European space startup The Exploration Company has revealed plans to eventually launch crewed missions using its Nyx spacecraft, as it prepares for a critical test flight within days.
At the Paris Air Show on June 16, the company showcased an updated model of its Nyx space vehicle, originally designed for cargo transport. Nyx is slated for a key demonstration mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2028 under a European Space Agency (ESA) program focused on developing cargo spacecraft.
Though Nyx will begin its career delivering supplies, the company is actively working on adapting the design for human spaceflight. A model displayed at the event featured two astronauts and cargo, symbolizing the company’s ambition. Victor Maier, head of business operations for Germany and Central Europe, confirmed that preliminary studies for a crewed version have already been completed.
“We’re designing Nyx to be compatible with ISS and future commercial stations, where astronauts will enter the vehicle while it’s docked,” said Maier. “This is already helping us meet some requirements for eventual human spaceflight certification.”
The envisioned crewed variant could accommodate four to five astronauts and would include features like windows and touchscreens, similar to the interiors of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
Maier estimated that developing a fully crewed Nyx would take around a decade and require an investment of approximately €1 billion ($1.15 billion). He emphasized the need for pan-European governmental support to realize this ambition, stating that the cost exceeds what any single nation or private investor could afford.
“The question now is: does Europe want an independent human spaceflight capability?” he said, urging ESA member states to consider this during the agency’s upcoming ministerial conference in Bremen this November. “This year is the moment for a decision.”
Test Mission ‘Mission Possible’ Set for Launch
While crewed missions are a long-term goal, The Exploration Company remains focused on advancing its uncrewed cargo operations. The next step is Mission Possible, a major technology demonstration flight scheduled to launch on SpaceX’s Transporter-14 rideshare mission.
Following the partial success of its first test vehicle, Mission Bikini, in 2023—when an upper stage issue on Ariane 6 prevented separation—Mission Possible will be the first full-scale test of Nyx’s systems, including atmospheric reentry and splashdown.
Weighing 1.6 tons and measuring 2.5 meters in diameter, the spacecraft will also carry approximately 300 kilograms of customer cargo, including pharmaceutical and cosmetic experiments, and even alcohol. These represent early examples of how Nyx could support future commercial space ventures.
According to Maier, the spacecraft will remain in orbit for only about three hours before reentering Earth’s atmosphere and splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. A recovery vessel has already departed from Alaska in preparation for retrieval.
No additional flight tests are currently planned before the 2028 ISS demonstration, although further ground tests of individual systems may be conducted based on Mission Possible’s results.
With six missions already on its schedule—including projects for ESA, Axiom Space, Vast, and Starlab Space—The Exploration Company is positioning itself as a major player in Europe’s push for independent and commercial space access.