SpaceCase SC-X01

SpaceCase SC-X01 [Arianespace]

SpaceCase SC-X01 was a technology demonstration capsule developed by the ArianeGroup to support the development of a future commercial service called SpaceCase, which aims to enable customers to test and validate materials, equipment, and sensors in space and during atmospheric re-entry at reduced cost.

The SC-X01 was launched as a payload on the “Ballast” structure of Ariane VA-262 Dummy, designed and manufactured by ArianeGroup, and served as a non-recoverable test article. The capsule is intentionally simple in design to minimize cost and production time, with a diameter of 71.5 cm, a height of 30.6 cm, and a total mass of 43 kg.

SC-X01 features an aerodynamic, self-orienting shape intended for passive re-entry, with no parachutes and no recovery plan. The flight serves to validate both the re-entry trajectory and heatshield design, which may later be used for sample return missions from orbit or planetary surfaces.

The capsule contains avionics to record heatshield temperatures and trajectory data, which is transmitted to the project team via satellite link. The capsule is not equipped with any deceleration system and is expected to be lost upon impact.

It was launched on the maiden flight of the Ariane-62 launch vehicle. It was to be put into a reentry trajectory by stage 2 of the Ariane-62. The mission failed when stage 2 failed to reignite for reentry, so the payload remained attached to the orbiting stage.