The Exploration Company raises $450m to build a rocket engine

The Exploration Company secured $450 million, primarily to develop its Storm engine—a full-flow staged-combustion, oxygen-methane rocket engine touted as Europe’s first reusable high-thrust unit for a future heavy-lift launcher capable of delivering up to 40 tonnes to low Earth orbit. The funding will support subscale thrust-chamber tests this year, followed by an oxygen-rich power pack and, later, a full-scale engine, with development slated through 2028, while the intended launcher and ESA procurement remain unconfirmed.