EUROPEAN COMMISSION
SUPPORTS ATMOS WITH
€13.1 MILLION EIC FUNDING
ATMOS Secures €13.1 Million Funding from European Union’s EIC Accelerator Program to Advance PHOENIX 2 Development.
Press Release
- The funding supports the development of PHOENIX 2 for upcoming missions and underscores Europe’s efforts to establish sovereignty in space logistics.
- ATMOS Space Cargo to launch its first PHOENIX capsule on SpaceX’ Bandwagon-3 rideshare mission, no earlier than April 2025.
- ATMOS is already tasked to build an inflatable heat shield for returning entire rocket stages from space as part of a European Commission backed consortium named ICARUS.
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Lichtenau, Germany – February 17, 2025 – ATMOS Space Cargo (ATMOS), a leading European space logistics startup, has been awarded €13.1 million in total funding by the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator, a key program of the European Union’s (EU) Horizon Europe framework.
The EIC Accelerator strategically targets companies developing high-impact innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones.
The total sum is distributed as follows: EIC grant of €2.5 million, €5.3 million equity from the EIC fund, and €5.3 million in private equity.
The award follows ATMOS’ recent public announcement of its PHOENIX 1 capsule’s first test flight on the upcoming Bandwagon-3 mission by SpaceX, no earlier than April 2025. Further mission details are available on the ATMOS website.
Accelerating Development of PHOENIX 2
The funding, which includes both non-refundable grants and investment components, will enable ATMOS to expand its engineering and testing capabilities, accelerating the on-going development of its next generation PHOENIX 2 capsule. A key requirement of the funding mandates ATMOS to perform two PHOENIX 2 flights within a specified timeframe – already aligned by the company’s roadmap for full-scale commercial deployment of its innovative payload transportation platform.
In December 2024, the company secured a commercial contract for 7 re-entry missions with Space Cargo Unlimited until 2027, further solidifying its position as a key player in space logistics.
Our Co-Founders at EIC in Brussels: Sebastian Klaus (CEO), Marta Oliveira COO), Jeffrey Hendrikse (CTO)
PHOENIX: Innovative Re-entry Technology
ATMOS’ PHOENIX return capsule is a groundbreaking return vehicle designed to transport a wide range of payloads. The initial iteration of the capsule is capable of carrying up to 100 kg, with future versions planned to handle larger payloads of several tonnes, including rocket stages.
Inflatable heat shields represent the latest advancements in re-entry technology. It allows the PHOENIX platform to significantly enhance mission capabilities for microgravity exposure ranging from three hours to three months and reducing existing downmass costs, thereby opening access to microgravity and in-space manufacturing for a wide range of industries and applications. Target customers for this platform include organizations in life sciences, biotechnology, in-space manufacturing, defense, and institutional sectors.
ATMOS is already developing an inflatable heat shield for returning entire rocket stages from space as part of the European Commission backed consortium named ICARUS, which formed in February 2024. More details to be found on the company’s website.
“Receiving this funding marks a significant milestone for the entire ATMOS team as it underscores the strong support for the technology we are developing. It plays a crucial role in advancing the PHOENIX 2 capsule and reinforces our commitment to making reusable space logistics a reality in the coming years”.
Marta Oliveira, Co-founder & COO of ATMOS
About ATMOS Space Cargo
ATMOS Space Cargo GmbH develops cutting-edge technology to enable the return of cargo from space. Its services encompass microgravity experiments, commercial payloads and support for spacecraft reusability. ATMOS bridges the gap between Earth and low Earth orbit, driving industrial innovation with sustainable solutions. The PHOENIX capsule represents a groundbreaking platform for Earth-to-Space-to-Earth logistics, designed for a wide variety of applications.
For press inquiries, please contact: press@atmos-space-cargo.com