European Space Agency Space Rider prototype crashes during test

A full-scale prototype of the Space Rider, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) first reusable orbital vehicle, crashed in Sardinia, Italy, during a descent test in early October. The incident occurred during a drop test from a helicopter at an altitude of approximately 3 kilometers.

While the initial stabilizer parachute deployed correctly, the main steerable parafoil detached immediately after deployment. Deprived of its primary braking and guidance system, the minivan-sized model entered an uncontrolled freefall and struck the ground. ESA confirmed that all debris has been recovered for analysis.

The Space Rider program, led by Thales Alenia Space and Avio, aims to provide Europe with an uncrewed orbital laboratory capable of two-month missions. Despite this setback, ESA stated that an independent investigation is underway to determine the root cause and maintains that the overall project timeline, which targets a debut in the second quarter of 2028, should not be significantly impacted.