Space Rider test model lost following failed drop test
ESA has confirmed that a full-scale Space Rider test model was lost following a parafoil deployment anomaly during a drop test earlier this month.
Quick read
This article reports that ESA lost a full-scale Space Rider test model after a parafoil deployment anomaly during a recent drop test. Readers would visit to learn the incident details, its context in the test campaign, and the impact on Space Rider’s schedule.
- Parafoil failed to deploy, causing loss of the test model
- Second setback this campaign; May test was aborted, not failed
- Inaugural flight target slips from Q1 to Q2 2028
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A closer look at Space Rider test model lost following failed drop test
What happened in the Space Rider drop test
ESA confirmed that a full-scale Space Rider test model was lost after a parafoil deployment anomaly during a recent drop test. The parafoil failed to deploy as expected, preventing the model from gliding to the designated landing area. An independent investigation is under way to determine the root cause.
What the test campaign involved and prior attempts
The final system-level drop-test campaign used a full-scale model that replicated the spacecraft’s mass, aerodynamic shape and landing gear to validate landing performance. Earlier in the year, an attempted drop test in May was aborted during the captive ascent phase when a CH-47 Chinook carried the test model to altitude; that vehicle was recovered safely. Earlier drop tests in 2024 and 2025 used mass simulators to test the parafoil and autonomous landing systems.
What this means for Space Rider’s schedule and launch plan
ESA has not said whether it will need a replacement test model or when another test attempt might occur. Despite the lost test model, ESA still expects Space Rider’s inaugural flight in 2028, with the target moved from the first quarter to the second. Space Rider is planned to be launched aboard a Vega C rocket from the Guiana Space Centre using an upgraded P160C first stage.
Questions people ask about Space Rider test model lost following failed drop test
- Was the test model recovered?
- No, ESA said the test model was lost due to the parafoil anomaly.
- Did ESA say when the next test will happen?
- No, ESA has not provided a date or said whether a replacement test model is needed.
- Does this change the inaugural flight date?
- ESA still expects the inaugural flight in 2028, with the target shifted from the first to the second quarter.
Space Rider test model lost following failed drop test was shared on NexURLs by Nexis on October 21, 2026, in News.
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Quick answers
What is Space Rider test model lost following failed drop test?
Space Rider test model lost following failed drop test (europeanspaceflight.com): This article reports that ESA lost a full-scale Space Rider test model after a parafoil deployment anomaly during a recent drop test. Readers would visit to learn the incident details, its context in the test campaign, and the impact on Space Rider’s schedule.
Who shared Space Rider test model lost following failed drop test on NexURLs?
It was shared by Nexis in October 2026. Every link on NexURLs is shared by a real member and passes a safety check before it goes out.
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