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The Exploration Company

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The Exploration Company
IndustryAerospace
FoundedJuly 2021; 4 years ago (2021-07)
Headquarters
Munich
,
Germany
Key people
Hélène Huby (CEO)
ProductsNyx
Number of employees
400 (2026)
Websitewww.exploration.space

The Exploration Company (TEC) is a European aerospace company[1] developing reusable spacecraft.[2] TEC is headquartered in Munich, Bordeaux, and Oberpfaffenhofen with additional offices in Italy, France, Houston (US), and the MENA region.[3][4][5] The company embraces a pan-European identity.[6] The Exploration Company was founded in July 2021 by Hélène Huby (CEO) with a group of space engineers who had worked together on European space programs at Airbus and ArianeGroup, including Orion-ESM and ATV.[7][8][9] TEC's main project is developing Nyx, a family of modular, reusable spacecraft designed for missions to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), lunar orbit, and the Moon.[10] Its vehicles aim to serve cargo transport, re-entry missions, and future human spaceflight needs.[1]

Hardware

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Nyx Earth spacecraft

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The Nyx Earth vehicle is composed of a cylindrical service module and a conical space capsule. It measures 4 meters in diameter and 7 meters[11] in height with a total mass of 8 tonnes.[9] It will be capable of carrying 4,000 kg of payload into low Earth orbit (LEO) for a maximum of 6 months, with up to 2,500 kg of pressurized cargo and 100 kg of unpressurized cargo being onboard the vehicle. The service module of the vehicle will be able to transport 1,400 kg of unpressurized cargo.[12] Nyx Earth will be able to fly freely for up to six months, and will be capable of docking to a space station in LEO.[13]

Although the company's first missions are cargo-only, Nyx Earth is designed to eventually be able to transport humans.[14] The crewed version, capable of transporting 4 to 5 people to LEO, is expected to be available in the mid-2030s.[15][16]

Nyx Earth's interfaces are open, and its operating system is open-source software, which contributes to other space exploration projects whose technologies can inter-operate.[17][18][19] The Nyx capsule is modular in nature, with several configuration options for different mission objectives and destinations, while also being capable of launching on multiple vehicles.[20][21][22] Nyx Earth can be reused five times,[23] and will be capable of in-orbit refueling.[24]

Nyx Earth uses green propellants for altitude control and docking (high-test peroxide), as well as cryogenic bio-methane & oxygen for reaching lunar destinations.[25][26][27] The Nyx Earth spacecraft's initial missions will use the DS250 hypergolic bipropellant thrusters provided by Agile Space.[28]

Developmental flights

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The Exploration Company developed two smaller-scale demonstrators. The first, nicknamed Bikini, is a capsule 60 centimeters in diameter weighing approximately 40 kilograms.[9][29] It was launched on the inaugural flight of Ariane 6 to validate the general profile of the capsule and thermal protection but it never reentered as the upper stage failed to deorbit.[30]

The second demonstrator, named Mission Possible, was a larger capsule measuring 2.5 m in diameter and weighing 1,600 kg, capable of carrying 300 kg of payload (reserved by the European Space Agency, the French CNES, and German DLR). Intended to validate a more controlled reentry with propulsion and landing via parachute,[31][9][29] it was launched by the Falcon 9 rideshare mission Transporter-14 in June 2025,[32] operated nominally in orbit, re-entered the atmosphere, and re-established communication after the expected reentry blackout. However, communication with the capsule was lost before expected splash down. The company plans to re-fly the mission.[33][34]

As of 2023, the full-scale version, named Mission Odyssey, was planned to fly in 2026.[35] In November 2025, just before the ESA ministerial council expected to make a decision about further funding for the LEO Cargo Return Service (LCRS) initiative, TEC's CEO Hélène Huby said that with ESA funding, the company can perform the full-scale demonstration mission by 2028.[4]

Nyx Cislunar spacecraft

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The Nyx Cislunar vehicle, of similar design to Nyx Earth, is proposed to deliver up to 5,000 kg to lunar orbit and up to 2,000 kg back to Earth.[36][37]

Nyx Moon spacecraft

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The Nyx Moon lunar lander, of simple cylindrical design without the re-entry capsule, is proposed to deliver cargo to lunar surface.[37] It will use the company's GOX/GCH4-powered Breeze thrusters. This engine was test fired for the first time in July 2025.[10] As of 2024, the maiden flight of Nyx Moon was expected to take place in 2028.[38]

Oura spacecraft

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TEC is developing the Oura spacecraft designed to dock with and refuel satellites in orbit. The project is supported by ESA's In-Space Proof-of-Concepts (InSPoC) initiative, part of Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP). Its first launch is planned for 2028.[39][40]

History

[edit]
  • July 2021 – The Exploration Company was founded by Hélène Huby.[7][8][9]
  • November 2021 – TEC raised 5 million euros.[41][12]
  • October 2022 – TEC was among the space firms selected to be financed by the "France 2030" investment plan for its work on its liquid methane rocket engine.[42]

2023

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  • February 2023 – TEC announced a fundraising of 40 million euros to develop its Nyx capsule, successfully completed,[9] making it the largest series A in the space industry in Europe.[43]
  • 29 May2023 – TEC was awarded a contract by the European Space Agency (ESA) to study solutions for future European single-use and reusable spacecraft, covering micro-mini, medium, heavy and crewed applications. In total, ESA awarded four contracts on this topic. The other three went to the companies ArianeGroup, Avio and SENER. These four contracts are intended to contribute to the realization of ESA's Vision 2030+, which was initiated in 2021. It aims to create small, medium, and heavy support vessels based on a common set of reusable, standardized modules.[44]
  • July 2023 – TEC was once again one of the space companies that secured financing from the same French state investment plan; it did so this time for its DEMARLUS project.[45]
  • September 2023 – TEC announced an agreement with Axiom Space for the cargo supply of its station in the form of a pre-contract subject to validation of technological milestones during the development of its spacecraft.[46]

2024

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  • January 2024 – TEC began working on a reusable rocket engine, Typhoon.[47][48]
  • June 2024 – TEC signed a contract with Vast Space for cargo missions.[50]
  • July 2024 – TEC launched its first demonstration mission, nicknamed Bikini, on Ariane 6's first flight.[30]
  • November 2024 – TEC raised $160 million in Series B funding for the development of its Nyx cargo vehicle.[51]

2025

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  • February 2025 – The German aerospace agency DLR announced that it had signed a contract with TEC to serve as an anchor customer for its microgravity research service using the Nyx vehicle.[52]
  • June 2025 – TEC launched its second demonstration mission, named Mission Possible, on Falcon 9.[53]
  • July 2025 – TES test fired the Nyx Moon's Breeze thrusters for the first time at the company's testing facility in Bordeaux.[10]

2026

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  • January 2026 – TEC conducted 20 splashdown tests with a 1:4 scale model of the Nyx capsule at the National Research Council's Institute of Marine Engineering in Rome.[11][62]
  • February 2026
    • A consortium including TEC was selected by ESA to lead one of two parallel "Lunar Remote Camp" studies.[63]
    • TEC received the pressurised module (from CNIM Systèmes Industriels) and the front shield (from PERSICO GROUP) for the structural test model of Nyx.[64]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "The Exploration Company". EU-Startups. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  2. ^ "The Exploration Company 2026 Profile: Valuation, Funding & Investors | PitchBook". pitchbook.com. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  3. ^ Eco-Design Principles for the Sustainable Development of Nyx Earth
  4. ^ a b c Parsonson, Andrew (2025-11-24). "The Exploration Company Inaugurates New Facility in France". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-11-24.
  5. ^ a b Parsonson, Andrew (2025-10-30). "The Exploration Company Opens New HQ in Oberpfaffenhofen". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  6. ^ "Building Europe's Space Future at The Exploration Company". www.exploration.space. Archived from the original on 2025-07-04. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  7. ^ a b Alamalhodaei, Aria (2022-07-28). "The Exploration Company is developing a brand new reusable orbital spacecraft". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  8. ^ a b Root, Al. "SpaceX Isn't the Only Space Company That Can Raise Money". Barron's. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Rainbow, Jason (2023-02-02). "European startup gets $44 million for space station transportation vehicles". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  10. ^ a b c Parsonson, Andrew (2025-07-17). "The Exploration Company Tests Thruster for Nyx Moon Lunar Lander". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  11. ^ a b Parsonson, Andrew (2026-02-05). "The Exploration Company Completes Nyx Splashdown Tests". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2026-02-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ a b Parsonson, Andrew (2022-02-23). "The Exploration Company aims to offer Europe independent access to space". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  13. ^ Foust, Jeff (2025-10-02). "The Exploration Company still studying Mission Possible reentry". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  14. ^ Hassan Meddah (1 February 2023). "The Exploration Company, la start-up franco-allemande qui veut révolutionner la logistique spatiale". L'Usine nouvelle (in French). Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Un intérieur façon SpaceX pour la future capsule européenne Nyx". Ciel & Espace (in French). Retrieved 2025-06-17.
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  18. ^ Kulu, Erik. "The Exploration Company - Factories in Space". www.factoriesinspace.com. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
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  23. ^ Neuhauser, Alan (2023-02-01). "The Exploration Company raises €40M for green space capsule". Axios. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  24. ^ P, Madeleine (2025-05-27). "A European Competitor to Space X? Meet The Exploration Company and Its 3D Printed Space Vehicle". 3Dnatives. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  25. ^ "The Exploration Company | Space Impulse". app.spaceimpulse.com. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  26. ^ Garrett Reim. "The Exploration Company Raises €40m For Reusable Space Capsule | Aviation Week Network". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  27. ^ "The Exploration Company Selects Benchmark Space Systems Propulsion System To Power its 'Mission Possible' Demonstrator Flight in 2024". www.benchmarkspacesystems.com. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  28. ^ Parsonson, Andrew (2025-08-14). "The Exploration Company Taps Agile Space for Nyx Earth Thrusters". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  29. ^ a b Alexandre Laurent (20 January 2023). "Espace : The Exploration Company veut diviser par 4 le prix de la logistique spatiale". www.placeco.fr (in French). Retrieved 7 August 2023..
  30. ^ a b Beil, Adrian (2024-07-09). "Ariane 6 successfully launches on maiden flight from French Guiana". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  31. ^ Parsonson, Andrew (2025-05-07). "The Exploration Company Ships Completed Mission Possible Capsule". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  32. ^ "Live coverage: SpaceX to launch Falcon 9 rocket on Transporter-14 smallsat rideshare mission – Spaceflight Now". Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  33. ^ "Mission Possible Status Update - Partial Success. | The Exploration Company". Archived from the original on 2025-06-24. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  34. ^ Parsonson, Andrew (2025-06-24). "The Exploration Company Declares Mission Possible a "Partial Success"". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  35. ^ "The Exploration Company Secures €40 Million Funding". Spacewatch Global. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  36. ^ Patrascu, Daniel (2025-06-20). "European Spacecraft Has the Coolest Name Ever, Gulfstream Jet to Chase It on Re-Entry". autoevolution. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  37. ^ a b "Nyx | The Exploration Company". www.exploration.space. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  38. ^ "CNES: THE EXPLORATION COMPANY" (PDF). cnes.fr. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
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  40. ^ "The Exploration Company awarded InSPoC-1 Phase B2 by ESA within future space transportation programme (FLPP)". www.exploration.space. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  41. ^ Damien Copitet (19 March 2023). "The Exploration Company lève 40 millions d'euros". www.planetegrandesecoles.com (in French). Retrieved 7 August 2023..
  42. ^ "France 2030 : Présentation des premiers résultats du volet spatial" (PDF). www.gouvernement.fr (in French). 6 October 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2023..
  43. ^ Vincent Lamigeon (1 February 2023). "Nyx, la capsule spatiale européenne qui veut concurrencer SpaceX". Challenges (in French). Retrieved 7 August 2023..
  44. ^ "Signature of industrial contracts for the consolidation of the common building blocks for future European reusable launch systems". ESA. 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  45. ^ "Présentation des résultats du volet spatial de France 2030" (PDF). www.gouvernement.fr (in French). 5 July 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023..
  46. ^ Michel Cabirol (12 September 2023). "Spatial : Et le jour de gloire est arrivé pour The Exploration Company". La Tribune (in French). Retrieved 13 September 2023..
  47. ^ Parsonson, Andrew (2024-01-08). "The Exploration Company Begin CNES Backed Rocket Engine Development". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  48. ^ Parsonson, Andrew (2025-07-31). "The Exploration Company Tests Key Component of Typhoon Rocket Engine". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  49. ^ Foust, Jeff (2024-05-22). "ESA selects Thales Alenia Space and The Exploration Company for commercial cargo program". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  50. ^ Parsonson, Andrew (2024-06-11). "Vast Contracts The Exploration Company for Cargo Mission". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
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  52. ^ Parsonson, Andrew (2025-02-20). "The Exploration Company Secures DLR as an Anchor Customer". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
  53. ^ Parsonson, Andrew (2025-06-24). "The Exploration Company Declares Mission Possible a "Partial Success"". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  54. ^ Parsonson, Andrew (2025-08-26). "The Exploration Company's Nyx Spacecraft Passes Initial ISS Safety Review". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  55. ^ a b Parsonson, Andrew (2025-11-14). "The Exploration Company Tests Nyx Micrometeoroid Shielding". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  56. ^ Parsonson, Andrew (2025-11-20). "The Exploration Company Acquires German Additive Manufacturing Company". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  57. ^ "Rocket ignition that resonates". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  58. ^ Parsonson, Andrew (2025-12-20). "Redwire Tapped to Provide Docking Mechanisms for Nyx Earth Capsule". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
  59. ^ "The Exploration Company in Talks to Buy UK Rocket Builder Orbex". European Spaceflight. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  60. ^ Parsonson, Andrew (2026-02-11). "Orbex Fails After Planned Purchase Falls Through". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  61. ^ Parsonson, Andrew (2026-02-14). "Did the UK Block The Exploration Company's Purchase of Orbex?". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  62. ^ Rainews, Redazione di (2026-02-10). Futuro24: test di ammaraggio per navette spaziali (in Italian). Retrieved 2026-02-11 – via www.rainews.it.
  63. ^ Parsonson, Andrew (2026-02-23). "ESA Awards Contracts for Lunar Remote Camp Studies". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  64. ^ "Andrew Parsonson (@andrewparsonson.bsky.social)". Bluesky Social. 2026-02-24. Archived from the original on 2026-02-24. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
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