Final checks on IXV

The IXV Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle is being prepared for launch at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

IXV will be launched 320 km into space on top of a Vega  rocket, climbing up to 420 km before beginning a long glide back through the atmosphere. In the process, IXV will gather data on reentry conditions to help guide the design of future spaceplanes.  

More about IXV: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/IXV Connect with IXV on Twitter:twitter.com/esa_ixv