European space startup The Exploration Company has signed an agreement with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with a view to reaching the Moon by 2028, a report from The Next Web reveals.
The Bordeaux and Munich-based company will partner with ISRO’s commercial arm, New Space India Limited (NSIL), and will use ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
ISRO recently made history by making India the first nation to perform a successful soft landing on the lunar south pole region.
The first mission that will take place as part of the ISRO and Exploration Company partnership is currently scheduled for January 2024. It will involve the testing of the Bikini, a small prototype version of The Exploration Company’s reusable Nyx spacecraft.
Nyx, which was named after a Greek goddess, will have open interfaces available on a SpaceStore to allow companies to develop new applications for the spacecraft. The first orbital mission of Bikini is scheduled for 2026.
Bikini was originally meant to fly aboard Arianespace’s next-generation Ariane 6 rocket this autumn. However, the debut launch of Ariane 6 has been postponed on numerous occasions — it is currently expected to launch next year. Those delays led The Exploration Company to look for a different partner for its launches, leading to the partnership with ISRO.
