ATMOS Space Cargo, a leading European space logistics startup backed by Balnord, has achieved a historic milestone by receiving FAA approval for its PHOENIX re-entry capsule. The company will become the first private European entity to attempt space re-entry, with the mission scheduled to launch on SpaceX's Bandwagon-3 rideshare mission in April 2025.

ATMOS Space Cargo was founded by an exceptional team combining broad space industry expertise. CEO Sebastian Klaus, with his background in aerospace engineering and focus on atmospheric re-entry systems, brings both technical expertise and leadership experience from more than a decade as a military officer for special missions. COO Marta Oliveira, recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30, brings extensive experience from NASA, ESA and CNES, including her role as a launcher safety engineer (ISLA) for Ariane 5 launch campaigns at the European Spaceport. CTO Jeffrey Hendrikse contributes over two decades of mission-critical experience, having worked on numerous ESA and Airbus projects including the International Space Station resupply missions and asteroid exploration. Lead Systems Engineer Christian Grimm adds 12+ years of expertise in space technologies, particularly from his work at DLR where he led multiple successful space projects including asteroid missions and lunar landers.

“Atmos is mainly financed by Venture Capital, in the true spirit of NewSpace. Balnord has been joining our experienced team of investors at the end of summer 2024, enabling us to move forward with the upcoming test launch of PHOENIX. It is great to be supported by Aleksander and his outstanding team.”

Sebastian Klaus, Co-founder and CEO of Atmos Space Cargo

The PHOENIX capsule aims to set a new global standard for payload efficiency with an industry-leading downmass ratio of 1:2 - ten times above current market standards. This achievement marks a significant step forward in European space capabilities and validates Balnord's investment thesis aimed at supporting frontier technologies

ATMOS is about to launch its PHOENIX capsule during the Bandwagon-3 rideshare mission with SpaceX no earlier than April 2025. The capsule will complete two orbits around Earth before attempting its atmospheric re-entry. After completing a series of rigorous formal qualifications, ATMOS received a positive payload determination from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in January 2025. This milestone makes ATMOS the first private company in Europe to receive such authorization and the first non-governmental entity in European history to attempt space re-entry.

“We are proud to have been supporting ATMOS since October 2024 on their journey to advance commercial space logistics. ATMOS has a unique founding team in Sebastian, Marta, Jeff, and Christian. We are constantly impressed by the quality of engineering with tremendous speed of execution. The maiden flight of the PHOENIX capsule scheduled for April means that ATMOS will become the first private entity in European history to attempt space re-entry, achieving a groundbreaking payload efficiency of 1:2 , a 10x improvement versus current industry standard. At Balnord we are striving to strengthen European technological autonomy - there are few companies that encapsulate that mission better than ATMOS.”

Aleksander Dobrzyniecki, General Partner at Balnord

SpaceX confirmed the implementation of PHOENIX on its upcoming Bandwagon-3 mission. This testflight is the first of a planned series of orbital flights designed to refine ATMOS’ groundbreaking technology, ultimately shaping the future of commercial re-entry systems. The mission is expected to conclude with the prototype’s demise during re-entry, providing valuable flight data for the next iteration of this platform – the PHOENIX 2 capsule.

ATMOS's PHOENIX capsule features pioneering technology including an Inflatable Heat Shield, which inflates in orbit to decelerate the spacecraft during re-entry from orbital speeds (~7800 m/s) down to acceptable speeds for a controlled water landing without parachutes. The platform offers unparalleled payload efficiency, enabling microgravity exposure ranging from three hours to three months.

“What the Atmos team has achieved since inception is extraordinary. Going from concept to FAA approval while developing groundbreaking technology demonstrates not only technical excellence but also their execution capabilities. This is the caliber of founders we seek to support. Those who can turn ambitious visions into reality at unprecedented speed.”

Wojciech Drewczynski, Operating Partner at Balnord

The company has already secured substantial commercial traction, including a contract for 7 re-entry missions through 2027. The inaugural testflight will carry four diverse payloads, including biological experiments and technological demonstrations from partners like the German Aerospace Center (DLR), IDDK Japan, and Frontier Space UK.

In December 2024 ATMOS welcomed Lori Garver, former Deputy Administrator of NASA as its Strategic Advisor and Board Member. Lori Garver served as NASA’s Deputy Administrator and leader of the agency’s transition team from 2008 to 2013, where she spearheaded NASA’s shift toward commercial partnerships. Her efforts catalyzed the foundation for programs that resulted in groundbreaking achievements, including SpaceX’s development of the Falcon 9 rocket and the Dragon capsule. Garver’s vision has been instrumental in the emergence of the commercial space industry, now projected to grow into a trillion-dollar economy by 2035.

As Balnord we are thrilled to join an amazing group of investors such as APEX Ventures, OTB Ventures, Amadeus Capital, HTGF, Seraphim Capital among others.

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