« Made in France »: VOS inaugurates first production site for Micro Space Launchers
“Made in…”, what a pride for a country to have an organization that is recognized for its ability to build and create a product on its territory. That pride is even bigger when we know the product can only contribute to advancement of science.
Venture Orbital Systems (VOS) is making the pride of France today. The start-up specializing in the development of micro launchers and rocket engines, has recently inaugurated its first rocket production site in Reims, a region that is well known for the cathedral “Our Lady of Reims” and for its Champagne houses.
Furthermore, the launch is very timely as the space industry is undergoing a paradigm shift driven by the launch of nanosatellites by private companies and for commercial use. Based on this observation and to meet the increased need for launchers, Stanislas Maximin, Kevin Monvoisin and Ilan Saidi-Bekerman created Venture Orbital Systems in 2019.
With 27 employees who already share the same goal to manufacture small orbital launchers for nanosatellites, VOS ambitions to complete its first rocket in its Reims-based 1,700m2 factory by 2024.
Named Zephyr, the nano-launcher would be the first to be produced on the French soil since 1975. The first demonstrator is scheduled to be launched at the end of 2023 and the first commercial flight in 2024, before a regular rate of 40 launches in 2030. From the engine, which is entirely 3D printed in one week, to the software operations (remote control, etc.), everything is designed by VOS on its site in Reims. The 15-meter rocket will be able to carry up to 70 kg of nanosatellites.
Key players in the French space ecosystem, including CNES, CNRS, Comat, Safran, ONERA and ArianeGroup support the startup and recognize its potential for this demanding market.
“We’re very proud to be inaugurating France’s first production facility for small launchers designed entirely for nanosatellites. This is the first time since 1975 that we’ve done this, and it marks a new stage for Zephyr, our flagship project, which is scheduled for its first commercial launch within three years. The market is there, and its potential is immense, given the strong growth in the need for nanosatellites and microsatellites worldwide. At a time when the French government wants to strengthen and structure the French nanosatellite sector with the ultimate ambition of positioning the French nanosatellite ecosystem as one of the leading sectors in this industry worldwide, we are ready and willing to respond”, Stanislas Maximin, co-founder of Venture Orbital Systems notes.
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