A full-scale drop test of the European Space Agency’s Space Rider spaceplane ended abruptly when the test model was lost after its parafoil failed to deploy as planned. The incident occurred during the final system-level drop-test campaign earlier this month.

An anomaly triggered during parafoil deployment prevented the vehicle from gliding to its designated landing zone. ESA confirmed the loss of the test model and announced an independent investigation to identify the root cause and guide future testing.

This marks the second setback for the Space Rider program’s final drop-test phase this year. An earlier attempt in May was aborted during the captive ascent phase when a CH-47 Chinook helicopter carried the test model to altitude. At that time, ESA confirmed the vehicle was recovered safely but noted testing would not resume before October due to range availability.

Previous drop tests in 2024 and 2025 used mass simulators to evaluate parafoil and autonomous landing systems. The current campaign employed a full-scale model matching the spacecraft’s mass, aerodynamic profile, and landing gear, enabling more realistic validation of landing performance.

ESA has not indicated whether a replacement test model will be built or when the next attempt might occur. Despite the setback, the agency maintains that Space Rider’s inaugural flight remains targeted for 2028, with the launch window now expected in the second quarter rather than the first.

The mission will launch atop a Vega C rocket featuring an upgraded P160C first stage from the Guiana Space Centre. This flight is intended to be the first use of the enhanced solid-fuel booster in an operational context.

An earlier version of this report mischaracterized the May test as a failed drop test; it was aborted during ascent.