Space Cargo Unlimited appoints Johann-Dietrich “Jan” Wörner to spearhead Europe’s transformation from space user to space industrial leader
Bremen / Luxembourg / Darmstadt, 19 November 2025 – Space Cargo Unlimited, the startup building Europe’s end-to-end commercial in-space manufacturing infrastructure, today announced the appointment of Johann-Dietrich “Jan” Wörner, former Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) and former Chairman of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), as Chief Strategy Officer.
His appointment comes as the International Space Station approaches decommissioning by 2030 and Europe faces mounting demand for sovereign, station-independent microgravity infrastructure across the pharmaceutical, biotech, and advanced materials sectors.
As ESA Director General (2015–2021), Wörner advanced Europe’s microgravity and space transportation capabilities and launched the Boost!/Commercial Space Transportation Services program, which catalyzed Europe’s modern commercial ecosystem, including microlaunchers, spaceports, and re-entry services. He is widely recognized for bridging institutional and commercial space efforts across the continent.
“Jan Wörner has spent his career championing European space leadership and scientific excellence,” said Nicolas Gaume, CEO of Space Cargo Unlimited. “With Jan on board, we’re even better equipped to turn microgravity’s promise into industrial impact.”
“We are accelerating commercialization in space,” said Jan Wörner. “Space Cargo Unlimited is building the reliable microgravity infrastructure that will enable European industries to conduct experiments and production in orbit—a critical step toward Europe’s future industrial autonomy.”
Space Cargo Unlimited’s German Expansion
Space Cargo Unlimited recently closed a €27.5 million Series A funding round, the largest European investment in in-space manufacturing to date, positioning its BentoBox platform as the region’s primary commercial microgravity solution.
Operating from Space Cargo Unlimited’s newly established German headquarters in Darmstadt, Wörner will oversee the consolidation of the company’s existing operations, a manufacturing base in Friedrichshafen and research activities in Erlangen, into a unified national structure. The company plans to invest €27 million in Germany’s space ecosystem over the next three years
Advancing Europe’s Industrial Autonomy in Space
Wörner joins Space Cargo Unlimited at a time when Europe must secure reliable access to microgravity conditions for research and commercial development. With U.S. entrants rapidly deploying commercial platforms and China expanding Tiangong capabilities, Europe faces a narrowing window to establish its own independent infrastructure.
As Chief Strategy Officer, Wörner will guide the development of Europe’s first sovereign commercial microgravity platform, ensuring researchers and industries maintain reliable, standardized access to microgravity conditions. He will lead engagement with ESA and national agencies including DLR, CNES, and ASI to strengthen cross-European partnerships and integrate commercial in-space manufacturing into Europe’s strategic roadmap.
About Space Cargo Unlimited
Space Cargo Unlimited is a European start-up pioneering independent research and manufacturing in orbit. Building on over three decades of heritage in microgravity research and payload operations, the company develops and operates automated platforms that give institutions and industries the ability to innovate in space with confidence and control.
Its first commercial system, BentoBox, is an automated, pressurized microgravity manufacturing platform designed to fly on multiple reusable re-entry vehicles. Unlike ISS-dependent research or foreign-controlled commercial facilities, BentoBox offers partners independent access to orbit, full control of data and intellectual property, and high-cadence missions for pharmaceuticals, advanced materials, and biotechnologies.
Space Cargo Unlimited’s first BentoBox mission is scheduled for 2026 aboard ATMOS Space Cargo’s PHOENIX 2 re-entry vehicle, initiating regular European commercial manufacturing operations in Low Earth orbit.
Media Contact:
Space Cargo Unlimited
Éanna Doyle
edoyle@space-cu.com
+353 85 277 7749