European spacecraft manufacturer The Exploration Company (TEC) and the DLR spin-off InSpacePropulsion Technologies (ISPTech) have signed a license agreement.

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The Exploration Company will be able to use ISPTech’s hypergolic green propellant HIP_11 for its space capsules.
After an extensive review of the propulsion market, TEC plans to use HIP_11 to power its full-scale Nyx capsule. Nyx is scheduled to fly in 2027. The capsule will be powered by the Mistral thruster currently under development by TEC.

About HIP_11‍

HIP_11 is a hypergolic propellant combination consisting of highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and an ionic liquid fuel. It was developed by ISPTech’s co-founder and CTO Felix Lauck during his PhD at DLR. The propellant offers unique advantages such as low toxicity, easy handling, high performance and overall significantly lower cost than conventional toxic and carcinogenic propellants.

About ISPTech‍

ISPTech is a spin-off from the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The company offers non-toxic (green), affordable and reliable in-space propulsion technologies based on more than 10 years of R&D at DLR. Using it’s two technologies – HyNOx and HIP_11 – ISPTech can offer the optimal propulsion solution for any size and class of spacecraft. The first HyNOx thrusters have recently been qualified and will be flown in space in late 2025/early 2026.

About The Exploration Company‍

The Exploration Company is a European spacecraft manufacturer. Based in Munich, Germany and Bordeaux, France, the company develops, manufactures and operates the Nyx space capsule for space agencies, space stations, space companies and other industries. Although the company’s first missions will be cargo missions, Nyx is designed to eventually carry humans.

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