ATMOS Space Cargo, a European company developing reusable space capsules for cargo transport and return from low Earth orbit, has officially chosen Strasbourg as the home of its first European site dedicated to R&D and space health logistics. The company is now hosted within the International Space University’s Startup Incubator, marking an important milestone in the expansion of Strasbourg’s rapidly growing “Space & Health” ecosystem.
Building on its recently announced partnership with Space Cargo Unlimited, ATMOS plans to launch seven autonomous missions starting in 2026 to support microgravity manufacturing and research for the life sciences and biotechnology sectors. These missions will rely on the PHOENIX 2 capsule, equipped with an innovative inflatable heat shield enabling the safe return of payloads—from small biological experiments to larger components.
Strasbourg was identified as a strategic location thanks to its unique position at the crossroads of the European space and health sectors. With the presence of ISU, BioValley France, and major academic and industrial actors, the region offers an exceptional environment for companies advancing biomedical and microgravity research.
ATMOS plans to hire up to 35 people in Strasbourg over the coming years, strengthening its R&D, engineering, and mission coordination activities.
“We are delighted to welcome ATMOS to the ISU Startup Incubator. More and more international space startups choose ISU because they find here an ecosystem uniquely suited for growth, collaboration, and international visibility. ATMOS’ arrival reinforces the Grand Est region as a strong hub for space innovation at the intersection of space and health”
— Andrés De Almeida, Head of the ISU Incubator
ATMOS’s establishment in Strasbourg was supported by ISU, Grand Est Développement International, the Eurométropole de Strasbourg, ADIRA, and BioValley France.