Zero 2 Infinity

{{short description|Private Spanish company developing high-altitude balloons}} {{About|the Spanish aerospace company|the 2000 album by Gong|Zero to Infinity}} {{Infobox company | name = Zero 2 Infinity | logo = Zero2infinity_company_logo.png | logo_size = 150px | type = [[Privately held company|Private]] [[Limited liability company|S.L.]] | founder = Jose Mariano López-Urdiales | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = Jose Mariano López-Urdiales (CEO) | industry = [[Aerospace manufacturer|Aerospace]] | products = {{unbulleted list |[[Bloostar]] |Bloon |[[#Elevate|Elevate]]}} | foundation = [[Barcelona]], Spain | location_city = [[Barberà del Vallès]], [[Barcelona]] | location_country = Spain<ref>{{cite web|title=zero2infinity Company Information|url=https://www.zero2infinity.space/contact/}}</ref> | homepage = {{URL|http://www.zero2infinity.space/}} }}

[[File:Space Tourism The New Frontier (48859073952).jpg|thumb|José Mariano López Urdiales in October 2019]]

'''Zero 2 Infinity''' ('''0II<big>∞</big>''', sometimes rendered as '''Zero2Infinity''') is a private Spanish [[company]] developing [[high-altitude balloon]]s intended to provide access to [[near space]] and [[low Earth orbit]] using a balloon-borne pod and a balloon-borne [[launch vehicle|launcher]].

The company was founded in 2009 by [[aerospace engineer]] Jose Mariano López-Urdiales, the current CEO. It is headquartered in [[Barberà del Vallès]], [[Barcelona]], Spain.

Zero 2 Infinity has been testing high-altitude balloons and launching small payloads to high altitudes for scientific institutions and commercial firms for testing elements above most of the Earth's atmosphere. Their launch system has a significantly lower impact on the environment, an advantage over conventional systems. The company's pod named Bloon may also be used for tourism.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Betancourt|first1=Mark|title=See The World From 100,000 Feet|journal=Air & Space|date=July 2015|url=http://www.airspacemag.com/space/see-world-100000-feet-180955329/|access-date=9 July 2015}}</ref> In late 2016, its CEO had suggested that commercial flights could take place as early as 2019.<ref name="thelocal_es201611">{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.es/20161105/spains-zero2infinity-to-send-tourists-to-space-in-two-yearsspains|title=Spain's Zero2Infinity to send tourists to space in two years|date=5 November 2016|access-date=6 November 2016|work=thelocal.es|author=thelocal.es}}</ref> As of 2020, the company aims to carry paying passengers to above 30 km altitude by 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.elpais.com/science_tech/2020-01-30/from-andalusia-to-space-a-zero-emissions-odyssey.html|title = From Andalusia to space: A zero-emissions odyssey|date = 30 January 2020}}</ref>

== Products == The company has three main offerings:

* Bloostar: a balloon-borne [[launch vehicle|launcher]] for carrying payloads such as [[small satellite|small]], [[small satellite#Microsatellites|micro]], and [[nanosatellite]]s to orbit, based on [[rockoon]] technology. * Bloon: a balloon-borne zero emission craft for launching crewed vehicles to near space for scientific research, educational and also [[space tourism]] purposes.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Emanuelli|first1=Matteo|title=Zero2Infinity, a New Way for Space Tourism|url=http://www.spacesafetymagazine.com/spaceflight/commercial-spaceflight/zero2infinity-space-tourism/|website=Space Safety Magazine|access-date=9 July 2015|date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> * Elevate: a service provided to fly payloads to near space for science, communications, satellite testing, meteorology and marketing purposes.

===Bloostar=== {{Infobox rocket |logo =  |logo_size =  |image =  |image_size =  |caption =

|name = Bloostar |function = launcher to [[low Earth orbit]]  |manufacturer = Zero 2 Infinity |country-origin = Spain

|pcost =  |cpl =  |alt-cpl =  |cpl-year =

|height = |diameter =  |width =  |mass =  |stages = 3

|capacities =  {{Infobox rocket/payload |location = [[Low Earth orbit|LEO]]  |kilos = {{cvt|140|kg|abbr=on}} }} {{Infobox rocket/payload |location = [[sun-synchronous orbit|SSO]]  |kilos = {{cvt|75|kg|abbr=on}} }}

|family =  |derivatives =  |comparable =

|status = under development  |sites = [[El Arenosillo]]  |launches =  |success =  |fail =  |partial =  |other_outcome =  |landings =  |first =  |last =  |only =  |payloads =

|stagedata =

{{Infobox rocket/stage |type =  |diff =  |stageno =  |name =  |number =  |length =  |diameter =  |width =  |empty =  |gross =  |propmass =  |engines =  |solid =  |thrust =  |total =  |SI =  |burntime =  |fuel = [[Liquid methane]]/[[LOX]] }} }} [[File:Bloostar_launch_phases.jpg|thumb|Bloostar launch cycle]]

'''Bloostar''' is a [[launch vehicle]] currently in development, intended to compete in the [[small satellite]] launch market.<ref name=Henry14>{{cite news|last1=Henry|first1=Caleb|title=Zero2infiniti Announces Bloostar Launch Vehicle, More than $200 Million Pre-Booked Sales|url=http://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2014/10/16/zero2infiniti-announces-bloostar-launch-vehicle-more-than-200-million-pre-booked-sales/|access-date=9 July 2015|agency=Satellite Today|date=October 16, 2014}}</ref> It is based on the [[rockoon]] concept: the first stage of the ascent is conducted by the use of a [[high-altitude balloon]] up to {{Convert|30|km|mi|abbr=on}}, where the [[rocket]] platform is ignited and detached from the balloon to insert the payload into [[orbit]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Szondy|first1=David|title=zero2infinity mixes balloons and rockets to launch nanosats|url=http://www.gizmag.com/zero2infinity-balloon-rocket-launch/34315/|access-date=9 July 2015|agency=gizmag|date=October 21, 2014}}</ref> The design is intended to be capable of delivering a 140 kg payload to a 200-km [[low Earth orbit]], or a 75 kg payload to a 600-km [[Sun-synchronous orbit]].<ref name=Henry17>{{cite news|last1=Henry|first1=Caleb|title= Zero 2 Infinity conducts first flight test of Bloostar balloon-assisted launcher|url=http://spacenews.com/zero-2-infinity-conducts-first-flight-test-of-bloostar-balloon-assisted-launcher/|access-date=29 April 2018|agency=Space News|date=March 14, 2017}}</ref><ref name=PayloadUsersGuide>{{cite web|website=zero2infinity.com|title= Bloostar Launch Vehicle Payload User's Guide|url=http://www.zero2infinity.space/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Z2I-BS-TN-1-0316-R2-Bloostar-Payload-User-Guide.pdf|access-date=29 April 2018|date=January 2018}}</ref>

==== Design ==== The launch vehicle is composed of a set of liquid fuel engines clustered as concentric [[toroid]]s attached to the central payload. Each toroid works as a stage during the rocket climb once it has been ignited from around 30 km (19 mi) above ground level. The stages are progressively separated from the vehicle, similarly to conventional satellite launch using a rocket with [[parallel staging]].

The design includes a total of 13 engines split across three stages using methalox ([[Methane#Liquid-methane rocket fuel|liquid methane]] and [[liquid oxygen]]) fuel, with the first and second using [[Filament winding|filament-wound]] [[carbon fiber]] tanks, and the third using "flexible multilayer tanks". The first, outermost stage is a toroid weighing nearly 4t with six ''Teide 2'' engines each producing 15 kN of thrust; the second stage is a smaller (700kg) toroid with six smaller ''Teide 1'' engines each producing 2 kN of thrust; the 400kg third stage is positioned at the centre of the toroids with a single Teide 1 engine. By using propellant crossfeed, all available engines will fire simultaneously but only the fuel tank in the outermost stage will be depleted at a time, increasing performance. As the engines will only ever fire at very high altitude, all 13 will be optimized to produce maximum thrust in vacuum or near-vacuum conditions, similar to the upper-stage engines of conventional rockets.<ref name=Henry18>{{cite news|last1=Henry|first1=Caleb|title= Zero 2 Infinity gets 3D-printed engine part for Bloostar launch vehicle|url=http://spacenews.com/zero-2-infinity-gets-3d-printed-engine-part-for-bloostar-launch-vehicle/|access-date=29 April 2018|agency=Space News|date=22 March 2018}}</ref><ref name=Henry17/><ref name=PayloadUsersGuide/> Due to their high-altitude-only use, much lower combustion chamber pressures are required and thus a simple [[pressure-fed engine]] design is used, substantially reducing cost and complexity by omitting [[turbopump]]s.<ref name=OrbMech>{{cite news|agency=The Orbital Mechanics Podcast|title=Episode 103: DOWNLINK--Zero 2 Infinity|url=https://theorbitalmechanics.com/show-notes/zero2infinity|access-date=29 April 2018|date=4 April 2017}}</ref> The combustion chambers for the Teide 1 engines are [[3D printing|3D printed]] by the [[Andalusian Foundation for Aerospace Development]].<ref name=Henry18/>

The use of several toroid-shaped stages results in an increased stand-off distance to the sonic line during [[atmospheric entry]], reducing the possibility of damaging the stages because of the high temperatures reached. Another promoted advantage is the capability to launch satellites with no need of folding them, as a flat-shaped vehicle is capable of fitting panel-deployed satellites right from the launch site.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Reyes|first1=Tim|title=Balloon launcher Zero2Infinity Sets Its Sights to the Stars|journal=Universe Today|date=October 17, 2014|url=http://www.universetoday.com/115391/balloon-launcher-zero2infinity-sets-its-sights-to-the-stars/|access-date=9 July 2015}}</ref>

The balloon components will be landed and potentially reused. According to López Urdiales, the Bloostar rocket launch vehicle ''"has been designed to be [[reusable launch system|reusable]], technically, but not as part of the business plan. The engines burn methane and oxygen for many reasons, but one is that it creates less soot and leaves the engines reusable. Also, the shape of a torus has been selected to reduce the aero-heating on reentry. The optimal shape in vacuum is similar to the optimal shape for reentry (blunt). The optimal shape for ascent is very different (slender). Bloostar has been designed from its ignition taking into account ‘the way back down.’ It's easier to do if the ‘way up’ is taken care of by the balloon."''<ref name=Henry16>{{cite news|last1=Henry|first1=Caleb|title=Zero2infinity Lays Out Goals for Balloon-Rocket Launch System |url=https://www.satellitetoday.com/business/2016/03/23/zero2infinity-lays-out-goals-for-balloon-rocket-launch-system/|access-date=29 April 2018|agency=Satellite Today|date=23 March 2016}}</ref> Recovery will be attempted, however, and consideration has been given for an eventual system by which the first stage will descent top-down, using a portion of its dorsal fairing as an ablative [[heat shield]], and slow to be caught in a sea-based net.<ref name=OrbMech/>

==== Development history ==== Development of Bloostar began in 2013. The first flight test was successfully conducted in March 2017, in which a less-than-half-scale prototype of the upper two stages was carried to 25 km altitude by balloon, separated, made a short burn using a small solid motor, and then was recovered intact by parachute.<ref name=Henry17/><ref name=OrbMech/> According to the Payload User's Guide, Phase 2 of development will follow, which will involve suborbital flights of '''nanobloorstar''' (a third stage from a production Bloostar) with a 75 kg payload to 180 km altitude.<ref name=PayloadUsersGuide/>

At that time of the 2017 test flight the first commercial launch was projected for 2019.<ref name=Henry17/> However, López Urdiales subsequently noted this date could potentially slip as Zero 2 Infinity focused on its revenue-generating Elevate product line.<ref name=Henry18 />

===Bloon=== [[File:Microbloon2.0_1.jpg|thumb|right|Picture taken at high altitude during the microbloon 2.0 flight from November 2012]]Bloon is a zero emission craft in development, which consists of a high-altitude balloon-borne capsule to perform crewed flights to near space and a steerable parachute system for returning autonomously to Earth. It also refers to the balloon-borne craft prototype range of the same company: Bloon, Minibloon, Microbloon and Nanobloon, which are differentiated among them by their size.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Yanes|first1=Javier|title=Escapadas espaciales: cuatro opciones para salir de este planeta (a precios astronómicos)|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.es/2014/11/23/viajes-espaciales_n_6151132.html#|access-date=9 July 2015|agency=The Huffington Post|date=November 23, 2014|language=es}}</ref>

Considering that only a [[helium]] balloon is responsible for lifting the load above most of the atmosphere, it is considered a [[zero emission]] craft.<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Ceallaigh|first1=John|title=Travel to space by Bloon|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/travel/44283/travel-to-space-by-bloon.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905100719/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/travel/44283/travel-to-space-by-bloon.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 5, 2014|access-date=9 July 2015|agency=Daily Telegraph|date=September 4, 2014}}</ref> With this technology, Bloon would carry up to 4 passengers and 2 pilots (6 total crew) to an altitude as high as 36 km (22 mi, 118,110 feet).<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Murrin|first1=Mark|title=Helium balloon to offer near-space tourism within a few years|journal=Tech-Stew|date=June 13, 2012|url=http://tech-stew.com/post/2012/06/13/Helium-balloon-to-offer-near-space-tourism-within-a-few-years.aspx|access-date=9 July 2015}}</ref> The vehicle would take from 1.5 to 2 hours to reach maximum altitude, and then stay there for up to 2 hours, with a final descent by steerable parachute after releasing the balloon, using airbags to smooth the landing.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cruddas|first1=Sarah|title=Near-space 'ballooning' could become next space travel trend|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/science/near-space-ballooning-could-become-next-space-travel-trend|access-date=9 July 2015|agency=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=March 6, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Microbloon_3.0_1.png|thumb|Part of the Bloon prototype being tested in September 2013.]]

=== Elevate === '''Elevate''' is a service provided to lift payloads to near space on a stratospheric balloon platform for purposes such as testing of (components of) spacecraft, drop tests, celestial observation or publicity. The useful load on a stratospheric zero pressure balloon can range from several kilograms to over 5000 kg and the target altitude varies between 20 and 42 kilometers. The duration at altitude or ‘float’ can be extended from hours to several days or even weeks depending on the launch location. Additional solutions such as solar arrays, battery power or advanced return options such as a guided parafoil (as opposed to a traditional parachute) and tailor-made solutions to customer requirements are also offered as part of the Elevate service.

== Flights == Zero 2 Infinity reports that it has conducted over 30 flights as of 2016.<ref name="thelocal_es201611"/> The most important flights for Bloon are listed below<ref>{{cite web|last1=López-Urdiales|first1=José Mariano|title=NEAr-Space high-altitude balloons: the alternative for space tourism and science|date=March 12, 2014|url=http://www.sciops.esa.int/SD/ESACFACULTY/docs/seminars/120314_LopezUrdiales.pdf|access-date=9 July 2015|location=European Space Astronomy Centre, Madrid (Spain)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710074734/http://www.sciops.esa.int/SD/ESACFACULTY/docs/seminars/120314_LopezUrdiales.pdf|archive-date=10 July 2015}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Flight Designation !! Date !! Reached altitude (km) !! Reached altitude (miles) !! Reached altitude (feet) !! Crewed or Uncrewed |- | nanobloon 1.0 || November 2009 || 32 km || 20 mi || 104,987 feet || Uncrewed |- | nanobloon 2.0 || June 2010 || 33 km || 21 mi || 108,268 feet || Uncrewed |- | microbloon 1.0 || October 2010 || 24 km || 15 mi || 78,740 feet || Uncrewed |- | microbloon 2.0 || May 2012 || (non-successful flight) || (non-successful flight) || (non-successful flight) || Uncrewed |- | microbloon 2.0 || November 2012 || 31 km || 19 mi || 101,706 feet || Uncrewed |- | microbloon 3.0 || September 2013 || 27 km || 17 mi || 88,583 feet || Uncrewed |- |Bloon model |January 2017 |Tethered |Tethered |Tethered |Uncrewed |}

On March 1, 2017, Zero 2 Infinity ignited its first rocket from Near Space, a Bloostar prototype. The flight took place at the [[Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial|INTA]] (Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial) facilities in [[El Arenosillo]], Huelva. The balloon that took Bloostar to 25 km was launched from a boat in the Gulf of Cadiz. At 25 km the ignition of the rocket took place. The''' '''goals of the mission were: (i) validation of the telemetry systems in Space conditions, (ii) controlled ignition, (iii) stabilization of the rocket, (iv) monitoring of the launch sequence, (v) parachute deployment, and finally, (vi) sea recovery. All these goals were achieved in full.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.zero2infinity.space/updates/zero-2-infinity-successfully-launches-first-rocket-edge-space/|title=Zero 2 Infinity Successfully Launches its First Rocket from the Edge of Space - Z2I|date=2017-03-13|work=Z2I|access-date=2017-05-09|language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also== * {{annotated link|PLD Space}} * [[World View Enterprises]], another near-space-balloon-tourism company * [[Deimos-One]], a private American launch services company

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons|zero2infinity}} * [http://www.zero2infinity.space Zero 2 Infinity official website]

[[Category:Aerospace companies]] [[Category:Companies based in Barcelona]] [[Category:Private spaceflight companies]] [[Category:Balloons (aeronautics)]] [[Category:Space launch vehicles of Spain]] [[Category:Aerospace companies of Spain]] [[Category:Space launch vehicles of Europe]]