Test flight ends in crash

A full-scale model of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Space Rider spacecraft crashed after its guidance sail detached during a test flight in October. The model was released from about 3 kilometers above an Italian army test field, and while a small braking parachute deployed normally, the large steerable sail, meant to guide the vehicle, separated during deployment. The model then fell without anything to slow it down.

ESA confirms test failure

An ESA spokesperson told Space.com that the test "was not carried out as planned due to an anomaly during the deployment sequence of the parafoil," and an independent investigation has been launched. The ESA assured that the accident will not delay the Space Rider program, though guided landing, a prerequisite for reuse, has never been achieved with a full-scale vehicle.

Space Rider's landing challenge

Without its sail, Space Rider cannot land on a runway. The spacecraft is designed to carry scientific experiments into low Earth orbit for up to two months before returning them to Earth for analysis. It has no wings and relies on a steerable sail, controlled by onboard computers, to direct it toward a runway after re-entering the atmosphere. Active capsules currently use simple parachutes, which offer less precision.

Earlier successful test

In June 2025, the Thales Alenia Space team successfully tested a concrete-loaded metal pallet equipped with sensors, achieving a precision landing using a sail from 2.5 kilometers altitude to within 150 meters of the planned landing site. However, the October model tested was a full-scale replica of the re-entry module, with avionics responsible for autonomous guidance. This vehicle, the size of a minivan, was intended to validate the entire descent until contact with the ground.

Future plans and delays

The ESA had previously announced a first flight to the Azores before 2030. Géraldine Naja, director of space transportation at the ESA, stated during a press briefing that the test may not force a change to the schedule or remaining qualification activities, as these tests are not on the critical path for Space Rider. The first flight date depends on other program steps.

Launch vehicle concerns

The ESA had previously planned a first flight in 2027 but now speaks of a mission before the end of the decade, with a landing on the island of Santa Maria in the Azores, as agreed upon in an agreement signed with Portugal in November 2025. Josef Aschbacher, director general of the ESA, warned that Europe will "probably" lack Ariane 6 by the end of the decade, though the agency will wait until early 2027 for solid demand estimates before acting. Ariane 6 is set to resume flights by late November with 36 Amazon Leo satellites after a weeks-long stoppage due to a turbo-pump anomaly.