But this was no ordinary drop test campaign. 🪂 . The team performed three closed-loop drop tests, where a Space Rider model was working autonomously during its descent (aka not being controlled from the ground)!. Although “salto” means “jump” in Italian, the test campaign went

Wait for the drop! 🚁🪂. Space Rider completed a second round of drop tests!. Several simplified models of the Space Rider were dropped from a helicopter. This allowed to test, in real life conditions, the complete reentry parachute chain and the system that will automatically.

Now, @esa will start a dialogue phase with them and iterations with concerned ESA Member states to consolidate the proposals. The second stage of the tender will open after CM25, restricted to the preselected challengers. Signature of the European Launcher Challenge contracts.

Rocket Factory Augsburg @rfa_space

PLD Space @PLD_Space

Orbital Express Launch @orbexspace

Maiaspace @MaiaSpaceOff

Isar Aerospace @isaraerospace

📣 We have news!. @esa has preselected five companies for the first stage of the European Launcher Challenge. Keep scrolling to get to discover them (in alphabetical order)! ⬇️.

Prometheus fired up once again (and again) 😎🔥. Prometheus performed 4 consecutive ignitions on 20 June, a first in Europe for this type of engine. The hot-firing campaign was held on the PF20 test bench at @ArianeGroup's site in Vernon, France. Read more:

Read more:

Then, a hot-firing test will be performed, in which Prometheus, Themis' engine, will be fired up without take-off! Once Themis is cleared for its first flight, a short hop is planned reaching a height of around 20 metres before landing safely.

Themis will now be prepared for a ground test campaign with its landing legs added. On the launch pad, the team will conduct a ‘wet dress rehearsal’. This will include filling the tanks with methane in liquid form that flows at cryogenic conditions below –162°C.

The 28-metre tall rocket stage has a diameter of 3.5 metres, being one metre wider and over twice as long as a standard European road truck, making this an exceptional convoy!

From Les Mureaux to Kiruna 🛻. After being assembled at the former Ariane 5 main stage integration building and completed a 'fit-check' in Les Mureaux, France, Themis has made its way to the northern region of Sweden, north of the polar circle, on roads and navigating the North

RT @ESA__Education: 📣 Calling all university students 👩‍🎓. We’re thrilled to present a new ESA training course! 🎉. Organised by ESA Academy….

Exceptional convoy! 🛻🚀 Europe's first reusable rocket stage demonstrator #Themis is all wrapped up and ready to roll from its @ArianeGroup integration hall in France to the @SSCspace launch pad in Sweden. Bon voyage!

@infoarceonnl1 @NLR_NL Article on the event now available here

Looking ahead to our next Ariane 6 flight! 🚀🌎.

Descent Systems and Technologies:. 🚀 Orbital Paradigm in consortium with Arceon, Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics and Sirius Space Services;.🚀 University of Twente in consortium with Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) and Technische Universität Dresden.