The Exploration Company, established in 2021 by aerospace engineers Hélène Huby, Sebastien Reichstat, and Pierre Vine, is pioneering Europe's entry into reusable space transportation with its Nyx spacecraft. They just secured a $160 million Series B funding round, led by Balderton Capital and Plural, with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners, NGP Capital, French Tech Souveraineté and DeepTech & Climate Fonds.
Operating across Germany, France, and Italy, the startup aims to democratize space access by developing Nyx, a modular and reusable space capsule capable of launching from any heavy launcher to deliver cargo to and from space stations in low-Earth orbit (LEO) and beyond.
Nyx's design emphasizes sustainability and affordability. It can transport up to 4,000 kg of cargo to LEO and return up to 3,000 kg to Earth, offering the largest down-mass capacity worldwide. The spacecraft utilizes green fuel propulsion systems and features in-orbit refueling capabilities, ensuring cost-effective and environmentally friendly missions. The Nyx family includes variants like Nyx Earth for LEO missions, Nyx Gateway for lunar gateway missions, and Nyx Moon for lunar surface deliveries, each tailored to specific mission requirements.
The European Space Agency also awarded the company a €25 million contract to develop cargo return services, aiming for at least one capsule launch to the ISS by 2028. The startup already has $770 million in contract backlog, primarily from private station developers like Vast, Axiom Space, and Starlab.
The Exploration Company is committed to making space exploration accessible, sustainable, and cooperative. By developing Nyx, they aim to enable everyone to participate peacefully in building humanity's future in space.
Commercial flights are scheduled to commence in 2027.
