The European Space Agency's $44 million, Aerospatiale-built, Atmospheric Re-entry Demonstrator (ARD) craft is pictured awaiting recovery in the Pacific Ocean after its 1h 43m suborbital flight aboard the Ariane 503, launched on 21 October (Flight International, 28 October-3 November). The ARD was deployed from the 503 at T+12min, at 216km, and reached a peak altitude of 830km before making an Apollo-type re-entry at a speed of 27,130km/h. Its global positioning system-assisted guidance and control system limited deceleration to a maximum of 3.5g.
Source: Flight International