The Exploration Company launched a capsule on a SpaceX rocket, marking its second test flight. While the capsule successfully reached orbit and stabilized after launch, it lost communication minutes before splashdown. The company characterized the mission as a partial success and failure due to the communication loss, which they are investigating. The capsule carried commercial cargo, including cosmetic research materials, as well as cremated remains and DNA samples. The company expressed apologies to clients trusting them with their payloads, as they work to determine the mission's outcome.
"The capsule was launched successfully, powered the payloads nominally in orbit, stabilised itself after separation with the launcher, re-entered and re-established communication after blackout," the Munich-based startup said in a LinkedIn post today.
"But it encountered an issue afterwards, based on our current best knowledge, and we lost communication a few minutes before splash down," it added.
"We apologise to all our clients who entrusted us with their payloads," the company said.
"This communication loss suggests a possible malfunction or anomaly, though the company says it is still investigating the root cause."
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