ATMOS Space Cargo (ATMOS), a leading European space logistics startup and part of SSV II, has been awarded €13.1 million in total funding by the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator, a key program of the European Union’s (EU) Horizon Europe framework. The EIC Accelerator strategically targets companies developing high-impact innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. The award follows ATMOS’ recent public announcement of its PHOENIX 1 capsule’s first test flight on the upcoming Bandwagon-3 mission by SpaceX, no earlier than April 2025.
Accelerating Development of PHOENIX 2
The funding, which includes both non-refundable grants and investment components, will enable ATMOS to expand its engineering and testing capabilities, accelerating the on-going development of its next generation PHOENIX 2 capsule. A key requirement of the funding mandates ATMOS to perform two PHOENIX 2 flights within a specified timeframe – already aligned by the company’s roadmap for full-scale commercial deployment of its innovative payload transportation platform. In December 2024, the company secured a commercial contract for 7 re-entry missions with Space Cargo Unlimited until 2027, further solidifying its position as a key player in space logistics.
“Receiving this funding marks a significant milestone for the entire ATMOS team as it underscores the strong support for the technology we are developing. It plays a crucial role in advancing the PHOENIX 2 capsule and reinforces our commitment to making reusable space logistics a reality in the coming years”, says Marta Oliveira, Co-founder & COO of ATMOS.
