Lichtenau-based ATMOS Space Cargo, a rising star in the German space logistics sector, has secured €13.1 million in funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator. This substantial investment is part of the Horizon Europe initiative, which aims to back high-impact innovations with the potential to revolutionise industries and create new markets.

The funding package is a mix of €2.5 million in EIC grants, €5.3 million in EIC fund equity, and €5.3 million from private investors. This financial boost comes at an exciting time for ATMOS, as it prepares for the first test flight of its PHOENIX 1 capsule. The launch is scheduled to take place no earlier than April 2025, aboard SpaceX’s Bandwagon-3 mission.

ATMOS Space Cargo focuses on developing cutting-edge technology that facilitates the return of cargo from space, a key element for advancing microgravity research, supporting commercial payloads, and promoting spacecraft reusability. The company is paving the way for enhanced connections between Earth and low Earth orbit, offering sustainable solutions that drive industrial innovation.

At the heart of ATMOS’ plans is its PHOENIX capsule, a versatile and advanced logistics platform designed to transport a variety of goods between space and Earth. The first version of this capsule can carry up to 100 kilograms, but future versions will be able to handle even heavier payloads, including entire rocket stages.

One of the key features of the PHOENIX capsule is its use of an inflatable heat shield, which enhances its capabilities by extending mission durations from three hours to as long as three months. This innovation significantly reduces the costs of returning cargo to Earth, making it more accessible for industries involved in in-space manufacturing, microgravity research, and various other sectors such as life sciences, biotechnology, defence, and institutional research.

In addition to the PHOENIX capsule, ATMOS is working on developing an even more ambitious inflatable heat shield that will enable the safe return of entire rocket stages from space. This project is part of the ICARUS consortium, which was established in February 2024 and is backed by the European Commission. The project is another step towards making space logistics and reusability a reality on a much larger scale.