The first cohort of the European Space Resources Innovation Center’s (ESRIC) Space Resources Accelerator was revealed, supporting six businesses who are creating technology to help humans return to the moon.
Despite representing industries ranging from in-situ manufacturing to power production, the enterprises all have business models that do not rely on landing on the lunar surface to make money. Although ESA has committed more than €1M ($1.1M) to funding the cohort, much more private funding will be needed to reach the Moon.
Alexander Godlewski, the business accelerator officer at ESRIC, told Payload, “We were careful in selecting companies and founders who share the same vision as ESA of being part of this journey in going to the Moon, but have a down to earth approach when it comes to the business sense.”
Outsider’s perspective: It’s interesting to note that a third of this initial cohort works primarily outside the space industry, which is surprising for an accelerator aiming for the Moon. It indicates that businesses in the space industry that don’t include the word “space” in their name are starting to attract the attention of investors.
While making money back here, organizations like ESRIC, Space Resources Accelerator, NewSpace Capital, and others are supporting businesses that can tackle the most challenging technical issues in space.
These days, some businesses supply both the space and non-space sectors. “From an investor perspective, it offers risk diversification across various industries,” Bogdan Gogulan, managing partner and CEO of NewSpace Capital, told Payload. “It introduces into the space industry the scale and efficiency of terrestrial industries and production.”
Establishing operations: Two of the cohort’s businesses are engaged in manufacturing and material development.
- Orbital Matter: As early as 2025, the Polish startup that specializes in microgravity construction and additive manufacturing aims to showcase its 3D printing technology in orbit. This technology could eventually allow for the in-situ fabrication of lunar infrastructure.
- FibreCoat: The German firm is attempting to enter the space sector by manufacturing metal-coated fibers for use in construction, automotive, and defense applications. Satellites will be protected from dangerous radiation and high temperatures using FibreCoat’s technology, which helps protect electric vehicle computers from interference from their strong batteries.
- External investment: Today, FibreCoat revealed a ~€20M ($21M) Series B investment, which is being led by Goose Capital and NewSpace Capital. Martin Halliwell, a partner at NewSpace Capital, was also added to the company’s board of directors.
According to CEO Robert Brüll, these funds, in conjunction with the Space Resources Accelerator’s assistance, will aid in increasing production capacity, breaking into new markets in the US, Japan, and India, and funding research and development for space-based technologies.
FibreCoat, which tested the concept on Earth last year, proposed constructing launch pads and roads out of lunar regolith as part of its quest to join the Space Resources Accelerator.
Brüll told Payload, “The whole idea is we need to transport less material to the Moon.” “This method of spinning regolith fibers works…How can we get this onto the moon? That is the next phase.
Keeping the lights on: The cohort’s other members are proposing various answers to the complex issue of fuel and energy consumption in the lunar arena.
- Orbit Fab UK: The London headquarters of the US-led Orbit Fab consortium is working on gas stations in space and intends to modify the technology to refuel landers and rovers on Earth as well as satellites orbiting the Moon.
- Space Power: A power beaming technology is being developed by the UK firm. The company is creating a plasma cleaning technology as part of the accelerator to reduce lunar dust and increase energy output.
- The Volta Space Technologies: The Canadian business aims to supply a dependable power source for Moon missions and infrastructure by constructing a constellation of wireless power transmitting satellites.
- Maana Electric: This Luxembourg-based business produces silicon, cells, and solar panels in an environmentally friendly manner. Although the company is new to the space industry, it suggested using the moon to produce solar resources.