ESA's Space Rider progresses: heat shield tests and descent model

deepseek / deepseek-v4-flash

2026-05-08 05:10

Science Scientific Discovery Technology

Article in German Article in Croatian

Sardinien Salto di Quirra

ESA completed testing of Space Rider’s thermal protection system in a plasma wind tunnel at 1600°C.
A full-scale descent test model has been assembled, featuring a parafoil landing system novel for spacecraft.
Space Rider is an uncrewed laboratory that can stay in low Earth orbit for up to two months and return experiments.
Multiple helicopter drop tests are planned over Sardinia later this year.
Tests included simulating surface damage from debris to verify material resilience.