European Startup Exploration Company Works on Reusable Rocket Alternative to Compete With SpaceX Dragon Capsule

The Exploration Company, a company in Europe, is currently developing its own reusable spacecraft that would be the next rival to SpaceX's Dragon Capsule.

Hélène Huby Huby, CEO and co-founder of the space company, noted that Europe has consistently lagged behind the United States in the space race.

For the past 10 years, this situation has remained unchanged. Huby was the Vice President of the European Service Module at Airbus before Huby started their new firm.

However, she decided to resign from her post in August 2021 and launch her own reusable rocket-focused business.

European Space Startup Competing With SpaceX With Own Reusable Rocket

According to a TechCrunch article, Huby quit her job because she no longer wants to work on a spacecraft that cannot be refueled or reused.

"I didn't want to spend my life working on a vehicle that is not reusable, cannot be refueled," she said.

She worked hard to get a $5.3 million seed round for the growing European aerospace business, which was led by Promus Ventures.

At least 30 people are now employed at The Exploration Company. According to Hélène, the co-founders of their new company are different from those of previous space enterprises.

Europe 'Lags' Behind US in Space Scene

According to Huby, the European space scene is five to 10 years behind the American one. She is therefore creating a rechargeable and reusable orbiting vehicle.

The SpaceX Dragon capsule and the Boeing Starliner are the most comparable alternatives. Huby said that there isn't a significant European rival and that a European company has a chance to continue operating on the global stage.

"The [space] exploration ecosystem is going to change dramatically in the probably next 10 to 15 years," she said per Yahoo! News. "If you make it happen, you have a huge advantage of being one of the first in the market."

Nyx's Bikini Explained

The Exploration Company intends to launch its "Bikini" re-entry orbital vehicle demonstration before the year 2022 is over. After that, they expect to release its first working prototype in 2024.

As of writing, customer payloads have already pre-booked 80% of their 2024 trip. The burgeoning European space company will launch Nyx, its primary orbital vehicle, on its first voyage in 2026.

The Exploration Company's official website explained that Nyx, a Greek goddess known for her adept navigational abilities, inspired the name of their reusable rocket.

There will be two parts to Nyx: a capsule and a service module. In addition, it will make use of reusable cryo-engines, solar panels, and heat shields.

It will have the capability to launch as much as 4,000 kg into low Earth orbit.

Other Reusable Rockets Eyed

China apparently considered developing a reusable Long March 9 mega-rocket before the revelation of The Exploration Company's development. The new Long March 9 design might take flight as early as 2035. Science Times reported that Long Lehao, the Long March rocket series' chief designer, introduced the design at a public lecture in Chinese.

Methane-liquid oxygen, often known as methalox, the fuel utilized by SpaceX's Starship for extended space flights, will be used. While the two systems' heavy-lifting and fuel capacity are comparable, there are far more significant structural variations between them.

Methane-liquid oxygen increases efficiency and reduces coking and soot production issues for reusability. The plans carry on the trend of switching to fuel started by United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin, and SpaceX.

The Chinese reusable rocket is expected to be around 103 meters long, have a 10-meter-diameter core, weigh 4,140 metric tons when it lifts off, and have a payload capacity of 140 tons for Low Earth Orbit or 50 tons for trans-lunar injection.

The first stage of the 10.6-meter-diameter launcher would be powered by twenty-six clustered 200-ton-thrust methalox engines. 150 tons of cargo, 65 tons in a geosynchronous transfer orbit, and 50 tons for trans-lunar injection may all be delivered simultaneously into low-Earth orbit.

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