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\t\t\t\t\t\t29\/04\/2026<\/span> Space Rider is set to be the first reusable European spacecraft. The uncrewed robotic laboratory will stay in low orbit for about two months. Space Rider\u2019s cargo bay will allow for all manner of experiments and operations to be run. At the end of its missions,\u00a0the\u00a0reentry\u00a0module\u00a0will return to Earth, landing through an automated parafoil glide.\u00a0<\/p>\n Any spacecraft returning from Earth hits our atmosphere at speeds of over 27 000 km\/h. At these\u00a0speeds\u00a0the particles in our upper atmosphere\u00a0hit spacecraft so intensely that heat\u00a0from friction builds up\u00a0\u2013 the gases become ionised and all spacecraft\u00a0are\u00a0enveloped in a burning ball of plasma with temperatures easily exceeding 1600\u00a0\u00b0C.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Spacecraft that\u00a0return\u00a0to Earth \u2013 such as Space Rider \u2013\u00a0have to\u00a0protect themselves from these intense temperatures, and Space Rider uses\u00a0reusable\u00a0ceramic\u00a0tiles on its belly\u00a0and nose\u00a0to insulate from the heat.\u00a0<\/p>\n Space Rider has\u00a021 tiles, made in\u00a0ISiComp,\u00a0a ceramic material developed by the Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA) and\u00a0Petroceramics,\u00a0that\u00a0form lightweight and resilient\u00a0skin.\u00a0The tiles\u00a0were first put to the test\u00a0in February\u00a0when\u00a0they were subjected to\u00a0the severe vibrations\u00a0generated by\u00a0the Vega-C rocket\u2019s\u00a0powerful engines, simulated\u00a0on a\u00a0200\u00a0kN\u00a0shaker.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Space Rider\u2019s\u00a0reentry\u00a0module\u00a0is unique as it can generate lift like\u00a0an aircraft\u00a0and target a precise landing point\u00a0\u2013 but instead of\u00a0wings\u00a0Space Rider\u2019s\u00a0body\u00a0itself provides lift.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The\u00a0Space Rider\u00a0reentry\u00a0module\u00a0has two flaps to steer the spacecraft during\u00a0reentry,\u00a0weighing just 10 kg and\u00a0at\u00a0just 90 x 70 cm they steer the 3000 kg module as it\u00a0flies\u00a0into Earth\u2019s atmosphere\u00a0at hypersonic speeds.\u00a0Made of\u00a0the same\u00a0ISiComp\u00a0ceramic material\u00a0the thermal protection is\u00a0fixed with\u00a0titanium alloy\u00a0supports printed in additive layers.\u00a0They\u00a0are\u00a0controlled by the\u00a0spaceraft\u2019s\u00a0avionics \u201cbrain\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n To test the flaps\u00a0as if they were in\u00a0flight,\u00a0CIRA\u00a0subjected them to their plasma wind tunnel, the world\u2019s largest. The flaps were hit with an arc jet\u00a0of gas\u00a0bombarding them\u00a0at ten times the speed of sound.\u00a0<\/p>\n Space Rider has been acing its tests so far,\u00a0even surviving the conditions of\u00a0reentry\u00a0with a purposefully damaged\u00a0tile \u2013 just in case Space Rider were to be hit\u00a0by a micro-meterorite\u00a0while in orbit.<\/p>\n \nMore\u00a0tests\u00a0await\u00a0Space Rider\u2019s\u00a0thermal protection system and guidance system\u00a0before they are\u00a0qualified for spaceflight \u2013 and\u00a0reentry.\u00a0
\n\t\t\t\t11<\/span> views<\/small><\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t0<\/span> likes<\/small><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nCeramic tile testing <\/h2>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFlaps for hypersonic heated control <\/h2>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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