The Exploration Company (TEC) is a Franco-German spacecraft manufacturer founded in 2021 with the mission to democratize space exploration. They are developing, manufacturing, and operating the Nyx space capsule, a modular and reusable orbital vehicle designed for cargo transport to destinations like the ISS and future commercial space stations, with future capabilities for human transport and lunar missions. TEC aims to provide affordable and sustainable space transportation services and has secured contracts with major players like ESA and NASA. Key words: Space capsule, reusable spacecraft, cargo transport, space logistics, Nyx, ESA, NASA.
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The Exploration Company is working toward an initial Nyx demonstration in 2028 with support from the European Space Agency through its LEO Cargo Return Service initiative.
The Exploration Company was founded in 2021 to develop the reusable space capsule Nyx for cargo and potential crew transport to low Earth orbit and beyond.
The Exploration Company will conduct additional subsystem testing, including motor firings, cutter tests, and space qualification activities, for Nyx’s recovery system.
The Exploration Company completed an initial drop test of Nyx’s recovery system on 4 June.
The Exploration Company used a dedicated drop-test vehicle in the Mojave Desert drop test to evaluate parachute performance and vehicle dynamics.
The Exploration Company is developing a reusable heavy-lift rocket powered by its Storm engines.
Hélène Huby said in November 2025 that The Exploration Company wants to master the whole chain of space transportation.
In May 2024, ESA awarded Phase 1 contracts to The Exploration Company and Thales Alenia Space.
The Exploration Company completed a hot-fire test campaign of its Huracan Development Model 1 rocket engine at Airborne Engineering's facilities in Westcott, UK.
The Exploration Company is building a dedicated facility in Bordeaux where the second Huracan development model will be tested in early 2027.
The Exploration Company is preparing a lunar lander variant of its Nyx spacecraft family while continuing to focus on Nyx Earth cargo transport to and from low Earth orbit.
The Huracan rocket engine is designed to enable The Exploration Company's future lunar vehicles to land on the Moon and restart for ascent and orbital rendezvous.
The Exploration Company has successfully test fired a prototype of its 15 kN Huracan rocket engine.
BioOrbit sent its first BOX to space aboard The Exploration Company’s Nyx spacecraft last year.
The SAGA Space Architects-led consortium includes The Exploration Company and Space Applications Services.
The Exploration Company is developing the Nyx cargo spacecraft for resupply missions to the International Space Station and other low Earth orbit destinations.
Japan-based lunar exploration company ispace formed a strategic partnership with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Saudi Arabia’s national laboratory and innovation park.
The Exploration Company completed pressure testing of the Structural Test Model of its Nyx capsule.
The Exploration Company and Thales Alenia Space were awarded Phase 1 contracts for ESA’s LEO Cargo Return Services initiative in May 2024.
The Exploration Company began developing its Nyx capsule in 2021.