The Exploration
The Exploration Company is developing Nyx, a modular, reusable, and in-orbit refuelable orbital vehicle for a variety of missions, from LEO to the Moon.
- CEO / Founder
- Hélène Huby
- Team Size
- 201-500
- Stage
- Active
- Total Funding
- $235M
- Latest Round
- Series B
- Key Investors
- EQT Ventures, Red River West, Promus Ventures, Cherry Ventures, Vsquared Ventures, Balderton Capital, Plural, Bessemer Venture Partners, NGP Capital, French Tech Souveraineté, DeepTech & Climate Fonds
Technology & Products
Key Products
Nyx: A modular, reusable, and in-orbit refuelable space vehicle designed for cargo transport from LEO to the Moon. It aims to provide affordable, sustainable, and open access to space exploration.
Technological Advantage
Key advantages include proprietary in-house technologies like reusable spacecraft and green propulsion, a diversified market strategy with significant government and commercial contracts, an agile and iterative development approach, and a focus on European sovereign capabilities.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
To provide affordable, sustainable, and open access to space exploration through reusable and refuelable spacecraft.
How They Differentiate
The Exploration Company differentiates itself through its focus on an open, cooperative, and sustainable approach. The in-orbit refueling capability of Nyx is a major differentiator, enabling more ambitious missions. Their open-source platform, SpaceStore, also sets them apart.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Commercial and institutional customers in the space industry, including space agencies and private companies.
Industry Verticals
["Aerospace","Defense","Telecommunications"]
Competitors
SpaceX, Blue Origin, Arianespace
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
The company has secured over $770 million in contracts since its founding in 2021.
Major Milestones
["Founded in July 2021.","Raised €5.3M in Seed funding in 2022.","Successfully tested a first demonstrator capsule in 2023.","Raised €40.5M in Series A funding in February 2023.","Signed contracts with Axiom Space and Vast for cargo services.","Raised over €150M in Series B funding in November 2024."]
Notable Customers
European Space Agency (ESA) for Nyx design studies aimed at ISS resupply. Signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA. Commercial contracts with space station developers Axiom Space, Starlab Space, and Vast.
Recent coverage of The Exploration
- The Exploration Company has signed a five-year, renewable licensing agreement with LEAP 71 to integrate the Noyron RP Large Computational Engineering Model into its rocket engine development workflow.
- The Exploration Company is in advanced talks to acquire Orbex, uniting European cargo spacecraft with advanced 3D-printed rocket propulsion.