NASA’s space operations face ongoing challenges due to limited cargo return capability, impacting scientific research, station maintenance, and crew safety. Lichtenau-based ATMOS, a startup developing technology for returning cargo from space, has secured €13.1 million from the European Union’s EIC Accelerator Program to advance its PHOENIX 2 development. This funding brings the company’s total capital to €18.9M.
“Receiving this funding marks a significant milestone for the entire ATMOS team, underscoring 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,” says Marta Oliveira, Co-founder & COO of ATMOS.
Funding to support PHOENIX 1 capsule’s first test flight
The funding package, which includes non-refundable grants and investments, will help ATMOS expand its engineering and testing capabilities while accelerating the development of its next-generation PHOENIX 2 capsule. As a key requirement, ATMOS must perform two PHOENIX 2 flights within a specified timeframe — aligning with the company’s roadmap for full-scale commercial deployment of its innovative payload transportation platform.
This capital follows ATMOS’s recent announcement of its PHOENIX 1 capsule’s first test flight on SpaceX’s upcoming Bandwagon-3 mission, scheduled no earlier than April 2025. This inaugural flight will complete two Earth orbits before attempting atmospheric re-entry, gathering critical data on the capsule and its innovative Inflatable Heat Shield.
The mission will carry payloads from various partners: German Aerospace Center’s Institute of Aerospace Medicine (radiation detector), IDDK, a Japanese biotech firm (microscopic observation technology), and Frontier Space, a UK space biotech company (“lab-in-a-box” space lab and bioreactor).
How ATMOS contributes to the growing commercial space economy
Founded in Germany in 2021 by experienced aerospace professionals from Airbus and European Space Agency teams – Sebastian Klaus, Marta Oliveira, Jeffrey Hendrikse, and Christian Grimm, ATMOS aims to develop and manufacture technology for returning cargo of various sizes from space, addressing a critical industry gap.
While launching payloads into space has become more accessible, returning cargo remains challenging. By providing reliable return capability, ATMOS aims to unlock the potential of manufacturing in microgravity environments, leading to breakthroughs across various industries.
ATMOS’s services include microgravity experiments, commercial payloads, and spacecraft reusability support. The company bridges the gap between Earth and low-Earth orbit, driving industrial innovation with sustainable solutions. The Phoenix capsule is a groundbreaking platform for Earth-to-space-to-Earth logistics, designed for various applications.
In December 2024, the company secured a commercial contract with Space Cargo Unlimited for seven re-entry missions until 2027, strengthening its position as a key player in space logistics.
PHOENIX: Innovative re-entry technology
ATMOS’s PHOENIX return capsule is a groundbreaking vehicle for transporting large payloads. Its initial version can carry up to 100 kg, with future iterations planned to handle several tonnes, including rocket stages. The company’s focus on life sciences research positions it firmly in the growing space biotech sector.
ATMOS Space Cargo differentiates itself from competitors like Thales Alenia Space, The Exploration Company, and SpaceX through its innovative PHOENIX capsule, which features unique Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD) technology. This fuel-free system functions as both a heat shield and a high-speed parachute, offering superior efficiency with a targeted down mass ratio of 1:2, which is claimed to be ten times above current market standards.
Furthermore, ATMOS offers unmatched mission flexibility, ranging from 3 hours to 3 months, while maintaining environmental sustainability. It leads in sustainable and cost-effective space logistics as the first non-governmental European entity to attempt space re-entry and the first private European company to receive an FAA payload determination.
ATMOS is also developing an inflatable heat shield to return rocket stages from space as part of the ICARUS consortium, which was formed in February 2024 with European Commission backing. This innovation reduces mass costs, making microgravity and in-space manufacturing accessible to various industries.
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