European aerospace startup The Exploration Company has selected software from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio to accelerate development of its reusable spacecraft, reduce design complexity and improve engineering collaboration.
Founded in 2021, The Exploration Company develops reusable, launcher-agnostic space systems, including the Nyx spacecraft family and high-performance rocket propulsion systems, designed to transport cargo, and eventually crew, to destinations in Earth orbit and beyond.
The company is working with Siemens to connect its engineering disciplines within a single environment that supports efficient, scalable development.
Daniel Prudente Martins, principal engineer for electrical wiring interconnection systems and electrical interfaces on Nyx avionics at The Exploration Company, said, “Our mission is to make space more accessible through reusable technology. Achieving this requires an advanced, scalable engineering environment.
“Working with Siemens and adopting its industrial software is helping us connect our engineering processes, reduce rework, accelerate development and streamline manufacturing as we scale our operations. For Mission Bikini, our orbital demonstration capsule, we progressed from initial concept to flight hardware in just nine months, demonstrating the speed at which our integrated engineering approach enables rapid development.”
Edwin Severijn, senior vice president and general manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Siemens Digital Industries Software, said, “Our work with The Exploration Company exemplifies how Siemens Xcelerator and the comprehensive digital twin helps customers build a connected digital enterprise that accelerates development and enables them to meet the rigorous demands of next generation space programs.”
The Exploration Company is using Siemens’ Designcenter software for mechanical design, Simcenter software for advanced engineering simulation, Capital software for electrical systems design, and Teamcenter software for product lifecycle management and collaboration. Capital software enables the creation and validation of electrical architectures across the development process.
Together, the solutions form a connected engineering environment that integrates mechanical, electrical and simulation workflows, with Teamcenter providing a consistent data backbone across the lifecycle.
The integrated toolchain also enables a comprehensive digital twin for earlier validation and improved mission assurance, and Siemens says it helps support certification requirements typical of aerospace programs.
The Exploration has a presence in several European countries, inlcuding Germany, France and Italy as well as in Houston, Texas.
