Space Rider (ESA)

Space Rider aims to provide Europe with an affordable, independent, reusable end-to-end integrated space transportation system for routine access and return from low orbit.

Created: 2018-11-01

Updated: 2025-01-06

Company - Space Rider (ESA)

Founded
Country: 2015; Italy

Funding: Yes, ?

Website: https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Space_Rider

Social

Product/Service - Space Rider

Classification: Cargo Transportation & Landers

Category: Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Fields: Reusable

Status: Development

First launch: 2027

Partners: Thales Alenia, Avio

Space Rider is about the size of two minivans. Its reentry module hosts a multi-purpose cargo bay which offers 1200 litre volume for up to 600 kg of customer payloads.

It will transport payloads for an array of applications, orbit altitudes and inclinations.

Space Rider is fully integrated with Vega-C to provide a space laboratory for payloads to operate in orbit for a variety of applications in missions lasting about two months.

ESA is offering the opportunity for payloads to ride on board the first return flight, and future flights, to low orbit of its reusable Space Rider. Applications should reach ESA by 30 November 2021.

Space Rider is an uncrewed robotic laboratory about the size of two minivans. After launch on Vega-C it will stay in low orbit for about two months. Experiments inside its cargo bay will allow technology demonstration and benefit research in pharmaceutics, biomedicine, biology and physical science. At the end of its mission, Space Rider will return to Earth with its payloads and land on a runway to be unloaded and refurbished for another flight.

After landing safely back on Earth, Space Rider will be refurbished for re-use, with each vehicle designed to make at least five re-flights of about two months’ duration.

The ESA Announcement of Opportunity issued in September 2021 resulted in 40+ potential institutional and commercial customer entities showing interest in flying aboard Space Rider. Since then, several further requests for flights have been considered.

On June 20, 2023, the Space Rider programme proceeded into Phase D of its development, allowing qualification and production to commence. While delivery of the main structures of the re-entry and service modules is only expected in 2024, flight units of some components are already complete.

Status Comment / Notes

This European Spaceflight article says 2027 for first flight.

Link

Sources

Most sources should be linked in the texts and headings as revealed by mouse-over, but here are they listed for visibility.

[1] https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Transportation/Space_Rider

[2] https://spacenews.com/esa-targets-2021-for-space-rider-demo-flight/

[3] https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Space_Rider/Announcement_of_opportunity_to_fly_payloads_on_ESA_s_Space_Rider

Similar Organizations

A-SpaX

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Workspaces

Cancelled, Development

Above Space

Pioneer-class Space Station, Voyager-class Space Station

In-Space Manufacturing, Commercial Space Station, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Robotic Space Station

Development

Airbus

Bartolomeo

ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Active

Arkisys

The Port, The Cutter

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Assembly, Robotic Space Station, Persistent Platform, On-Orbit Servicing

Development

ATMOS Space Cargo

Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD), Space Return Service, Phoenix

Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Development

Kayser Italia

Bioreactor Express

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads, ISS Utilization Service

Active

Catalyx space

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Development

Commercial Cargo Spacelines

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Commercial Cargo Spacelines

Dormant

Downmass

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Development, ?

Ecoatoms

Ecos

In-Space Manufacturing, Hardware, Medical Support, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Development

ElevationSpace

ELS-R, ELS-RS

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Development

Exo Space

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Orbit Computing

Development

Exodus Space Systems

Carousel Spacelab

Active Debris Removal (ADR), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Science

Early stage, ?

Foton Spacecraft

Foton

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Retired

Frontier Space Technologies

SpaceLAB

ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Research Payloads, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Early stage

FSW Recoverable Satellites

FSW

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Recoverable Satellite, Returnable Satellite

Development

Gateway Space

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Dormant

Genesis-SFL

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads

Development

gravityLab

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads

Development

Hudson Space Systems

Microgravity Flight Service (Suborbital), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Dormant

IDDK

SpaceLAB

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads, Space Laboratory Equipment

Development

In Orbit Aerospace

Retriever, Resource Exchange Module (REX)

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Persistent Platform, Robotic Space Station

Development

Infinity Space

Phoenix Orbital Transfer Vehicle

In-Space Manufacturing, Orbital Transportation, Space Tug, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Early stage

Intuitive Machines

URV (Universal Re-entry Vechicle)

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Cancelled

Inversion

Ray, Arc

Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Development

JAMSS (Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation)

Kirara

Microgravity Research Payloads, Microgravity Science, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Active

JAXA

HSRC (HTV Small Re-entry Capsule), HTV, HTV-X

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Lunar Lander

Demonstrated

LaMont

Life Sciences Platform

Microgravity Research Payloads, ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Early stage

LEAP

In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Development

Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm

SPAS (Space Pallet Satellite), Saenger, Sänger

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Point-to-point, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Robotic Space Station

Cancelled, Acquired

Nanoracks

NanoLab, Bishop

ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Commercial ISS Airlock, Microgravity Research Payloads

Active

Odyssey SpaceWorks

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Research Payloads

Development, Launched

Offworld Biotech

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Science, Microgravity Research Payloads

Early stage

Orbital Paradigm

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Reusable Satellite, Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Platform, Persistent Platform

Development

Radian Space

Radian One

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Human Spaceflight, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Development

Raven Dynamics

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Early stage

Raven Space Systems

In-Space Manufacturing, Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Cancelled

Reenter Space

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing

Dormant, Early stage

ReOrbital

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Development

ResearchSat

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads, Microgravity Flight Service (Suborbital)

Development

Rocket Factory Augsburg

ARGO

Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)

Concept, Development

Rocket Pi

Commercial Space Station, In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Research Payloads

Rocket Pi (Rocket π, Beijing) Aerospace Science and Technology, Huojian Pi)

Development, Launched

ROVIAL

Breakthrough

In-Space Assembly, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Space Solar Power

Development

Space BD

ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Production, In-Space Manufacturing

Active

Space Cargo

REV1

ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Development

Space DOTS

BARNACLE DOT, INDY DOT

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads

Development

Space Forge

ForgeStar, Aether

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), In-Space Manufacturing

Development, Launched

Space Pocket

Space Pocket

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), ISS Utilization Service

Demonstrated

Space Tango

TangoLab, CubeLabs, Mambo

ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Active

Space Tango

ST-42

ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Early stage, ?

SpaceBox

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Development

SpaceLocker

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Development

SpacePharma

SPACTORY

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Science

Demonstrated, Active

SpaceWorks Flight

RED-25, RED-DATA2, RED-XR

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Launched, Demonstrated, Development

SpaceX

DragonLab

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Dormant

STaARS

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads

Dormant

Starflight Dynamics

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Robotic Space Station, Microgravity Research Payloads, In-Space Manufacturing

Development

Stoke Space

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Point-to-point

Development

Tec-Masters

MaRVIn

Microgravity Research Payloads, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Science

Active

Teledyne Brown Engineering

MUSES (Multi-User System for Earth Sensing)

ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Hardware

Active

Telespazio UK

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Launch Service Brokerer

Active

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander

Development, Launched

The Fairchild Space Company

Commercial Space Station, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

The Fairchild Space Company

Dormant, Cancelled

Think Orbital

ThinkPlatform-1

Commercial Space Station, Space Construction Company, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), On-Orbit Servicing, Space Tug

Development, Launched

Toucan Space

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), ISS Utilization Service

Active

Vanguard Space Industries

VSI-LAB

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Early stage, Dormant

Vellon Space

Space-Lab, AsteriX Lab

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads, Commercial Space Station

Early stage

Way4Space

SpaceCase, SC-X01

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Development

Yuri

ScienceTaxi

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), ISS Utilization Service, Hardware, Microgravity Science

Active

Zero Gravity Solutions

BAM-FX

In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Dormant, Development

ALATYR

Commercial Space Station, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Development

ATMOS Space Cargo

Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD), Space Return Service, Phoenix

Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Development

BlackStar Orbital Technologies

SpaceDrone

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Space Tug, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Early stage

Commercial Cargo Spacelines

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Commercial Cargo Spacelines

Dormant

Downmass

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Development, ?

EARS Project

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Reusable Satellite

Concept, Development

ElevationSpace

ELS-R, ELS-RS

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Development

FSW Recoverable Satellites

FSW

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Recoverable Satellite, Returnable Satellite

Development

Growbotics Space

On-Orbit Servicing, Reusable Satellite, Space Robotics

Early stage

In Orbit Aerospace

Retriever, Resource Exchange Module (REX)

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Persistent Platform, Robotic Space Station

Development

Independence-X

MERCAP

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Early stage

Interspace Explore

ZengZhang

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)

Development

Intuitive Machines

URV (Universal Re-entry Vechicle)

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Cancelled

Inversion

Ray, Arc

Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Development

Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm

SPAS (Space Pallet Satellite), Saenger, Sänger

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Point-to-point, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Robotic Space Station

Cancelled, Acquired

Orbital Operations

Orbital Transportation, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Reusable Satellite, Space Tug, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), In-Orbit Inspection

Development

Orbital Paradigm

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Reusable Satellite, Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Platform, Persistent Platform

Development

Radian Space

Radian One

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Human Spaceflight, Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Development

Reaction Engines

Skylon

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Cancelled, Concept

Reenter Space

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing

Dormant, Early stage

ReOrbital

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Development

Rocket Factory Augsburg

ARGO

Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)

Concept, Development

Rocket Pi

Commercial Space Station, In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Research Payloads

Rocket Pi (Rocket π, Beijing) Aerospace Science and Technology, Huojian Pi)

Development, Launched

Sierra Space

Dream Chaser, Shooting Star

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Development

Sierra Space

Ghost

Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Development

Space Cargo

REV1

ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Development

Space Forge

ForgeStar, Aether

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), In-Space Manufacturing

Development, Launched

Space Tango

TangoLab, CubeLabs, Mambo

ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Active

Space Tango

ST-42

ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Early stage, ?

SpaceLocker

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Development

SpaceRyde

Black Bay

Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Orbital Transportation, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Reusable Satellite

Dormant, Bankrupt

SpaceX

DragonLab

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Dormant

Starflight Dynamics

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Robotic Space Station, Microgravity Research Payloads, In-Space Manufacturing

Development

Stoke Space

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Point-to-point

Development

Taramandal

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Reusable Satellite

Early stage

The Exploration Company

Nyx

Development, Launched

Vanguard Space Industries

VSI-LAB

Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)

Early stage, Dormant

Varda Space

In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Production, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)

Demonstrated, Development

Way4Space

SpaceCase, SC-X01

Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)

Development