France-based, Exotrail was spun out of Polytechique & SATT Paris-Saclay in 2015, by founders Jean-Luc Maria (CEO) (prev. CTO), David Henri (CPO) (prev. CEO), Nicolas Heitz (COO), & Paul Lascombes (Chief Scientist). By 2017, the firm started manufacturing miniaturized electric propulsion systems for nano, micro & small satellites. Today, it is a global reference in “space logistics”, through its mobilityhub™ across 4 products:
- spaceware™: “whether you’re looking to deploy a constellation, change the altitude or inclinitation, or perform orbit phasing” Exotrail has developed a family of electric propulsion systems for satellites ranging from 5kg to 1ton. Exotrail managed to miniaturize the Hall-effect thruster multiplying thrust 5-6x (vs other electric propulsion systems) – a key tech advantage. In 2020, the firm produced 10 such systems, 70 in 2022 & in the first half of 2023 plans to manufacture 140
- spacestudio™: mission design software (e.g. allows for mass simulations)
- spacetower™: satellite & constellation operations software (for mission control & flight dynamics)
- spacedrop™: Exotrail’s “end-to-end launch & deployment service”. Customers start by “booking a launch”. Once a launch date is set, Exotrail will offer to transport (& customs clear) customer’s satellites to the launchpad, where they’ll be fitted into its on-orbit transfer vehicle dubbed spacevan™. After being decapsulated from the launcher, spacevan™ can carry up to 400kg of satellites for several customers to their final orbit & can also be used for satellite maintenance or refueling missions. According to Exotrail, you can think of spacedrop™ as an “Uber (&/ Uber Eats) for space” [ps: the firm has already established commercial relationships with the main launch providers globally e.g. the maiden launch in October 2023 will be aboard a SpaceX rocket; the firm has also signed a 5 year/ several launch agreement with ISAR Aeropsace (DE) (€170m) aboard their Spectrum rocket].
Exotrail sells its mobilityhub™ offering to commercial (Airbus, Thales Alenia Space, Eutelsat, Clyde Spaces) & government (ESA, CNES) customers along the satellite value chain (from manufacturers, to launch service providers & satellite operators). The startup is said have experienced “steady 3x revenue growth for the last few years”. The new funds will go towards “further industrialization” & growing the team from 90 to 160 in the next 12 months (with offices in Massy, Toulouse & the USA). <Source: joeffassocies.com, boersen-zeitung.de, tech.eu, sifted.eu, spacenews.com, newspaceglobal.com, gettotext.com, exterrajsc.com, lafrench-fab.com>
