Aerospace company ATMOS Space Cargo has successfully returned cargo from space after completing its first orbital test flight. The protagonist was PHOENIX 1, a re-entry capsule designed to carry critical experiments and data from low Earth orbit.
Successful orbital test flight of ATMOS Space Cargo
The launch took place from Cape Canaveral aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Bandwagon-3 mission. The PHOENIX 1 capsule completed an orbit and performed controlled re-entry maneuvers, deploying its inflatable heat shield. This patented system allowed atmospheric entry without ablative materials or parachutes.
During reentry, the capsule transmitted information from its internal system and from the payloads carried, including demonstrators from Imperial College London and DLR. Although the capsule was not recovered due to the distance of splashdown, the volume of valuable information obtained far exceeded the intended targets.
With the lessons learned from this first mission, ATMOS is working on the construction of the PHOENIX 2 capsule. This new version will have its own propulsion system, allowing to control its trajectory and landing zone. In addition, the upgrade will facilitate the direct recovery of future payloads, consolidating an independent orbital logistics platform for Europe.
The explanation of the mission and return of the space capsule. Source: ATMOS
The success of PHOENIX 1 positions ATMOS as a European reference in space logistics, due to its rapid development approach, system validation in real conditions and integration with commercial launchers, establishing the company at the forefront of Earth-orbit-Earth connectivity.
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Source and photo: ATMOS
