A recent parachute failure on a small European space vehicle has raised concerns about safety and investment in the country’s burgeoning space program. The incident occurred on June 24, when Hélène Huby’s “Mission Possible” spacecraft lost contact at 26 km above Earth.
Despite the setback, feedback from European space agencies indicates that the mission was still a success, with 80% of its objectives achieved. However, an investigation has confirmed that the failure was caused by a problem with the deployment mechanism, rather than the parachutes themselves.
The Exploration Company, which founded Huby’s spacecraft program, took a risk by skipping drop tests to save time and money. “We made a mistake, basically, to underestimate the risks,” said Huby. The company now faces a decision on how to proceed, with options including building another small spacecraft for testing or modifying the parachute system.
The incident highlights the need for further ground testing to ensure safety in space exploration, but it also underscores the potential of European space agencies to learn from failures and move forward.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/07/european-firm-has-an-ambitious-plan-to-dock-with-the-space-station-in-2028