ATMOS Space Cargo is a European space logistics company developing and operating the PHOENIX family of reusable orbital transfer and return vehicles (OTRVs). At the heart of its technology is a proprietary Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD) that serves as both heat shield and aerodynamic brake, enabling payload return from Low Earth Orbit without traditional ablative shields or parachutes. The company operates end-to-end — from payload integration and launch through in-orbit mission control, controlled re-entry, and maritime recovery — targeting payloads ranging from a few kilograms to eventually over a tonne.

ATMOS achieved a historic milestone in April 2025 by flying PHOENIX 1 on SpaceX's Bandwagon-3 rideshare mission, becoming the first private European company to conduct an orbital re-entry. Data from this protoflight is feeding directly into PHOENIX 2, a next-generation vehicle with its own propulsion system enabling flexible re-entry trajectories and recovery in the Azores, Portugal — under Europe's first commercial orbital re-entry licence. PHOENIX 3, a larger vehicle capable of returning over a tonne of payload, is in early concept development following an ESA Concurrent Design Facility Phase 0 study completed in August 2026.

The company serves commercial life sciences, in-orbit manufacturing, and dual-use government and defence customers through offices in Lichtenau, Germany and Strasbourg, France. Its ATMOS WORKS division specifically targets European institutional and defence clients. With 70+ employees, 7 launches planned for 2026–2028, and a growing partnership network including Space Cargo Unlimited, Voyager Technologies, Astrolight, ESA, and Frontier Space, ATMOS is positioning itself as the backbone of Europe's sovereign Earth-to-orbit-to-Earth logistics infrastructure.