Exotrail is a French space company specializing in on-orbit transportation solutions for small satellites. They design, develop, and operate mobility solutions, including electric propulsion systems (ExoMG™), mission simulation and operation software (ExoOPS™), and orbital transfer vehicles (SpaceVan™). Their services aim to optimize satellite deployment, increase performance, and reduce space pollution. Exotrail has partnered with companies like Thales Alenia Space and Prométhée Earth Intelligence and receives support from CNES.
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Exotrail signed a launch services agreement with Isar Aerospace to launch Exotrail’s spacevan orbital transfer vehicle on Isar’s Spectrum rocket on multiple missions between 2024 and 2029.
The Spectrum launches for Exotrail will take place from Andøya, Norway and Kourou, French Guiana.
Exotrail will use the Isar Spectrum launches for a service called spacedrop to deliver small satellites to their desired orbits.
The spacevan orbital transfer vehicle under development by Exotrail uses electric propulsion systems and software that Exotrail currently offers to other customers.
Exotrail signed an agreement in September with Airbus to provide Exotrail thrusters for future Airbus Earth observation satellites.
Exotrail offers an integrated spacedrop™ service that includes procuring access to space, integrating the platform with customers’ satellites onboard, and performing required operations in orbit.
Exotrail’s spacedrop™ service provides satellite operators with the capability to transfer satellites to their operational orbits in low, medium, geostationary, or higher orbits.
Exotrail and the French government Space Agency CNES will sign a two-mission contract as part of the France 2030 package.
Missions performed in the context of France 2030 will use an upgraded version of Exotrail’s vehicle featuring an improved propulsion system and greater payload capacity.
The contract for ExoTrail was announced on 2022-10-11 and awarded through a competitive tender process.
The funding for ExoTrail’s contract stems from the France 2030 investment plan unveiled in 2021 that included 1,000,000,000 EUR for emerging French space companies.
ExoTrail announced a contract in May with the Defence Innovation Agency, which is part of the French Ministry of Defence.
ExoTrail plans to launch its first spacevan on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare flight in October 2023.
Airbus will be able to use Exotrail’s 300W class electric propulsion thruster in different configurations to meet different needs and requirements.
Airbus will obtain a new European source for Hall Effect propulsion thrusters through its agreement with Exotrail.
Seven additional companies, including Atomos, Exotrail, Firefly Aerospace, Launcher, Space Machines, Exolaunch, and Impulse Space, are preparing to enter the market with initial flights scheduled in the next three years.
Exotrail plans at least three subsequent SpaceVan™ missions throughout 2024 onboard multiple different launchers.
The debut SpaceVan™ mission will launch on a Falcon 9 rideshare mission in October 2023 under a launch service agreement between Exotrail and SpaceX.
Exotrail is a French-based space company that designs, develops, and operates end-to-end mobility solutions for an agile space.
Exotrail has raised over €20 million from venture capital funds and public grants.