Orbital Paradigm KID Capsule Survives PSLV-C62 Launch Failure
78 FOMOOrbital Paradigm's KID reentry demonstrator flew on ISRO's PSLV-C62 on January 12, 2026. The launch vehicle suffered an anomaly during the third-stage burn and failed to reach orbit, losing its primary payload EOS-N1 and 14 of 15 co-passengers. KID was the sole survivor — the capsule separated from the fairing, transmitted 190 seconds of reentry flight data, and survived atmospheric entry before impacting Earth. Orbital Paradigm confirmed it achieved 4 of 5 pre-defined mission milestones despite the off-nominal profile, validating separation, power-on, data transmission, and reentry survivability.
Why it matters
Getting any flight data from a failed launch is remarkable — the KID hardware and software clearly worked against all odds. This is a better advertising result than a clean nominal flight: it proves robustness under conditions far beyond design spec. Learn to Fly mission in 2027 is now fully validated as the right next step.
Details
Mission
- Vehicle
- PSLV-C62
- Payload
- KID reentry demonstrator
- Launch site
- Sriharikota, India
Coverage
-
europeanspaceflight.com ·
European Capsule Demonstrator Survives Launch FailureEuropean Spaceflight covers the KID anomaly mission outcome. The capsule separated from the failing PSLV, survived reentry, and transmitted 190 seconds of data. Orbital Paradigm now moves ahead to a larger 150 kg demonstrator launching in early 2027.
-
payloadspace.com ·
Orbital Paradigm Emerges as the Lone Survivor of Failed PSLV LaunchExclusive: Orbital Paradigm's KID capsule survived PSLV-C62's third-stage failure on January 12, 2026, transmitting 190 seconds of reentry data. CEO Cacciatore describes recovering the data feed mid-livestream. Four of five mission milestones achieved despite off-nominal profile.
-
spacenews.com ·
Orbital Paradigm readies first reentry missionOrbital Paradigm announces its KID subscale demonstrator for a late 2025 launch. The 25 kg capsule will fly with payloads from Alatyr (France), Leibniz University Hannover, and a third undisclosed customer. CNES is the anchor customer for Kestrel missions.
-
techcrunch.com ·
Madrid's Orbital Paradigm aims to prove a cheaper path to orbital reentryTechCrunch profiles Orbital Paradigm's lean approach: nine-person team, sub-€1M KID demonstrator, ceramic tile heat shield, and a market positioning as a pure transport company vs. Varda's vertically integrated biotech model.
More from Orbital Paradigm
- Orbital Paradigm · Funding 70
Orbital Paradigm Raises €1.5M Pre-Seed for Kestrel Reentry Capsule
Related moments
- Isar Aerospace · Anomaly 72
Isar Aerospace Spectrum "Onward and Upward" Scrubs at T-3 Seconds
- Orbex · Anomaly 78
Orbex Files for Administration — UK's Flagship Small Launcher Collapses After Failed Series D
- Arianespace · Launch 82
Ariane 64 Maiden Launch — LE-01 Deploys 32 Amazon Leo Satellites, Europe's Heaviest Payload to Orbit
- Orbex · Anomaly 79
UK Rocket Startup Orbex Enters Administration After Acquisition Collapse
- Orbital Matter · Launch 71
Orbital Matter Launches Replicator 3D Printer on Ariane 6 Maiden Flight
- PLD Space · Funding 74
PLD Space Raises €180M ($209M) to Scale Miura 5 Rocket Production
Veenie.Space Telemetry
Orbital Paradigm's KID reentry demonstrator flew on ISRO's PSLV-C62 on January 12, 2026. The launch