What ATMOS Space Cargo does

ATMOS Space Cargo is a European private space logistics company founded around 2021-2022 and headquartered in Lichtenau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, with operating subsidiaries in Strasbourg, France (established May 2025) and a new defence-focused office in Poland (announced April 2026). The company designs, manufactures, and operates the PHOENIX family of reusable orbital transfer and return vehicles (OTRVs) for routine cargo missions to and from Low Earth Orbit. Its core technology is the patented Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD), a non-ablative heat shield and aerodynamic brake that enables parachute-free, controlled water-landing re-entry from orbital velocities, complemented by a patented air-breathing system and (on PHOENIX 2) the ISPTech HyNOx non-toxic propulsion module for precision de-orbit. The PHOENIX 1 prototype conducted the first private European orbital re-entry test on SpaceX's Bandwagon-3 mission in April 2025; PHOENIX 2 (100 kg payload, 6 m IAD) is targeted for first launch in H2 2026; and PHOENIX 3 (~1,000 kg payload, 15 m IAD) is under development following the April 2026 Series A.

The company's revenue model combines transaction-fee per-mission services (quote-based pricing, no public list), catalogue-priced payload services distributed through partners such as Space Cargo Unlimited's BentoBox platform, professional services and integration fees via channel partners (notably Voyager Europe), and managed services through the dedicated ATMOS WORKS business unit launched in April 2026 for European governmental and defence customers. Customer segments include life sciences and in-space manufacturing operators, defence and institutional buyers, research institutions, and biotech R&D users. Distribution is hybrid: direct enterprise sales via dedicated contact channels for Institutional & Defence vs Life Sciences & In-Space Manufacturing, combined with channel partnerships (Voyager Europe, Space Cargo Unlimited, ARX Robotics), launch integration via Exolaunch on SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshares, and European institutional channels (ESA Commercial Cargo Initiative, EIC Accelerator, ICARUS consortium). ATMOS holds Portugal's first commercial re-entry licence (ANACOM-09/2026-AE) and was the first private European company to receive a US FAA positive payload determination (January 2025).

The company has raised approximately €31 million in equity to date (€4M seed June 2023, €1.3M extension February 2024, €1M Mätch VC April 2025, €25.7M Series A April 2026) plus a €13.1M EIC Accelerator award, and is reported at a ~€100 million valuation post-Series A. The 70+ person team, anchored by co-founders Sebastian Klaus (CEO, ex-German KSK), Marta Oliveira (COO, ex-NASA/ESA/CNES), Jeffrey Hendrikse (CTO, ex-Airbus Defence & Space), and Christian Grimm (Chief Engineering Officer, ex-DLR Bremen), operates across 17+ nationalities with advisory input from former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver and Dr. Georg Herdrich of the University of Stuttgart.

Name

ATMOS Space Cargo

Legal name

Atmos Space Cargo GmbH

Website

https://atmos-space-cargo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ATMOS Space Cargo is a German NewSpace company building the PHOENIX reusable orbital transfer and return vehicle, using a patented Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator to enable routine, controlled cargo return from Low Earth Orbit for European institutional, defence, and life sciences customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Logistics Services

NAICS

Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812), Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (481212)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal) (IMABACAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Chartering & Heavy-Lift Vessel / Barge / RoRo Solutions (TLACAIAJ)

Keywords

• Space logistics services
• Orbital return vehicles
• Re-entry capsules
• Microgravity research platforms
• In-orbit cargo delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

Lichtental

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. End-to-End Re-Entry Mission Services: Project/mission-based revenue from selling multi-week LEO re-entry flights to research institutions, commercial customers and government clients via bespoke mission orders; long-cycle contracts include a 7-mission deal with Space Cargo Unlimited (2025–2027) described as multi-million-dollar.
2. Catalogue Microgravity Payload Services: Catalogue-priced payload services with price set by payload type, distributed via partners such as Space Cargo Unlimited's BentoBox and Voyager Europe, including powered, thermally controlled, and time-on-orbit tiering.
3. Defence & Institutional Services (ATMOS WORKS): Dedicated business unit providing sovereign space logistics, secure return of sensitive hardware/data, in-orbit demonstration (IOD/IOV), and responsive time-critical operations for European governmental and defence customers.
4. Integration & Implementation Fees via Partners: Revenue share or service fees from integration/implementation partnerships (e.g., Voyager Europe acting as ATMOS' integration and implementation partner providing mission management).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ATMOS Space Cargo develops and operates the PHOENIX family of reusable Orbital Transfer and Return Vehicles (OTRVs) for two-way cargo logistics between Earth and Low Earth Orbit. Each mission combines autonomous in-orbit free-flyer operations with controlled re-entry via the patented Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD) and precision water-landing recovery. Around this hardware platform, the company delivers end-to-end mission services covering contract definition, payload integration, launch logistics, mission control, telemetry, controlled re-entry, and recovery under a single accountable framework.

Product overview

ATMOS Space Cargo's offering is a single integrated platform anchored on the PHOENIX reusable orbital transfer and return vehicle (OTRV) family, combining autonomous in-orbit free-flyer operations with controlled re-entry and recovery to enable two-way space logistics from Low Earth Orbit. The core technology is the Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD), a non-ablative heat shield and aerodynamic brake that doubles as the capsule's re-entry system and is engineered in successive generations: the PHOENIX 1 prototype (which flew its first orbital re-entry mission on SpaceX Bandwagon-3 in April 2025), the PHOENIX 2 operational vehicle (100 kg payload, 6 m IAD, with the ISPTech HyNOx propulsion system for precision de-orbit and SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare launches planned from 2026), and the PHOENIX 3 next-generation vehicle (1,000 kg payload, 15 m IAD). Around this hardware platform, ATMOS delivers End-to-End Mission Operations as a managed service covering contract definition, payload integration, launch logistics, in-orbit operations, telemetry, controlled re-entry and recovery, and complements this with a dedicated ATMOS WORKS business unit for European governmental and defence customers. Strategic integrations with Space Cargo Unlimited's BentoBox payload platform, Voyager Technologies' mission management, Aurora Avionics' DAQ systems and ISPTech's HyNOx propulsion extend the platform into a fully serviced commercial, institutional and dual-use orbital return infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PHOENIX: Reusable orbital transfer and return vehicle (OTRV) family developed by ATMOS Space Cargo for autonomous cargo missions to and from Low Earth Orbit, equipped with an Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD). PHOENIX variants include PHOENIX 1 (prototype), PHOENIX 2 (next-generation operational capsule, 100 kg payload), and the planned PHOENIX 3 (~1,000 kg payload).
• ATMOS WORKS

Products and services

• PHOENIX 2 reusable Orbital Transfer and Return Vehicle (OTRV) Reusable free-flying orbital transfer and return vehicle for autonomous cargo operations in Low Earth Orbit, with 100 kg total payload capacity, 6 m diameter Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD), selectable flight duration from 3 hours to 12 months, integrated ISPTech HyNOx non-toxic propulsion for precision de-orbit and splashdown, pressurized payload bay at 1 atm, controlled thermal range 4–40 °C, late access for sample loading, Ethernet and Serial data interfaces, and 50 W mean / 100 W peak power. Sold to enterprise, institutional, defence and commercial microgravity customers as mission-based flights.
• End-to-End Mission Operations service Full-service mission lifecycle combining contract and mission definition, payload integration and qualification (AIT), logistics and launcher integration, in-orbit operations and mission control, data downlink and monitoring, and controlled re-entry and recovery. ATMOS operates the full mission lifecycle under a single accountable operational framework with offices in Lichtenau (Germany) and Strasbourg (France), serving enterprise, institutional, defence and commercial customers.
• Eva microgravity service (joint with Rocket Factory Augsburg and Yuri) All-encompassing microgravity service for biotech research and product development that combines ATMOS's reusable PHOENIX return logistics with Rocket Factory Augsburg's launch capability and Yuri's biotech science operations, providing end-to-end microgravity access for life sciences and biotechnology applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1:2 payload-to-mass efficiency — reported as the highest on the market
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, flagship, core and minor.

• Aurora AvionicsmajorTechnology or Integration · 4 March 2026Edinburgh-based space avionics startup; supplying two modular onboard data acquisition systems for the PHOENIX 2.1 mission to collect environmental and structural data (temperature, pressure, structural behaviour) throughout re-entry and recovery.
• Voyager Technologies (Voyager Europe)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2026NYSE-listed Voyager Technologies (VOYG); signed MOU making Voyager Europe ATMOS's integration and implementation partner providing mission management and global integration, while ATMOS supplies free-flying orbital vehicles with controlled return. Both parties refer customers and mission opportunities across networks.
• European Commission (Horizon Europe / EIC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2025Institutional funder backing the PHOENIX 2 return-logistics programme via the EIC Accelerator (grant agreement 101218292 under Horizon Europe).
• ISPTechcoreTechnology or Integration · 14 May 2025Propulsion specialist co-developing the HyNOx non-toxic propulsion module for the PHOENIX 2 capsule, providing de-orbit burns, attitude control, sequencing, and precision splashdown. Co-development includes custom avionics.
• ARX RoboticsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2025Munich-based autonomous unmanned ground systems leader; formed the 'Space Defence Alliance' to integrate ATMOS's PHOENIX orbital re-entry capsule with ARX's MITHRA OS and UxS platforms, enabling orbit-to-ground deployment of autonomous systems. Tactic investment from J14 European Resilience.
• ExolaunchmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 21 April 2025Launch integration services provider; handled integration of PHOENIX 1 with the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle for the Bandwagon-3 mission.
• Space Cargo UnlimitedflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2024European in-space manufacturing operator; signed a multi-million-dollar 7-mission contract (Dec 2024) and a Mission Order for the first integrated PHOENIX 2 + BentoBox flight (Nov 2025), combining ATMOS's reusable OTRV with SCU's BentoBox payload platform. First mission targeted for 2026 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare.
• ICARUS Consortium (led by Elecnor DEIMOS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024European Commission-backed consortium (€15M total EU funding) developing an Inflatable Heat Shield for recovering entire rocket stages. ATMOS is responsible for the inflatable structure; other members include DLR, CIRA, ONERA, Pangaia Grado Zero, Politecnico di Torino, HDES Service & Engineering, and Demcon Advanced Mechatronics. Demonstration flight targeted for 2028.
• European Space Agency (ESA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner listed on website; ATMOS is participating in ESA's Commercial Cargo Initiative tender targeting commercial cargo return from LEO by 2028.
• Institute of Space Systems (IRS), University of StuttgartmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Germany's premier academic institution for atmospheric re-entry; long-running research partnership supporting material testing in plasma wind tunnels and Dr. Georg Herdrich serves as advisor.
• International Space UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Academic partner supporting talent and research; located near ATMOS's Strasbourg office.
• HyPrSpaceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner listed on the ATMOS investor/partners page; French micro-launcher developing complementary launch capability for ATMOS payloads.
• Frontier SpacemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024UK-based in-space manufacturing startup; co-developed a 'lab-in-a-box' SpaceLab and bioreactor that flew aboard PHOENIX 1 alongside Imperial College London.
• Yuri & Rocket Factory AugsburgmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Jointly launched 'Eva,' an all-encompassing microgravity service for biotech research and product development; combines ATMOS Space Cargo's return logistics with RFA's launch capability and Yuri's biotech science operations.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Varda Space Industries: Varda Space Industries builds and operates re-entry capsules for in-space manufacturing and returns payloads from LEO. Directly comparable to ATMOS as a private space-return platform serving biotech and commercial customers with capsule-based recovery.
• The Exploration Company: European startup developing a re-entry capsule (Nyx) for returning cargo from the ISS and LEO. Closest direct European competitor to ATMOS with a similar reusable-capsule, mission-services business model.
• Voyager Technologies: NYSE-listed Voyager Technologies operates the Starlab commercial space station programme and is ATMOS's strategic integration and implementation partner. Overlapping institutional mission management and customer pipeline.
• Space Cargo Unlimited: European in-space manufacturing operator using ATMOS's PHOENIX 2 for return via its BentoBox payload platform. Comparable service-layer positioning for commercial microgravity and biotech customers in the same ecosystem.
• D-Orbit: Italian in-orbit transportation and logistics company with orbital transfer vehicles and end-of-life services. Comparable European NewSpace infrastructure operator addressing institutional and commercial LEO customers.
• Momentus: Momentus provides orbital transfer and last-mile delivery services for satellites in LEO. Comparable smallsat logistics and in-orbit transportation business model targeting institutional and commercial payload customers.

Broad incumbents

• Sierra Space: Sierra Space develops Dream Chaser, a reusable lifting-body spaceplane for cargo return from the ISS. A larger, well-capitalised incumbent in orbital return with comparable (but larger-payload) commercial and institutional target customers.
• SpaceX (Dragon): SpaceX Dragon is the workhorse US commercial cargo return vehicle used by NASA and increasingly by commercial customers. Represents the dominant non-European return provider that ATMOS's sovereign European proposition is positioned against.

Emerging players

• Yuri (Revvity): Yuri provides commercial microgravity services and experiment hardware for biotech research. Co-launched the Eva microgravity service with ATMOS and Rocket Factory Augsburg, making it a channel peer for life-sciences microgravity customers.
• ClearSpace: Swiss/European on-orbit servicing and debris-removal company developing capture and de-orbit technology. Overlapping European institutional positioning and re-entry-adjacent technology overlap with ATMOS's IAD work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AtmosSpaceCargo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atmos-space-cargo
• Instagraminstagram.com/atmosspacecargo

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors19 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ATMOS Space Cargo