ESA Space Rider parafoil failure halts descent test campaign

A Space Rider drop test ended in a crash when the main parafoil detached from the mock-up during deployment. The European Space Agency confirmed the failure, which occurred during the final system-level release test in October, destroying the prototype at the Salto di Quirra range in Sardinia.

The initial drogue parachute deployed successfully after the full-scale model was released from a helicopter at approximately three kilometers altitude. Géraldine Naja, ESA's director of space transportation, stated the problem came next. "Unfortunately, the parafoil detached itself from the mock-up," she said. Without the large steerable wing to control its descent, the test model crashed into the ground. The vehicle was a minivan-sized, full-scale stand-in for the 4.6-meter-long reentry module, assembled to evaluate descent and landing systems.

Investigation and status

An independent investigation board has been established to determine the root cause of the parafoil detachment. Investigators have not yet identified what caused the failure. Teams recovered remnants of the crashed test model.

ESA does not currently expect the failure to delay the development of Space Rider. Naja confirmed the remaining qualification activities are not on the critical path to flight. The agency noted that several successful tests using representative vehicle masses had been completed previously. The schedule will be reviewed once the investigation board completes its work and defines the next steps for the descent and landing qualification campaign.

Program context

Space Rider is being developed as Europe’s first reusable uncrewed orbital spacecraft. It is designed to carry scientific experiments into low Earth orbit for up to two months before returning them to Earth for recovery. The vehicle uses a lifting-body design that relies on a 27-meter-long, 10-meter-wide steerable parafoil for runway-style touchdowns.

The failed test was intended to demonstrate the complete descent and landing sequence. The qualification campaign began in 2025. A previous drop test in May was aborted due to a sensor issue, and the testing range was unavailable from June through September. Earlier successes had demonstrated parafoil deployment and autonomous capabilities. Separate thermal protection tests this year exposed heat-shield materials to temperatures around 2,900 degrees Fahrenheit in plasma wind tunnel trials.

Path to launch

ESA is still targeting the first half of 2028 for the vehicle’s inaugural flight. Its debut is theoretically scheduled for the second quarter of that year. Space Rider will fly aboard a Vega C rocket. Thales Alenia Space, the industrial leader of the tests and co-contractor with Avio, is leading the spacecraft's development. Development work can continue while the cause of the October failure is investigated.

The investigation board will define next steps for the Space Rider descent and landing qualification campaign.