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The Exploration Company
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Orbital vehicle developer with open interfaces
The Exploration Company
Work Here?
Orbital vehicle developer with open interfaces
Overview
The Exploration.Space builds Nyx, a modular, reusable orbital vehicle that can be refueled in orbit, and operates Nyx for various missions while also selling its open-interface components on the SpaceStore for others to use. Nyx works by launching to orbit, being refueled in space, and reconfiguring for different missions through its modular design. The company differentiates itself by pairing spacecraft operations with an open marketplace of modular components, inviting third parties to build on its technology. Its goal is to make space exploration affordable, sustainable, and accessible to a global audience.
About The Exploration Company
Industries
Robotics & Automation
Hardware
Industrial & Manufacturing
Aerospace
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Series B
Total Funding
$214.8M
Headquarters
Planegg, Germany
Founded
2021
People at The Exploration Company
People at The Exploration Company who can refer or advise you
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Storm engine delivers 180 tons of reusable thrust, enabling sovereign European launch capability by 2033.
- Nyx Earth capsule carries 4,000 kg to LEO and supports 4–5 crew, with maiden flight in 2028.
- Private backing secured for reusable heavy-lift launcher with test stand demo by end-2028 and readiness by 2033.
What critics are saying
- UK government blocked Orbex acquisition, leaving TEC without small-launch capability and Sutherland Spaceport access by 2027.
- TEC's scope expansion from cargo to crew and lunar missions creates a 40–60% valuation collapse risk in 12–18 months.
- Open-interface SpaceStore model invites competitors to reverse-engineer Nyx components, risking a 25–40% revenue erosion in 12–18 months.
What makes The Exploration Company unique
- TEC uniquely offers Nyx components with open interfaces via SpaceStore, enabling third-party innovation.
- TEC is the first European firm with a NASA Space Act Agreement, enhancing U.S. infrastructure access.
- TEC's Nyx spacecraft supports in-orbit refueling and docks for up to 6 months, enabling versatile missions.
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Funding
Total Funding
$214.8M
Above
Industry Average
Funded Over
3 Rounds
Bessemer Venture PartnersIndustry standards
Benefits
Relocation Assistance
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↓ -1%1 year growth
↓ -1%2 year growth
↓ -3%Munich / Westcott – 30 June 2026 — The Exploration Company (TEC) today announces the acquisition of European Astrotech Limited (EAL), a UK‑based specialist in spacecraft propulsion services, propellant chemistry, and launch site fuelling operations.
QuesTek expands ICMD(R) platform adoption in space industry with The Exploration Company. Discover more Business & Productivity Software Company News EVANSTON, Ill. and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - QuesTek Innovations, a leader in space-grade materials design and predictive simulation, is proud to welcome The Exploration Company as the latest aerospace innovator to adopt QuesTek's ICMD(R) materials simulation software platform. Known for its development of the Nyx spacecraft, a modular, reusable space capsule designed to support both cargo missions and future human spaceflight, The Exploration Company will use QuesTek's proven Materials by Design(R) technology, as encompassed in ICMD(R) to accelerate development and enhance performance in extreme environments, including human-rated systems. The Exploration Company joins a growing list of space-sector leaders leveraging ICMD(R) and QuesTek's track record in developing space-ready materials. From advanced superalloys for extreme environments to high-temperature additive manufacturing alloys, QuesTek's technology continues to enable innovations behind reusable rockets, orbital return systems, and next-generation space infrastructure. "The Exploration Company is building critical infrastructure for the future of space logistics," said Bill Mahoney, COO of QuesTek Innovations. "We're excited to support their vision with ICMD(R) and our materials design, development, and deployment expertise. We look forward to helping their team move faster and engineer with confidence in one of the most demanding environments imaginable." The Exploration Company's collaboration reinforces QuesTek's capabilities as a key materials innovation partner across the global space industry, helping organizations unlock performance, reliability, and reusability through materials engineered for mission-critical applications. About QuesTek QuesTek's Materials by Design(R) technology and ICMD(R) software platform are proven to reduce the development time and cost and increase the performance of novel materials. In its market space, QuesTek is the first provider to execute the full cycle from novel design to production, certification, and flight operations with proprietary materials, in a fraction of the time and cost of traditional, or purely algorithmic methods. Fast Company named QuesTek a 2025 Most Innovative Company. questek.com SOURCE QuesTek Innovations | these press releases may also interest you | at 17:25 | dundee corporation delivers strong 2025 results; advances mining strategy through monetizations and capital repositioning | | /"this year, we delivered solid net earnings driven by significant investment gains across our mining portfolio, alongside sizeable monetization transactions that strengthened dundee's year-end cash position and financial flexibility," said jonathan... | | at 17:19 | /U P D A T E - newmark group, inc./ | | / | newmark announces the Company acted as strategic advisor on behalf of cain, the real estate asset manager led and co-founded by jonathan goldstein in partnership with eldridge industries, delivering a fully integrated capital markets and advisory... | | at 17:17 | minto apartment REIT announces the sale of 150 roehampton for $91 million | | / | minto apartment real estate investment trust (the "REIT") announced today that it has entered into an agreement to sell its 150 roehampton property located in toronto, ontario to a private real estate investor (the "transaction"). The sale price of... | | at 17:05 | integral metals appoints leo power to board of directors | | / | integral metals corp. (the "Company" or "integral") is pleased to announce the appointment of leo power to its board of directors, effective immediately. Mr. Power is an accomplished entrepreneur based in newfoundland and labrador, with extensive... | | at 17:05 | oceaneering schedules first quarter 2026 earnings release and conference call | | / | oceaneering international, inc. ("oceaneering") will report its first quarter 2026 financial results on wednesday, april 22, 2026, after the close of trading on the new york stock exchange. Oceaneering will host a conference call and webcast to... | | at 17:05 | montage gold reports on its Q4-2025 activities | | / | montage gold corp. ("montage" or the "Company") is pleased to report on its construction and exploration activities for Q4-2025, with highlights provided in table 1 below. Table 1: Business and financial highlights THREE MONTHS ENDEDYEAR endedall... | | / | more news about Business... News published on 23 march 2026 at 08:54 and distributed by:
The Exploration Company has suggested the UK government blocked its acquisition of struggling launch startup Orbex. The deal, announced on 21 January via a letter of intent, was meant to rescue Orbex after its Series D funding round failed to materialise. Three weeks later, Orbex filed for insolvency after all merger and acquisition opportunities fell through. The Exploration Company's spokesperson stated they "respect the UK decision-making process", hinting at government involvement in blocking the transaction. The UK Space Agency appeared unsupportive, telling SpaceNews that "some companies will succeed, while others will fail". This aligns with the government's recent shift from advocating sovereign launch capability toward "assured access" through partnerships with NATO and European allies. UK-based Skyrora has expressed interest in purchasing select Orbex assets, including Sutherland Spaceport, with plans to invest up to £10 million.
The Exploration Company in talks to buy UK rocket builder Orbex. UK-based rocket builder Orbex has signed a letter of intent to sell its business to European space logistics startup The Exploration Company. Orbex was founded in 2015 and is developing a small launch vehicle called Prime. The company also began work on a larger, medium-lift launch vehicle called Proxima in December 2024. On 21 January, Orbex published a brief press release stating that a letter of intent had been signed and that negotiations had begun. The company added that all details about the transaction remain confidential at this stage. A statement from Orbex CEO Phil Chambers suggests that the company's financial position factored into its decision to pursue a buyer. "Our Series D fundraising could have led us in many directions," said Chambers. "We believe this opportunity plays to the strengths of both businesses, and we look forward to sharing more when the time is right." In her own statement, The Exploration Company's CEO Hélène Huby described the two businesses as "complementary." "Orbex and TEC are complementary. We are working closely with the UK government to ensure that our combined business reinforces the UK's launcher roadmap. We will be respecting the confidentiality of this process and will share more in due course." The Exploration Company is building a reusable space capsule that will initially ferry cargo to the International Space Station. The company is developing, under a CNES-financed project, a high-thrust reusable rocket engine called Typhoon. Since its founding in 2021, the company has raised €225 million. Keep European Spaceflight independent. Your donation will help European Spaceflight to continue digging into the stories others miss. Every euro keeps our reporting alive.
The Exploration Company acquires Thrustworks Additive Manufacturing GmbH. The Exploration Company has acquired Thrustworks Additive Manufacturing GmbH to strengthen its supply chain and expand its advanced manufacturing capability. Thrustworks is described by The Exploration Company as 'an end-to-end specialist in advanced additive manufacturing technologies for aerospace components,' with capabilities spanning design optimisation, post-processing, and quality assurance. The Exploration Company has sought to integrate Thrustworks for its 'market-leading' expertise in refractory metals, oxidation-resistant coatings, and the manufacturing of highly engineered propulsion components. Thrustworks is said to be one of the first companies to commercialise an EU-based capability for the printing and coating of high-performance thrust chambers made from Niobium alloy C103 and used for both civil and defence applications. Helene Huby, CEO and Founder of The Exploration Company, said: "With this merger, we integrate within TEC and scale at the service of the European industry a unique niobium printing capability and a great team. We intend to serve our clients with applications ranging from satellite thrusters to thrusters for defence applications." Christopher Mihm, Alexander Albrechtand and Felix Thiel, the co-founders of Thrustworks, commented: "Joining The Exploration Company marks a defining step for ThrustWorks. Together, we will scale our operations in North Rhine-Westphalia and expand our additive manufacturing capabilities to strengthen Europe's resilient space supply chain."
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About The Exploration Company
Industries
Robotics & Automation
Hardware
Industrial & Manufacturing
Aerospace
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Series B
Total Funding
$214.8M
Headquarters
Planegg, Germany
Founded
2021
The Exploration Company is Hiring for 99 Jobs on Simplify!
Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today