BREMEN, Germany — German launch services provider Exolaunch will use its new Exotube adapter for six constellation launches starting in 2026.
Exotube, on display at the Space Tech Expo Europe in Bremen, is a universal modular adapter for integration, launch and deployment of spacecraft ranging from cubesats to 500-kilogram satellites. It aims to provide flexibility and efficiency in satellite launch and deployment.
The first launch of Exotube will be on an American medium or heavy-lift launcher in the first quarter of 2026. Six launches using Exotube are already contracted for a constellation customer.
The adapter features a hexagonal base with cubic upper structure and features cameras for capturing images and video of separation. It is launch vehicle agnostic and can be integrated with small launchers and medium- and heavy-lift class launch vehicles, according to Connor Pollock, mission director at Exolaunch.
“Exotube is the next big step for us,” says Pollock. “It’s scaling up and preparing eventually to be booking launches as a primary customer. It’s a big enabler for us.”
“We’re having a lot of success with the SpaceX transporter program, but we’re seeing that it’s still not enough launch supply for small satellites,” Pollock stated. ”All of the missions for the next two years on Transporter are all fully booked.”
Exotube will enable customers to fly on more vehicles more easily, with less wasted capacity through having a secondary rideshare solution, according to Exolaunch.
The structure is to be made of aluminum, at least initially, says Pollock. “Aluminum is great because you can move fast. You can change the design quickly with new interfaces, if you have new customers,” says Pollock.” And it’s cheap, but it’s heavy. Carbon fiber is lightweight, but you lose all the flexibility on the lead time and it’s expensive. But we are developing a carbon fiber hex structure as well for constellations.”
“We have the large aluminum structure for heavy lift, which is not super mass efficient, but generally, all of these configurations that we’ve seen, they’re all volume constrained,” says Pollock, meaning mass is less of a concern.
Exolaunch was founded in 2011 and has conducted more than 400 satellite deployments across 30 missions with customers from more than 40 countries.
