{"id":"b37eb8eb-e838-4f69-9b2a-1b866d8d9b7b","name":"The Exploration Company","slug":"exploration-company","description":"The Exploration Company (TEC) is a German-French space company developing Nyx, an autonomous cargo vehicle for orbital and lunar missions. Founded 2021 by CEO Hélène Huby. Nyx Earth carries 4,000 kg to LEO for 6 months, reusable 5x, in-orbit refueling. Nyx Moon lunar lander variant. Raised $160M. ESA LCRS program. First orbital mission 2026. In talks to acquire Orbex.","status":null,"founded":2021,"hq":"Munich, Germany","fundingTotal":null,"type":"hardware","reviewStatus":"reviewed","lifecycleState":"active","supersededByCompanyId":null,"sources":[{"url":"https://www.exploration-company.com","label":"The Exploration Company (official)"}],"keyFacts":[{"label":"Product","value":"Nyx — autonomous cargo vehicle, 4-5 ton payload, autonomous docking, 3000kg return"},{"label":"HQ","value":"Munich, Germany"},{"label":"Founder & CEO","value":"Hélène Huby"},{"label":"Total funding","value":"$160M+ (Nov 2024)"},{"label":"Product — Nyx Earth","value":"4,000 kg to LEO, 6-month duration, reusable 5x, in-orbit refueling"},{"label":"Product — Nyx Moon","value":"Lunar lander variant, cylindrical design, Breeze thrusters"},{"label":"Crewed version","value":"4-5 people to LEO, expected mid-2030s"},{"label":"ESA program","value":"LEO Cargo Return Service (LCRS)"},{"label":"First orbital mission","value":"2026 (launch provider TBD)"},{"label":"Acquisition target","value":"Orbex (UK small launch) — in talks"}],"aliases":[],"collisionRisk":"low","reviewNote":null,"atsProvider":null,"atsSlug":null,"factoryLocations":null,"manufacturingCapacity":null,"orgType":null,"burnSignal":null,"litigationEvents":null,"insurancePostureDisclosed":null,"unitEconomicsDisclosed":null,"tickerSymbol":null,"stockExchange":null,"secCik":null,"revenueUsd":null,"revenueBasis":null,"revenueAsOf":null,"employeeCount":null,"employeeCountBasis":null,"employeeCountAsOf":null,"marketCapUsd":null,"marketCapAsOf":null,"marketCapSource":null,"createdAt":"2026-07-27T19:16:39.886Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-27T19:19:27.214Z","jsonLd":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","@id":"https://registry.deploy.report/companies/exploration-company","url":"https://registry.deploy.report/companies/exploration-company","name":"The Exploration Company","description":"The Exploration Company (TEC) is a German-French space company developing Nyx, an autonomous cargo vehicle for orbital and lunar missions. Founded 2021 by CEO Hélène Huby. Nyx Earth carries 4,000 kg to LEO for 6 months, reusable 5x, in-orbit refueling. Nyx Moon lunar lander variant. Raised $160M. ESA LCRS program. First orbital mission 2026. In talks to acquire Orbex.","identifier":"b37eb8eb-e838-4f69-9b2a-1b866d8d9b7b","foundingDate":"2021","address":"Munich, Germany","publisher":{"@id":"https://deploy.report/#organization"}},"framework_metadata":{"framework_schema_version":"0.1.0","verification_status":"verified","maturity_stage":null,"lifecycle_state":null,"architectural_position":{"cohort":null,"sub_cohorts":[]},"within_cohort_verified_vs_claimed_pair":null,"cap_flags":[],"verification_depth":{"sources_count":1,"primary_source_types":[]}}}