Madrid Startup Orbital Paradigm Sets Sights on Revolutionizing Space Reentry with Upcoming Maiden Mission
In a bold move, space industry veteran Francesco Cacciatore, known for his sceptical disposition, has founded Orbital Paradigm – a Madrid-based startup tackling one of the most complex issues in aerospace: reentry. Alongside co-founder VÃctor Gómez GarcÃa, they aim to unlock new markets by providing materials created in zero gravity through their innovative approach.
After encountering a career “crisis,” Cacciatore felt compelled to venture into entrepreneurship rather than accept established job offers. Orbital Paradigm’s mission is to revolutionize the industry with its reentry capsule, initially manifested in KID, a test vehicle weighing approximately 25 kg and measuring around 16 inches across. This minimalist design, sans propulsion, marks Orbital Paradigm’s debut into orbit-bound hardware.
Orbital Paradigm’s customers for the inaugural demonstration mission include Alatyr, a French space robotics startup, Leibniz University Hannover in Germany, and an undisclosed third party. The company has secured €1.5 million in seed funding from Id4, Demium, Pinama, Evercurious, and Akka to date.
Initially, Orbital Paradigm focused on developing in-space robotics; however, potential clients consistently expressed a need for an orbital capability that allows for short stays before return trips – a necessity for institutions, startups, and companies aiming for up to six flights per year. Biotech companies represent a significant market due to microgravity’s ability to foster new materials, drugs, and therapies requiring repeated testing.
To cater to this demand, Orbital Paradigm opted for a smaller capsule rather than a large-scale reusable spacecraft like SpaceX’s Dragon. As Cacciatore explains, “If you want to fly hundreds of kilograms or thousands of kilograms, then your customer is not the payload; it is the destination to which you fly.”
Europe and the USA are witnessing a surge in companies focusing on orbital return. Varda Space Industries achieved commercial reentry in 2024, while The Exploration Company successfully controlled a test vehicle’s reentry this summer. American startups such as Varda and Inversion Space benefit from government funding tailwinds for hypersonic testing and delivery demonstrations, often in the form of non-dilutive grants or contracts that don’t require surrendering ownership stakes.
“We don’t get that,” Cacciatore acknowledges. “That’s one of the reasons why we build to sell to customers from the beginning.” With fewer resources, Orbital Paradigm must be agile and adaptable in its pursuit of success.
The first launch is fast approaching, with an unnamed provider set to carry three customer payloads. KID won’t be recovered; instead, the aim is for it to separate from the rocket, transmit data from orbit, survive hypersonic reentry, and ping home at least once before impact in a secret location.
Orbital Paradigm plans a second mission in 2026 featuring a scaled-down version of their reusable spacecraft, Kestrel, equipped with propulsion and a parachute to guide the capsule to the Azores – home to Portugal’s developing spaceport. Unlike the first mission, this one will include an orbital phase, allowing Orbital Paradigm to recover both the vehicle and its payloads upon return.
Cacciatore reflects on the team’s accomplishments with pride but emphasizes that true success lies in the successful execution of flights: “Until we fly, we haven’t done much,” he says. “Words are nice, but flying is the ultimate test.”
