Dedicated to seizing the potential of microgravity research for commercial applications on Earth.
Created: 2023-02-04
Updated: 2025-09-06
Company - Space Cargo Unlimited
Product/Service - REV1
- Classification
- Cargo Transportation & Landers
- Category
- ISS Utilization Service
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Transport Service (Re-Entry)
- Fields
- Reusable
Space Capsule
- Status
- Development
- First launch
- 2027
- Partners
- Thales Alenia
REV1
The first phase contract for the conception and production for “REV1”, the first floating space factory, has been signed between Thales Alenia Space and Space Cargo Unlimited. At the same time, the opening of a Space Cargo Unlimited subsidiary in Turin was announced.
- As project contractor, Thales Alenia Space will be responsible for the design, engineering, and development of the REV1 vehicle.
- Space Cargo Unlimited will be the owner and commercial operator of the vehicle. Space thus becomes closer to the aviation sector, where aircraft manufacturers have long collaborated with airline operators.
- REV1 is being designed to carry up to 1,000 kilograms of payload for several months in low Earth orbit, where it would dock with a Reusable Orbiting Service Module that Thales Alenia Space is also developing.
- This service module would have solar panels and electric thrusters to remain in orbit for about 10 years, according to Gaume, or roughly 20 REV-1 missions.
- After completing its mission, a heat shield fitted to REV1 would enable it to reenter Earth’s atmosphere for a parachute-assisted landing.
- Space Cargo Unlimited said it has also secured investments from Thales’ venture capital arm and European early-stage investor Geodesic for its plans.
REV1 is Europe's Orbital Factory in the Making, June 2025
- REV1 is being designed and engineered at Thales Alenia Space’s Turin hub.
- Developing a fleet of next-generation vehicles designed to serve as essential infrastructure for in-space manufacturing and microgravity R&D.
- With seven missions booked through 2027, REV1 will expand the capacity of our current BentoBox platform. Together, they form the backbone of a scalable, end-to-end ecosystem: autonomous, return-capable, and designed to serve the next generation of orbital innovation.
- Our teams are working side-by-side every week to ensure REV1 will be mission-ready by 2028.
BentoBox
Space Cargo Unlimited Secures €12.5M for BentoBox In-Orbit Platform, 2025-07-03.
- Secured €12.5 million in funding from the European Innovation Council Accelerator to advance the development of its BentoBox in-orbit testing and manufacturing platform.
- BentoBox is a modular payload platform that will be carried within the REV-1 cargo bay, capable of hosting up to 100 kilograms of customer payloads.
- While the platform is designed to operate alongside the REV-1 system, the company will initially use it in conjunction with an inflatable heatshield developed by ATMOS Space Cargo to conduct a total of seven multi-week missions between late 2025 and 2027.
- The inaugural flight of the BentoBox platform as a standalone system using the ATMOS inflatable heatshield is expected in the fourth quarter of 2025.
- As of a late 2024 update, Space Cargo Unlimited had already secured bookings for 80% of the inaugural flight, and 50% and 40% of the second and third flights, respectively.
Notes
Product/Service - Space-CU
- Classification
- In-Space Manufacturing
- Category
- In-Space Manufacturing
ISS Utilization Service
Space-Flown
- Fields
- Space-Flown
- Status
- Demonstrated
- First launch
- 2019
From reinventing microbiology research in microgravity to space tourism, SCU craves to be at the forefront of the New Space revolution by providing unique new value-added products and services.
Space Wine
Notes
Created: 2019-01-22
Updated: 2025-09-06