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The Exploration Company, founded by Hélène Huby in 2021, seeks to enhance European independence in space, where currently only the U.S., China, and Russia can launch astronauts. The company has grown to over 400 staff and raised $230m from investors, focusing on developing capsules for cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station.

Its first test capsule, Mission Bikini, was developed in nine months for less than €2m. A full-size capsule, Nyx, is expected to fly in 2028. The European space economy is forecast to reach $1.8tn by 2035, necessitating a push for more autonomous space capabilities.