The Exploration Company Completes Water-Impact Tests for its Nyx Space Capsule

Italy - Ekhbary News Agency

The Exploration Company Completes Water-Impact Tests for its Nyx Space Capsule

MILAN — The French-German aerospace firm, The Exploration Company, announced the successful completion of a series of mock water-impact tests for its Nyx space capsule. This initiative marks a significant stride in the development of the Nyx spacecraft, envisioned as a modular, reusable vehicle capable of transporting both cargo and, in the future, crew to low Earth orbit and beyond. These tests are crucial for validating the company's predictive models and paving the way for upcoming certification processes.

The testing campaign, which took place from January 13th through the 28th, was held at the "Umberto Pugliese" towing tank facility in Italy. Rather than a full-scale splashdown, the exercise served as a model-validation exercise. The company utilized a 135-kilogram, 1:4 scale mock-up of the Nyx capsule within a 13.5-meter by 6.5-meter tank. The primary objective was to meticulously characterize the capsule's water-impact behavior and to rigorously validate the numerical models developed by the company. This validation is intended to build confidence in the simulations that guide the design and operational planning for future splashdown events.

A spokesperson for The Exploration Company elaborated to SpaceNews, stating, "The primary objective was validation of the numerical splashdown model. To do that, we varied release heights and velocities in a controlled way to reproduce multiple impact conditions with high repeatability." Achieving high repeatability under controlled conditions is essential for ensuring that the numerical models accurately reflect real-world physics, thereby minimizing risks associated with actual flight tests and operational missions.

These recent tests follow a notable incident in June 2025 involving the company's "Mission Possible" reentry test. Although the capsule successfully survived the splashdown in the North Pacific Ocean, communication was lost prior to parachute deployment, preventing the collection of vital data. The Exploration Company has clarified that the recent water-impact validation tests were not a consequence of, nor are they directly related to, the parachute non-deployment issue experienced during the "Mission Possible" test. The spokesperson emphasized the distinction: "Nyx Flight Mission One is being developed with ESA involvement and to a different set of mission requirements and verification logic than Mission Possible, so we avoid drawing one-to-one conclusions between the two." It was also noted that "Mission Possible" was designed as a demonstrator mission, serving a different purpose than the more advanced Nyx program.

The company has set an ambitious goal to conduct a full test flight of its Nyx capsule to the International Space Station (ISS) by 2028. This timeline underscores the rapid pace of development in the commercial space sector. The exact date and location for the next test flight, designated "Nyx Flight Mission One," have not yet been disclosed. The spokesperson indicated that an updated schedule will be shared once the company has completed its analysis, planning, and coordination efforts with its partners and relevant authorities.

The development of reusable spacecraft like Nyx is central to the future of space exploration. Such technologies promise to significantly reduce the cost of accessing space, increase the frequency of missions, and enable more sustainable human presence in Earth orbit and beyond. The modular design of Nyx offers flexibility, allowing it to be adapted for various mission profiles, including scientific research, resupply missions to space stations, and eventually, human spaceflight.

The focus on rigorous testing, particularly for critical phases like water landing, highlights the company's commitment to safety and reliability. Successful validation of splashdown models is foundational for designing robust recovery systems and ensuring the safe return of both cargo and astronauts. The successful execution of these tests in a controlled environment provides valuable data that will inform the design of the final flight hardware and operational procedures, moving The Exploration Company closer to its ambitious goals in the burgeoning space economy.

Ekhbary News Agency