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Robot maker · registered

The Exploration Company

Corporate marketlogisticsCurated record
exploration.space

The Exploration Company develops Nyx, a family of reusable autonomous spacecraft designed for cargo delivery to Low Earth Orbit stations and eventually the Moon. The full guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) and autonomous docking stack is developed entirely in-house, enabling Nyx to conduct autonomous close-proximity operations with any space station without human intervention. The company has signed Space Act Agreements with NASA and cargo contracts with Axiom Space, Starlab Space, and Vast, achieving a $750M+ contract backlog as of 2024. Founded by Airbus/ArianeGroup veterans of the Orion-ESM and ATV programs.

HeadquartersBordeaux, FR
Founded2021
Corporate funding$210M
Team201-500
Deployments2
Open roles103
01

Company overview

Identity and operating footprint

Company typeRobot maker
Market segmentCorporate
StageSeries B
FoundersHélène Huby (CEO & Co-founder), Artur Koop (Co-founder), Sebastien Reichstadt (Co-founder), Pierre Vinet (Co-founder), Jon Reijneveld (Co-founder)
Regions servedGlobal
Countries deployedNot listed
Service footprintNot listed
Last reviewed2026-07-05
MX

Robot models

Specifications remain vendor-claimed

Machinelogistics

Nyx

  • Autonomous docking with any space station; full GNC stack developed in-house for autonomous close-proximity operations

    Reusable cargo capsule with autonomous rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking for LEO missions

    Claim source
DP

Deployment log

Announced and cited only

AnnouncedCustomerSiteCountryCountEvidence
2025-06-23European Space Agency / CNES / DLR / Celestisorbital mission (Nyx/Mission Possible spacecraft)FRNot disclosedAnnouncement
2024-06-11Vast Spacecargo mission contract (Haven-2, 2028)USNot disclosedAnnouncement
CA

Funding history

Publicly announced rounds

Investors on recordBalderton CapitalPluralBessemer Venture PartnersEQT VenturesCherry VenturesPartech
HR

Hiring signal

Public job board · 2026-07-13

Open roles103

Hiring is an operating signal, not deployment evidence. Roles are refreshed from the company’s public careers system.

Open Application – Protected Categories (Law 68/99)Commercial & People · Turin, ItalyPeople Experience LeadCommercial & People · Munich, GermanySenior People PartnerCommercial & People · Munich, GermanyTalent Acquisition Partner - PropulsionCommercial & People · Bordeaux, FranceBackend EngineerDigital Systems · Munich, GermanyDevice AdministratorDigital Systems · Bordeaux, FranceEnterprise Systems Principal EngineerDigital Systems · Turin, ItalyFinancial Systems Business PartnerDigital Systems · Munich, Germany
TL

Company timeline

Milestones and announcements

2024-11-17Announced $750M+ backlog with Axiom Space, Starlab Space, Vast, and NASA Space Act Agreement; 10 missions bookedTechCrunch
2024-11-17Raised $160M Series B (largest European space Series B to date) led by Balderton Capital and Plural; total raised $230MTechCrunch
2024-05-01Won one of two ESA contracts (€25M) for cargo transportation vehicle design for ISS missionsSpaceNews
SC

Source ledger

6 unique public sources

01
The Exploration Company raises $160 million for Nyx cargo vehicleSpaceNews · retrieved 2026-07-05
02
In no way boring, spacetech startup The Exploration Company lands €40.5 millionTech.eu · retrieved 2026-07-05
03
To the moon and back with The Exploration Company as it raises €5.3 millionTech.eu · retrieved 2026-07-05
04
Mission Possible: Re-Entry Milestone Achieved for Europe's Reusable SpaceflightThe Exploration Company · retrieved 2026-07-05
05
Vast Contracts The Exploration Company for Cargo MissionEuropean Spaceflight · retrieved 2026-07-05
06
The Exploration Company raises $160M to build Europe's answer to SpaceX DragonTechCrunch · retrieved 2026-07-05