TEXUS is a European/German sounding rocket programme, serving the microgravity programmes of ESA and DLR. The launches are conducted from Esrange in Sweden.

The first mission was conducted on 13 December 1977, using a British Skylark rocket. All missions up to TEXUS-41 in 2004 were conducted using Skylark rockets. Following the Skylark's retirement in 2005, TEXUS launches switched to the Brazilian VSB-30 rocket.

Texus Missions

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Mission Date Launch site Motor Apogee Payload Modules Comments Reference Report
Texus 34 1996 Mar 2 Esrange Skylark 7 232 km 392 kg 4/DLR Esrange EUK112-9613
Texus 35 1996 Nov 24 Esrange Skylark 7 267 km 331 kg 4/(DLR+ESA) Esrange EUK114-9704
Texus 36 1998 Feb 7 Esrange Skylark 7 238 km
Texus 37 2000 Mar 27 Esrange Skylark 7 245 km 369 kg Esrange EUK130-E2
Texus 38 2000 Apr 2 Esrange Skylark 7 250 km 369 kg Parachute failed; Science OK Esrange EUK130-E2
Texus 39 2001 May 8 Esrange Skylark 7 248 km 362 kg 4/DLR Esrange EUK148-E11
Texus 40 2003 Apr 8 Esrange Skylark 7 246 km 364 kg 4/DLR Esrange EUK154-E19
Texus 41 2004 Dec 2 Esrange Skylark 7 230 km 402 kg 4/DLR Esrange EUK163-E21
Texus 42 2005 Dec 1 Esrange VSB-30 263 km 372 kg 1/DLR, 1/ESA
Texus 43 2006 May 11 Esrange VSB-30 237 km 407 kg 3/ESA Esrange EUK170-E19
Texus 44 2008 Feb 7 Esrange VSB-30 264 km 373 kg 3/ESA Esrange EUK173-E42
Texus 45 2008 Feb 21 Esrange VSB-30 264 km 357 kg 2/DLR, 1/ESA Esrange EUK174-E17
Texus 46 2009 Nov 22 Esrange VSB-30 252 km 392.9 kg 1/ESA+DLR, 1/ESA+JAXA
Texus 47 2009 Nov 29 Esrange VSB-30 263.6 km 373.5 kg 4
Texus 48 2011 Nov 30 Esrange VSB-30 263 km Test of propellant handling[1]
Texus 49 2011 Mar 29 Esrange VSB-30 268 km kg [2]
Texus 50 2013 Apr 12 Esrange VSB-30 261 km kg [3]
Texus 51 2015 Apr 23 Esrange VSB-30 259 km kg [4]
Texus 52 2015 Apr 27 Esrange VSB-30 km kg [5]
Texus 53 2016 Jan 23 Esrange VSB-30 km kg [6]
Texus 54 2018 May 13 Esrange VSB-30 239 km kg [7]
Texus 55 2018 May 31 Esrange VSB-30 255 km kg [7]
Texus 56 2019 Nov 15 Esrange VSB-30 265 km 386 kg 3 (2x ESA, 1x DLR)
Texus 57 2022 Oct 01 Esrange VSB-30 240 km 4 (3x DLR, 1x ESA)
Texus 58 2023 Apr 24 Esrange VSB-30 250 km 387.4 kg 3 (3x ESA) Landed in Norway
Texus 59 2024 Feb 15 Esrange VSB-30 264.5 km 388 kg 3 (2x ESA, 1x DLR)
Texus 60 2024 Mar 24 Esrange VSB-30 251.7 km 408 kg 3 (2x ESA, 1x JAXA)

MiniTexus Missions

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Mission Date Launch site Motor Apogee Payload Modules Comments Reference Report
MiniTexus 1 1993 Nov 29 Esrange Nike Orion
MiniTexus 2 1994 May 3 Esrange Nike Orion
MiniTexus 3 1995 May 2 Esrange Nike Orion 125 km 200 kg 1/DLR Successful Esrange EUK109-66
MiniTexus 4 1995 Apr 29 Esrange Nike Orion 148 km 162 kg 2/DLR Successful Esrange EUK109-66
MiniTexus 5 1998 Feb 11 Esrange Nike Orion
MiniTexus 6 1998 Dec 3 Esrange Nike Orion

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Europe prepares new technologies for future launchers". SpaceDaily. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  2. ^ "DLR - Space Administration - TEXUS 49 lifts off with four German experiments on board". www.dlr.de.
  3. ^ DLR. "DLR Portal". DLR Portal.
  4. ^ DLR. "DLR Portal". DLR Portal.
  5. ^ "TEXUS 51/52". 29 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Blog". www.grimm-space-research.com. Archived from the original on 2018-12-05. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  7. ^ a b "TEXUS 54/55 successfully launched from Esrange Space Center". 31 May 2018.