SpaceX has developed a product called Nyx, a reusable capsule that can be launched from a rocket into space to carry passengers and cargo.
The Discovery Corporation (TEC) announced on Monday that it has raised $160 million to advance the development of its capsule designed to carry astronauts and cargo to the space station.
Venture capital firms Balderton Capital and Plural are major investors in this round, which also includes French government-backed investment institution French Tech Souveraineté and German government-backed fund DeepTech & Climate Fonds.
TEC’s core product is Nyx, a capsule that can carry passengers and cargo from a rocket into space. Nyx is reusable, so once it releases its payload, it can re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and be used on the next mission.
Hélène Huby, founder and CEO of TEC, said in an interview with CNBC: “This is a big market, and it is growing by more than 10% every year, because more and more countries want to send astronauts to fly, and more and more countries want to send astronauts to fly. of countries want to go to the moon.
“So the demand for transporting people to the station and delivering goods to the station has increased,” she said.
There are few players in this part of the market. Some of the biggest are SpaceX, which has a capsule called Dragon. There are also competitors from China and Russia.
“We said, ‘OK, let’s build this capability in Europe so Europe can have its own capsule, and the world needs alternative solutions. (We) can’t just bet on SpaceX,” Huby said.
TEC is currently developing a second version of Nyx, which is expected to be launched next year, with the final version launching in 2028.
Huby said the company has signed contracts worth $800 million to use the capsules. These include mission contracts with companies such as Starlab and Axiom Space, which are designing new space stations.
Countries such as China, the United States and India are increasingly engaged in space activities. One of the most ambitious projects is the NASA-led Gateway, which will be the first space station to orbit the moon.
“If you have more people, you need more cargo. That’s what’s happening around the Earth and the moon,” Hubie said.
Huby sees TEC as a key player in developing the technology needed to launch cargo into space and return it to Earth.
“This is where we believe our vehicles will play an important role,” Hubie said.
