CALLISTO

CALLISTO (Cooperative Action Leading to Launcher Innovation in Stage Toss-back Operations) is a reusable VTVL demonstrator[1] propelled by a small 40 kN Japanese LOX-LH2 rocket engine.

[5] Companies such as SpaceX had demonstrated their own progress in the field, leading to agencies in Russia, China, and Europe announcing their own reusable rocket projects.

According, these nations begun to collaborate on a tentative research effort that would crystalise as CALLISTO; a test rocket aimed at investigating, demonstrating, and maturing relevant technologies in the field of reusability.

It will be modified to generate 15 percent greater thrust and to provide a throttling range from 16 to 46 kN, permitting adequate control of the vehicle during the landing phase.

[6] Experience and technologies are being drawn from multiple existing programmes, including the Vega expendable launch system and the Space Rider lifting body spaceplane.

The flight control system incorporates a total of four deployable fins, along with two electromechanical actuators to gimble the engine, and eight hydrogen peroxide thrusters amongst other elements.