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Mission Possible’s Partial Success Highlights the Complexities of Controlled Reentry for Reusable Spacecraft

The Exploration Company’s Mission Possible spacecraft demonstrated key reentry technologies despite losing communication before splashdown, underscoring the challenges of controlled reentry in reusable spaceflight development.

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By Jace Reed

3 min read

Mission Possible’s Partial Success Highlights the Complexities of Controlled Reentry for Reusable Spacecraft

The Exploration Company’s Mission Possible mission achieved major milestones by successfully launching and operating nominally in orbit. However, ionized plasma interference, a common challenge during atmospheric reentry, caused a communication loss shortly before the capsule's expected splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

This partial success highlights the inherent difficulties in mastering controlled reentry, a crucial capability for the company’s reusable Nyx spacecraft, which aims to transport cargo and eventually crew to low Earth orbit stations.

The communication blackout phenomenon has historically affected space missions, including NASA’s Apollo flights, and remains a key area for technological innovation and mitigation strategies.

Mission Possible’s Role in Nyx Spacecraft Development

Mission Possible serves as a demonstrator for the Nyx spacecraft’s controlled atmospheric reentry technologies. Nyx is designed as a modular, reusable vehicle capable of carrying up to 4,000 kg of cargo to low Earth orbit, with ambitions for crewed missions by the mid-2030s.

The spacecraft features green propellants, in-orbit refueling capabilities, and a modular design adaptable to various mission profiles, including lunar destinations.

The data and lessons from Mission Possible’s flight will inform the critical design reviews scheduled through 2025, supporting Nyx’s planned operational debut in 2027.

Did you know?
Apollo missions experienced communication blackouts lasting up to six minutes during reentry, caused by ionized plasma enveloping the spacecraft, a challenge still relevant in modern spaceflight.

NASA SCIFLI Collaboration Enhances Mission Data Collection

In partnership with NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) team, The Exploration Company gathered valuable independent data during Mission Possible’s reentry. NASA’s Gulfstream III aircraft tracked the capsule using advanced spectrometers and ultra-high-definition telescopes, capturing thermal protection system performance, parachute deployment, and splashdown imagery.

This collaboration exemplifies NASA’s commitment to supporting commercial space ventures and provides a decoupled data set that complements onboard sensors, enhancing analysis and future mission safety.

ALSO READ | Will Axiom Mission 4 Set a New Standard for Scientific Research Aboard Private Space Missions?

Payloads Reflect Commercial and Scientific Ambitions

Mission Possible carried approximately 300 kilograms of customer payloads, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and biological incubators with Martian-grown cannabis samples. The capsule also contained human remains, underscoring the mission’s diverse objectives.

Despite the loss of communication, the mission demonstrates The Exploration Company’s commercial ambitions and the growing role of private enterprises in space cargo transport.

These payloads highlight the expanding market for reusable spacecraft capable of servicing low Earth orbit destinations.

Overcoming Reentry Communication Barriers

Communication blackouts during reentry remain a formidable obstacle. Researchers are exploring techniques such as spacecraft shaping to create plasma “holes,” magnetic field application, and experimental plasma antennas to mitigate signal loss. The Exploration Company’s ongoing development and testing aim to refine these technologies, ensuring reliable data transmission during critical mission phases.

Success in overcoming these challenges will be pivotal for the safety and reliability of future reusable spacecraft, including crewed versions of Nyx.

What is the most important focus for improving reusable spacecraft reentry technology?

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