The newspace startup The Exploration Company has announced that it will begin, with co-funding from CNES (the French space agency), the development of an engine comparable to SpaceX's Raptor, adapted for a super-heavy launcher capable of carrying out space exploration missions.The post-Ariane 6 era is already underway. In any case, France is actively involved, with the Franco-German startup, The Exploration Company, at the forefront. The company announces that it will initiate the development of a new high-thrust rocket engine, benefiting from co-financing from CNES.This engine is an oxygen-methane engine with a staged combustion cycle, a technology similar to that used in the Raptor engines propelling SpaceX's Starship. "The contract with CNES has been signed. We share the costs," says Hélène Huby, co-founder of The Exploration Company, to L’Usine Nouvelle. Named Typhoon, this reusable engine is expected to be operational around 2030. The committed amounts are confidential.With this type of engine, Europe would be capable of considering the development of so-called super-heavy launchers, capable of placing several tens of tons of equipment into orbit. This would enable European states to position themselves in the markets for large constellations and space exploration. The engine will provide a thrust of approximately 200 tons, roughly double the reusable Prometheus engine, a demonstrator program of the European Space Agency (ESA), with ArianeGroup as the lead contractor.Technological breakthroughs in key areas are expected to be necessary to develop such a propulsion system, particularly in the combustion chamber and turbo-pumps. The startup, currently employing a small team of propulsion system experts in Bordeaux (Gironde), Munich, and soon Turin, plans to involve other industrial partners in the coming months. Funding from the co-financing with CNES will remain 100% in France, according to the startup, which intends to have activities in Italy and Germany financed independently.Beyond this project, The Exploration Company is developing a reusable space shuttle capable of transporting cargo to future space stations. A first demonstrator is expected to fly this year. With an approximately 115-employee workforce, the company raised 40 million euros in February, marking one of the largest fundraising efforts among newspace companies in Europe.
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Beyond this project, The Exploration Company is developing a reusable space shuttle capable of transporting cargo to future space stations. A first demonstrator is expected to fly this year. With an approximately 115-employee workforce, the company raised 40 million euros in February, marking one of the largest fundraising efforts among newspace companies in Europe.
