Winner of ESA Payload Masters

Hydromars secured a payload flight opportunity onboard Nyx, a modular and reusable orbital vehicle, developed and operated by The Exploration Company (TEC) for the mission called “Mission Possible”.

This opportunity was initiated within the ESA Payload Masters where the European Space Agency (ESA), in partnership with AZO Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen, was able to secure two places at Nyx and award them to two chosen proposals. 

Following a competitive selection process, the top 6 finalists got the possibility to pitch at a dedicated session during the Spring School on Space Commercialisation and Start-ups on 23-24 May 2023 in Bari, Italy. As a result, the 2 selected winners were chosen and awarded at the ESA Booth at the International Paris Air Show on 19-25 June 2023.

Nyx “Mission Possible” is planned to last about three hours and will be launched in Q2 2025 from SpaceX Falcon 9. It will enable 300kg of payloads to experience a microgravity environment for up to one hour before the capsule performs a controlled re-entry.

With this In-Orbit Demonstration and Validation (IOV/IOD) opportunity, Hydromars aims to validate its technology process using hydrophobic microporous membranes. Data from this test will be used, among others, to drive design choices for components, process control, sensor and actuator performance, system mode switching and will lead to updated requirements and further design trade-offs for Hydromars’ full-scale device.

The opportunity provided by ESA and TEC is a considerable milestone for Hydromars as IOD/IOV is a key ingredient of Hydromars’ business plan.

Contract signature with The Exploration Company, May 2023​, Bari, Italy

Award ceremony at ESA Booth at the International Paris Air Show, June 2023, Paris, France