French new space company SpaceLocker has announced the launch of its first fully owned and operated satellite, “Out of the Box,” marking its transition into the satellite operator segment traditionally dominated by established players such as Airbus, Thales and Eutelsat.
The mission represents a major step for the startup, centred around its patented “universal space port” technology, designed to function similarly to a USB port for satellites. The plug-and-play system allows multiple payloads to be integrated into a single satellite, effectively transforming a spacecraft into shared infrastructure capable of hosting several missions simultaneously.
With “Out of the Box,” SpaceLocker has deployed a 16U CubeSat weighing approximately 20 kgs, carrying payloads from five European customers. The approach enables organisations to access space without the need to build and launch their own dedicated satellites.
Théophile Lagraulet, CEO and co-founder of SpaceLocker, said: “We want to do for space what cloud computing did for IT: shift from ownership to shared infrastructure. In the future, sending an instrument to orbit won’t require building a satellite. Access to space can become a standardised service.”
Traditionally, deploying technology in orbit has involved designing or procuring full satellite systems, a process that is costly, time-consuming and inflexible. SpaceLocker’s platform-based model allows customers to develop payloads independently and integrate them into standardised containers using its universal port, while the company manages the full mission lifecycle, from integration through to operations. This model is expected to reduce mission costs by up to three times and cut time-to-orbit by half, while also lowering environmental impact through shared resources.
The “Out of the Box” mission includes payloads from across Europe, highlighting a range of next-generation applications. Among them, EDGX will demonstrate onboard edge computing capabilities to reduce reliance on ground infrastructure, while Fédération Open Space Makers will deploy FOSM-1 for amateur radio and open communication experiments, supported by CNES. Solar MEMS will operate a high-precision star tracker, and Arcsec will test advanced attitude determination systems for small satellites.
To deliver its missions, SpaceLocker is working with partners including Thales Alenia Space for testing and Skynopy for communications, leveraging a broader European ecosystem.
The company’s model addresses a key challenge in the sector, where nearly 20% of missions are dedicated to technology demonstrations but remain costly and complex to execute. By simplifying access to orbit, SpaceLocker aims to position itself as a key enabler of innovation in the space industry.
As orbital congestion increases, the shared satellite approach also offers environmental and economic benefits by reducing the number of individual satellites launched and limiting space debris. The model maximises existing capacity while lowering overall launch mass.
Founded in 2022, SpaceLocker represents a new generation of French space startups. In less than two years, the company has completed its first orbital mission, secured around 15 commercial contracts, signed multiple institutional agreements both in France and internationally, and generated more than €4 million in contracts.
With the launch of “Out of the Box,” SpaceLocker reaches a significant milestone, establishing itself as a satellite operator while building its own mission portfolio. The company has already outlined plans for six additional missions over the next 24 months, signalling rapid growth in a sector traditionally characterised by long development timelines.
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