The €5 Billion Problem

Over the next decade, Europe will spend €5 billion to transport its astronauts to orbit, with the majority flowing directly into SpaceX's coffers.

"This is really crazy," explains Victor Maier from The Exploration Company during his presentation. "European taxpayers' money goes to the US, and we want to change that."

The dependency runs deeper than transportation costs. Europe operates under agreements that mortgage its space ambitions to foreign powers. European taxpayers fund the Columbus module for the International Space Station, providing it free to NASA in exchange for astronaut seats.

Enter Nix: Europe's Answer to Dragon

The Exploration Company's solution is Nix, a reusable spacecraft designed as Europe's independent gateway to space. In just four years, the company has achieved remarkable milestones:

• Rapid Development: Built their first demonstrator in nine months with only nine employees for €2 million

• Commercial Success: Secured €800 million in contracts, including missions for Axiom Space, Starlab, and Vaas

• ESA Recognition: Selected as number one choice for the Leocargo Return Service ahead of Thales and Airbus

Innovation Through Necessity

Nix features a 15-kilonewton thrust engine using liquid oxygen and methane—a "green propellant" that avoids environmental challenges of traditional rocket fuel. These engines are fully 3D-printed in-house, developed in just 18 months.

The spacecraft offers two configurations:

• Nix Earth: For low Earth orbit missions and ISS docking

• Nix Moon: Upgraded version for lunar missions

A Market Ready for Disruption

Ten new space stations are planned for low Earth orbit and lunar environments. Each averages 10 resupply missions annually, creating multiplication effects that could transform the industry.

"This is actually a conservative number," Maier notes. "We believe that within the next 10 years, it's going to multiply by 10 from €5 billion to €50 billion."

Europe's Space Sovereignty Moment

As the International Space Station prepares for deorbiting in 2030, Europe finds itself underrepresented in upcoming space stations—Axiom, Orbital Reef, Vaas Haven, and Starlab are predominantly American ventures.

The Exploration Company represents more than another startup. With 270+ employees from 40+ nationalities across Munich, Bordeaux, Turin, and Houston, it embodies Europe's multinational approach to space exploration.

Their transparent pricing of €150 million covers everything: launch, docking, power, communication, re-entry, and refurbishment—a "DHL service in space."

Looking Up

The immediate timeline:

• July 2025: Mission Possible launches with customer payloads

• August 28, 2025: Critical ISS docking test

• 2028: First crewed lunar mission

As Europe grapples with technological sovereignty, space represents the ultimate test. The Exploration Company's rapid progress suggests European space independence isn't just possible—it's imminent.

The next time you look up at the night sky, remember: the future of European space exploration might just be looking back.