Technology RoadmappIng Strategy, TRIS: methodology and tool for Technology Roadmaps for hypersonic and re-entry space transportation systems

Abstract This paper describes the methodology developed by Politecnico di Torino in support to the elaboration of hypersonic and re-entry space transportation systems roadmaps, currently on going at ESA. TRIS (Technology RoadmappIng Strategy) is here presented as a collection of algorithms leading the stakeholders from the selection of a set of elements (e.g. the technologies) up to the generation of their incremental paths towards a final target (e.g. Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8). In particular this paper focuses on the generation and update of technology roadmaps for hypersonic and re-entry systems. In particular, the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) experiment is presented as validation case study, allowing the comparison of the TRL increase path suggested by the proposed methodology and the decisions that were taken at the time of the IXV mission planning.