Full replay from liftoff to splashdown for IXV reentry mission

ESA's Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle, IXV, was lofted 340 km into space atop a Vega rocket, flight VV04, from Kourou in French Guiana on 11 February 2015. After separation from Vega, IXV coasted to 412 km before beginning a punishing glide back through the atmosphere. During its autonomous flight, IXV tested the latest technologies and critical systems to extend Europe’s capability for space exploration. The Nos Aries recovery ship, waiting for IXV, received precious flight data transmitted by the spaceplane during its descent and before its safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

The spaceplane will undergo further analysis in Europe.

More about IXV: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/IXV

Connect with IXV on Twitter: twitter.com/esa_ixv