BERLIN — The Exploration Company has raised $160 million to support the company’s development of a cargo spacecraft to support future commercial space stations.
The company announced Nov. 18 the Series B round, led by European venture capital funds Balderton Capital and Plural, along with participation from several other new and existing investors. The participants include two European sovereign funds, France’s French Tech Souveraineté and Germany’s DeepTech & Climate Fonds.
The Exploration Company says the funds will support the development of its Nyx spacecraft, designed to transport cargo to and from low Earth orbit and, later, to cislunar space. The LEO version, Nyx Earth, can transport four tons of pressurized and unpressurized cargo to orbit and return with up to three tons of cargo.
“Over the past 12 months, we have hit major operational and financial milestones and signed significant service contracts with both space agencies and commercial clients,” said Hélène Huby, chief executive and co-founder of the company, in a statement announcing the round. “This new funding is the next step in scaling up our ambitions.”