Space Rider

Overview

Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Mission: Technology

Low Earth Orbit Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV) Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Maiden flight of the European Space Rider (Space Reusable Integrated Demonstrator for Europe Return).

Vega-C

Family:
Configuration: Block 2

Specifications
  • Stages
    4
  • Length
    34.8 m
  • Diameter
    3.0 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    3.3 m
  • Launch Mass
    ―
  • Thrust
    ―
Family
  • Name
    Vega-C
  • Family
    ―
  • Variant
    Block 2
  • Alias
    ―
  • Full Name
    Vega-C Block 2
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    ―
  • Low Earth Orbit
    ―
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    ―
  • Direct Geostationary
    ―
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    ―

Space Rider


In-active Cargo Unmanned Payload Capacity: 600 kg
Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Serial Number: None

European reusable spaceplane

Space Rider Details

Avio S.p.A

Avio S.p.A

(Avio)

CEO: Giulio Ranzo Founded: 1908 Successes: 2 Failures: 0 Pending: 24

Agency Type:

Avio S.p.A. is an Italian company operating in the aerospace sector with its head office in Colleferro near Rome, Italy. Founded in 1908, it is present in Italy and abroad with different commercial offices and 10 production sites.

INFO WIKI
European Spaceflight

ESA Provides New Details on Failed Space Rider Drop Test

The European Space Agency (ESA) has provided new details about the failed Space Rider drop test, confirming that the vehicle’s parafoil detached during deployment, sending the full-scale test model back to terra firma more rapidly than pla…

European Spaceflight

Space Rider test model lost following failed drop test

A full-scale drop test of the European Space Agency’s Space Rider spaceplane ended abruptly after the test model’s parafoil failed to deploy as expected. This marks the second time this year that a Space Rider drop test has been interrupte…

European Spaceflight

Anomaly Delays Full-Scale Space Rider Drop Test Until October

A full-scale drop test of ESA’s Space Rider spaceplane in early May was aborted after an anomaly during the captive ascent phase, the agency told European Spaceflight. In August 2024 and June 2025, ESA completed Space Rider drop test campa…

ESA

Plasma-hot Space Rider tests for belly and flaps

From the ESA Blogs.

ESA

Space Rider drop model ready to glide

From the ESA Blogs.

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV)


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