European Startup’s Space Capsule Lost During Reentry
▼ Summary
– A European space capsule lost communication shortly after reentering Earth’s atmosphere during its privately funded mission.
– The spacecraft, built by The Exploration Company, launched successfully on a SpaceX rocket but encountered issues before splashdown.
– The company described the mission as a “partial success” and “partial failure,” with the cause of the communication loss still under investigation.
– This was the company’s second test flight; its first mission in July 2024 failed due to a rocket malfunction, leaving the capsule stranded in orbit.
– The capsule carried 300 kg of cargo, including research payloads and cremated remains, with the company apologizing to clients for the mission’s issues.
A European startup’s experimental space capsule encountered difficulties during its return to Earth, losing communication minutes before its planned splashdown. The spacecraft, developed by The Exploration Company, had successfully completed several critical phases of its mission before the unexpected disruption.
Launched aboard a SpaceX rocket from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base, the capsule executed orbital operations flawlessly, powering its payloads and stabilizing after separation. The mission, dubbed “Mission Possible,” was the company’s second test flight, following an earlier attempt that ended prematurely due to a rocket malfunction.
Despite re-establishing contact after atmospheric reentry, communication abruptly ceased shortly before the anticipated ocean landing. While the exact cause remains unclear, the incident suggests a potential technical failure during the final descent phase. The Munich-based firm described the outcome as a “partial success and partial failure,” acknowledging the achievements while confirming the loss of telemetry data.
Onboard were 300 kilograms of commercial payloads, including materials for pharmaceutical and cosmetic research, along with memorial capsules containing cremated remains and DNA samples. The company issued an apology to clients whose cargo was affected, emphasizing its commitment to investigating the anomaly.
This setback follows the startup’s first mission, “Mission Bikini,” which failed to complete its reentry maneuver after an Ariane 6 upper-stage issue left the demonstrator stranded in orbit. The Exploration Company remains focused on refining its technology, with future missions expected to build on lessons learned from these early challenges.
Updates will follow as additional details emerge regarding the capsule’s final moments and potential recovery efforts.
(Source: The Next Web)