The company Reditus Space has unveiled a project for a reusable return vehicle that will enable quick and affordable delivery of cargo from orbit. The startup plans to conduct its first launch next summer, just a year and a half after its founding in October 2024. The company’s first spacecraft, named ENOS (from the Latin for “return”), will be launched into space under SpaceX’s Rideshare program. The mission’s goal is to test the technologies necessary for creating fully reusable vehicles, which Reditus Space plans to launch in 2027.
The ENOS Mk 1 will spend two months in orbit conducting research in the field of pharmaceuticals (details undisclosed).
Although the heat shield designed by the company will not be ready for multiple uses until future missions, Reditus Space plans to reuse many other components of the vehicle, including the propulsion system, avionics, and power systems. According to the company, the ENOS Mk 1 will be one of the largest return vehicles.
In its first mission, it will be able to deliver up to 40 kg (88 lbs) of payload from orbit, withstanding speeds of more than 24 Machs (18,264 mph). In the future, the company plans to create vehicles capable of making more than 20 flights each, with increased payload capacity. Reditus Space is confident that demand for their services will be high, especially with the expected end of the International Space Station’s operation in the 2030s.
