Space Rider’s Re-entry Module is designed to be reused for up to six missions with minimal refurbishment between flights. A key component of the thermal protection system that will enable this capability is the vehicle’s Body Flaps, a pair of movable aerodynamic surfaces located at the rear of the Re-entry Module. These flaps play a crucial role in controlling the vehicle’s attitude and stability during atmospheric re-entry. By adjusting these flaps, the spacecraft can maintain its pitch and roll, ensuring a controlled descent through various stages of re-entry and recovery.

In a 20 February update, CIRA announced that it had completed all qualification tests for the Space Rider Body Flaps, allowing it to move forward with the manufacture of the first flight-ready iterations.

The inaugural flight of Space Rider is currently expected to launch aboard a Vega C rocket in 2027.