ESA official says parafoil detached in Space Rider test

Drop-test failure

Space Rider’s parafoil detached as it deployed during a full-scale drop test, sending the test model back to the ground faster than intended, according to European Spaceflight.

The publication attributed the account to Géraldine Naja, ESA’s Director of Space Transportation, who spoke at an agency media briefing on 22 October. European Spaceflight described the drop test as unsuccessful.