Exotrail and ThrustMe highlighted among French New Space startups

As the space industry undergoes a renewal driven largely by the private sector, the French ecosystem has given rise to several promising New Space startups, including Exotrail and ThrustMe at Paris-Saclay. Founded in 2015, Exotrail develops mobility solutions for small satellites, with a focus on electric propulsion systems and flight software. Joining the French Tech Next40/120 index in May, it has signed contracts with European space giant Thales Alenia Space and Prométhée Earth Intelligence, an operator of Earth observation nanosatellites. ThrustMe also specializes in the design of propulsion systems for satellites. Founded in 2017, the company has already achieved crucial milestones, such as creating a system small enough to be integrated into CubeSats, while offering advanced orbital maneuvering capabilities. It has established several international partnerships and intends to play a decisive role in responsible access to space.