Applications
A European Competitor to Space X? Meet The Exploration Company and Its 3D Printed Space Vehicle
Today, space freight transport – the transfer of goods from one point to another in space – is mainly handled by the American SpaceX and its Dragon capsule. But a Franco-German company based in Munich intends to upset this balance.…
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Today, space freight transport – the transfer of goods from one point to another in space – is mainly handled by the American SpaceX and its Dragon capsule. But a Franco-German company based in Munich intends to upset this balance. The Exploration Company aims to transform space logistics and establish itself as a genuine alternative to SpaceX. And the 3D printing of engines in particular play a central role.
Founded in July 2021, The Exploration Company is focusing its development on the “Nyx” vehicles. Designed to rival existing solutions, these spacecraft aim to strengthen Europe’s independence in the space sector, which is often dominated by the United States. Inspired by Nyx, the Greek goddess of night and the cosmos, these capsules embody both Europe’s quest for exploration and its technological ambitions. The company is developing several Nyx variants, adapted to a variety of missions.
Hélène Huby, founder of the Exploration Company, and her team.
The Nyx Earth capsule is designed to serve space stations in low-Earth orbit, while the Nyx Gateway and Nyx Moon models will target the Gateway lunar station and the Moon’s surface respectively. Nyx Earth’s first official mission is scheduled for 2028, with the initial objective of refueling the International Space Station (ISS). However, The Exploration Company is targeting future private space stations as its primary customers.
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