On September 8th, news broke that The Exploration Company Gmbh has successfully secured $450 million in funding. This capital injection is earmarked for propelling the development of Europe's inaugural reusable space capsule, alongside a cutting-edge rocket engine. Notably, this new rocket engine is poised to become the largest of its kind in Europe and is anticipated to rival SpaceX in the market. Company CEO Hélène Huby disclosed that a substantial portion of the raised funds will be channeled into the development of the methane-oxygen engine, dubbed Storm. This engine is set to be the cornerstone of Europe's next-generation heavy-lift launch vehicle. Huby elaborated that the funding will facilitate the company's rigorous testing of the Storm engine, spanning from the end of this year through to 2028. The engine has already undergone three years of meticulous development. She underscored the company's strategy, stating, "Our current focus is on rocket engine development, as the engine is the linchpin of the rocket and represents the most formidable and time-intensive aspect of the project."