KID

KID [ISRO]

KID (Kestrel Initial Demonstrator) is a small reentry capsule developed by Orbital Paradigm of Spain. The 25 kg spacecraft serves as a scaled prototype for the larger Kestrel reentry capsule.

The mission is intended to demonstrate key reentry technologies for Orbital Paradigm’s future commercial return systems. KID carries approximately 3 kg of customer payloads and is used to validate guidance performance during a controlled atmospheric reentry. A further objective is the in-flight evaluation of ceramic thermal protection material under reentry heating conditions.

KID is designed as a non-recoverable technology demonstrator. The mission focuses on data acquisition rather than payload return, with telemetry transmitted throughout the free-flight and reentry phases. No recovery operations are planned following atmospheric entry over the South Pacific.

The capsule was built by Orbital Paradigm, a Madrid-based company developing small reentry vehicles for microgravity research and in-space manufacturing return. KID incorporates a simplified structure and avionics architecture representative of the planned Kestrel system. Selected materials and subsystems are flown in prototype form to reduce development risk for later missions.

KID has a launch mass of about 25 kg. It accommodates three customer payloads with a combined mass of around 3 kg. The spacecraft includes an autonomous guidance system and a limited set of avionics tailored for a short-duration free flight. Thermal protection is provided by experimental ceramic materials mounted on the heat shield.

The capsule does not carry parachutes or other deceleration or recovery systems. After release, it free-flies for approximately 30 minutes before atmospheric entry. Telemetry is provided via two Iridium transceivers, enabling data transmission during the mission until loss of signal during reentry.

KID is deployed from the fourth stage of an Indian PSLV-DL launch vehicle. The capsule is released directly onto a reentry trajectory. Atmospheric entry occurs over the South Pacific, where the mission concludes without recovery.

The launch vehicle suffered a launch failure during burn of stage 3 and did not reach orbit. Nevertheless, KID survived and transmitted valuable data during reentry.