4 minute read•Updated 6:21 PM EDT, Wed April 23, 2025
ATMOS Space Cargo has successfully completed the first orbital test flight of its PHOENIX 1 capsule, a next-generation re-entry system featuring the company’s proprietary Inflatable Heat Shield (IHS).
The mission, which launched as part of SpaceX’s Bandwagon-3 rideshare, marks a major milestone in sovereign return capabilities and sets the stage for Europe’s emerging commercial presence in end-to-end space logistics. The mission launched aboard a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 20:48 ET on April 23.
After completing one orbit of Earth, PHOENIX 1 initiated a de-orbit maneuver and began re-entry using its inflatable heat shield, a technology designed to replace traditional ablative shields and parachutes.
Despite no recovery being planned due to a splashdown distance of over 2,000 kilometers from available marine infrastructure, critical mission data was successfully transmitted and is now undergoing detailed analysis at ATMOS headquarters in Lichtenau.
A Major Milestone for European Autonomy in Space
The successful flight positions ATMOS as the fastest-moving private entity in Europe to develop and launch a functioning orbital return capsule.
The PHOENIX 1 capsule, designed, built, and flight-qualified in under 12 months, achieved all its key mission objectives, including:
Validation of the Inflatable Heat Shield in realistic re-entry conditions
Successful telemetry transmission from orbit and descent
Scientific data collection from onboard customer payloads
Full system integration with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launcher
Operational training and readiness demonstration of ATMOS ground control infrastructure
“PHOENIX 1 delivered on its objectives and our roadmap...We are not here to guess. We built a flight-ready capsule in a short timeframe and validated our core design under real conditions. This mission proves our multinational team’s ability to execute high-stakes operations and lays the foundation for PHOENIX 2 and beyond.” - Sebastian Klaus, CEO and Co-Founder of ATMOS.
Mission Objectives and Technology Demonstration
PHOENIX 1 carried a suite of scientific and technological payloads from Frontier Space, Imperial College London, DLR, and IDDK, supporting early-stage microgravity research in biotechnology and advanced materials.
Key mission goals included:
Collecting performance data from capsule sub-systems in LEO
Testing biological experiments and technology demonstrators in microgravity
Deploying and validating the inflatable heat shield for re-entry
Though the final descent phase could not be monitored post-splashdown, ATMOS confirmed that the majority of mission-critical data, including from the re-entry phase, was transmitted to newly-established ground stations in South America.
“We designed PHOENIX 1 to move fast without compromising on reliability...The lessons from this mission are already shaping our next iteration, PHOENIX 2, which will have its own propulsion system to select splashdown zones, enabling rapid recovery.” - Christian Grimm, Lead Systems Engineer and Co-Founder.
PHOENIX 2 and Commercial Readiness
Development is already underway for PHOENIX 2, a larger, more capable capsule featuring propulsion and improved return precision. It’s expected to fly in 2026 and support a wider variety of missions, including defense applications, space station resupply, and sample return.
“Technological innovation in space doesn’t exist without flight data...The science isn’t written yet—so we’re writing it. This is what it means to build something new in space.” - Jeff Hendrikse, CTO and Co-Founder.
The PHOENIX platform is designed to support payloads ranging from small scientific instruments to multi-tonne cargo, and promises a payload efficiency of 1:2, currently unmatched in the industry.
Building Europe’s Sovereign Space Logistics Infrastructure
ATMOS’s success signals a broader shift toward independent European capabilities in returning materials and technology from space. The company’s innovations in heat shielding, rapid prototyping, and flight iteration are set to reduce costs and increase flexibility for institutions and private customers alike.
“PHOENIX 1 was a milestone mission that showcased the incredible capabilities of our team...This mission proves that we’re not only solving the technical challenge of re-entry—we’re laying the groundwork for a future where space is accessible, testable, and impactful for innovation here on Earth.” - Marta Oliveira, Chief Operating Officer.
About ATMOS Space Cargo
Headquartered in Lichtenau, Germany, ATMOS Space Cargo is a commercial space company focused on cargo return from space. It offers solutions for microgravity research, spacecraft reuse, and logistics services that bridge Earth and orbit. The PHOENIX capsule is ATMOS’s flagship platform, tailored for diverse applications including commercial, scientific, and defense missions.
