CNES “HERMES” [AEROSPATIALE,1985]
Notes:
Aerospatiale's Hermés proposal from 1985. The French national space agency CNES awarded the prime industrial contract to Aerospatiale in October 1985. The losing finalists, Dassault-Breguet, would be responsible for the spaceplane's aerodynamic design. CNES expected the total program cost to be about $1.9 billion, including $1.1 billion for development and contruction of two vehicles. France hoped 50% of the funding would come from other ESA countries.
Aerospatiale's Hermés cockpit proposal from 1985 was based on the same computer displays as the Airbus commercial airliner. When ESA started its preliminary Phase B2 study in May 1986 the estimated cost of Hermés was $1.5 billion plus $1.9 for its Ariane-5 carrier rocket. ESA agreed to a $35-million contract extension in October 1986 to define the mini-shuttle's use and mission roles. The French government announced it would finance 45% while the Germans approved a 30% share.
