# Europe Licensed Its First Spacecraft to Return From Orbit. It Hasnt Come Back Yet.

- slug: europe-licensed-its-first-spacecraft-to-return-from-orbit-it-hasnt-come-back-yet
- date: 2026-04-23
- category: Space & Aerospace

Portugal issued Europe its first commercial spacecraft reentry license to Atmos Space Cargo on March 5. The German company has never recovered a vehicle from orbit, and its first demo splashdown landed 2,000km off the coast of Brazil.

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