazilian motor VSB-30 has been used for the TEXUS programme since 2005 and will be used to launch the TEXUS 48 payload to around 270 km altitude.
Almost all customer personnel has arrived at Esrange Space Center and buildup of the rocket is in progress.
The payload consists of two technical and one biological experiments.
The first countdown is planned for November 3 2011.
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SSC Campaign information for TEXUS 48
