Milestone builds on Mission Possible flight and keeps Europe on track for independent cargo services to the International Space Station by 2028

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Following the Phase 0 meeting in August 2024, NASA and ESA gave Nyx Earth the all-clear in Phase 1, the first of three formal stages of the International Space Station (ISS) Safety Review, confirming that the capsule’s preliminary design architecture reviews meet all hazard-control requirements for visiting vehicles.

Phase 1 focuses on the Preliminary Hazard Analysis, requiring that every initial Hazard Report be documented, categorized and linked to a clear control strategy. The Joint NASA and ESA Visiting Vehicle Safety Review Panel, which brings together specialists in propulsion, Guidance Navigation & Control (GNC), power, structures, software and crew safety, scrutinizes these materials, and the vehicle must leave the review with all hazards either closed or backed by agreed action plans, achieving 100 percent milestone-objective closure at panel level.

The decision advances The Exploration Company's (TEC) plan to launch Nyx Earth for regular cargo missions by 2028.

Nyx Earth is a 4-metre-diameter, 7-metre-tall (including service module) reusable capsule developed in contract with ESA through LEO Cargo Return Service (LCRS) European capsule competition built to carry 2,600 kg of pressurized payload on its first mission to the ISS. Attitude and orbit control rely on a MON-3 / MMH hypergolic propulsion system, while body-mounted solar arrays power the months-long docked missions. The vehicle, after docking with the ISS, will be protected during re-entry by an ablative heat shield that combines Zuram with P50.

Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General, notes: Nyx successfully passing the ISS Safety Phase 1 review is strong evidence of the outstanding work carried out by European industry. It reinforces our confidence as ESA, together with its Member States, prepares for the next phase of funding for the LCRS contracts to be presented at our upcoming Ministerial Conference. This programme highlights Europe's ability to adapt to the rapidly evolving space sector and plays a key role in advancing our long-term ambitions and strategic autonomy in space.”

“Passing Phase 1 validates our engineering approach and confirms that Nyx can advance to detailed design with confidence,” says Ven Feng, Lead System Engineer. “We appreciate the rigorous review by NASA and ESA and their continued partnership as we move toward operational service.”

Lucrezia Veggi, Deputy Chief Engineer, adds: “I am proud of this extraordinarily dedicated team and the disciplined, hands-on work that brought us to this point. Nyx Earth blends proven safety practice with the agility of a commercial program – exactly what Europe needs for future space logistics.”

"It was truly inspiring to see the team's commitment and expertise come together to achieve this critical safety milestone! We are well on our way to building a safe and reliable vehicle for missions to the ISS and beyond. Our partnership with ESA has been instrumental in achieving our goals, aligning vision, and driving progress every step of the way." Molly Meyer-Allyn, ISS Joint Verification & Certification Senior Engineer

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With Phase 1 behind them, TEC’s subsystem teams are already running hardware on the bench and finalizing test plans for the Phase 2 Safety Review in 2026.