The Exploration Company (TEC), a Franco-German startup specializing in reusable space capsules, has announced a €150 million funding round led by Balderton Capital and Plural. The round also includes participation from government-backed funds in France (French Tech Souveraineté) and Germany (DeepTech & Climate Fund).
Strategic space ambitions
Founded in 2021, The Exploration Company is developing reusable orbital capsules called Nyx, designed for resupply and transport missions in space. These modular capsules, powered by sustainable technologies, aim to make space exploration more accessible, cost-effective, and focused on reusability, aligning with the growing needs of both public and private space actors.
TEC is currently working on the second version of Nyx, scheduled for launch in 2025, while the final version is set for 2028 with co-funding from the European Space Agency (ESA).
€750 million in contracts already secured
TEC has already secured €750 million in contracts for the use of Nyx. Clients include companies such as Starlab, which is designing a new space station, and Axiom Space, a key player in commercial space transport.
These contracts cover missions to transport cargo to existing and future space stations, as well as lunar missions within international projects such as NASA’s Gateway station initiative.
A strategic European positioning
In a market dominated by a few players like SpaceX and competitors in China and Russia, TEC positions itself as a European solution to meet the growing demand for space transportation. “Europe must have its own capability to send astronauts and cargo into space,” emphasizes Hélène Huby.
