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Géraldine Naja, ESA's Director of Space Transportation, discusses a failed drop test of Europe's Space Rider model, which resulted in the destruction of the vehicle. Despite the setback, ESA is still targeting the first orbital launch of Space Rider by the end of the decade. Europe's Space Rider Destroyed in Drop Test - ESA Explains What Went Wrong | 3:42 VideoFromSpace | 2.17M subscribers | 5,968 views | October 22, 2026

One of the most significant challenges for any spacecraft is reentering Earth's atmosphere safely. The Space Rider spacecraft is no different, but recent tests have marked considerable progress. ESA engineers subjected the spacecraft's thermal protection system to extreme conditions, simulating the intense heat of atmospheric reentry. Using the largest plasma wind tunnel in the world at the Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA), ESA exposed the spacecraft's components to temperatures reaching up to 2,900°F (1,600°C). This crucial test ensures that Space Rider can survive the fiery descent back to Earth.The thermal protection system also underwent tests to simulate how it would...