The Hydro4M2 project, funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), marks a significant step in demonstrating Hydromars’ innovative technology in space. Throughout 2024, the company transformed early-stage concepts into a flight-ready system, meeting the stringent requirements for integration with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
Set for an In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) aboard The Exploration Company’s (TEC) Nyx orbital vehicle in Q3 2025, Hydro4M2 represents a breakthrough in compact water recovery technology. It integrates Hydromars’ proprietary system with advanced instrumentation and control, all within a small payload designed to validate its performance under the extreme conditions of space.
Despite its compact size and power limitations, Hydro4M2 will provide critical insights—particularly in thermo-fluid dynamics in microgravity—offering valuable data that will shape the next generation of Hydromars products.
On December 13, 2024, the Hydromars team successfully delivered the Hydro4M2 test unit to The Exploration Company’s facility in Munich. The unit is scheduled for launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg in June 2025. Following its return from orbit with a Pacific Ocean splashdown near Hawaii, the data collected will be valuable for future scale-up.
Reflecting on the project’s journey, Arjun Monga, Hydro4M2 project lead, shares:
– Starting from a blank slate, it was incredibly rewarding to create a working concept for an extraterrestrial water recovery system. The challenges were significant, but so were the opportunities to innovate. Collaboration is the name of the game—if not for an extensive network of actors within and beyond Sweden, developing this payload would have been near impossible. Having said that, the EU’s potential can only be unlocked by greater collaboration between the funding bodies, incumbent behemoths, SMEs, and research institutions.
Support from the Swedish National Space Agency
Following the successful handover of Hydro4M2, Hydromars has received a new grant from the Swedish National Space Agency (Rymdstyrelsen) to advance its latest initiative—the SUSTAIN project.
SUSTAIN focuses on developing a comprehensive process design for advanced water purification and nutrient recovery, tailored for the unique challenges of upcoming commercial space stations. By establishing a solid foundation for rapid commercialization and future adaptability, the project aims to drive the development of next-generation technologies essential for space stations and lunar infrastructure.
The next step for Hydromars is to develop a sub-scale for extended testing in microgravity, utilizing direct crew-generated feed. The company is already in discussions with a leading provider of human spaceflight services to test its near full-scale product aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2026.
With each milestone, Hydromars is not only refining its expertise but also strengthening Sweden’s position in space innovation. Supported by programs like ESA BIC Sweden, the company has successfully accelerated its technology development, moving towards real-world applications in space. As the need for sustainable solutions grows, Hydromars is demonstrating how the Swedish innovation support can play a vital role in the development of sustainable future solutions.
In December 2015, the Swedish National Space Agency inaugurated the Nordic region’s first space incubator, ESA BIC Sweden. UIC is part of ESA BIC Sweden, along with three other Swedish incubators.
Read more about ESA Bic Sweden
For more information:
Joacim Brauner, Business developer, ESA BIC Sweden
UIC
Mobil: 076-135 50 62
E-post: joacim.brauner@uic.se
Shorena Tsindeliani, CEO & co-founder
Hydromars
E-post: shorena.tsindeliani@hydromars.eu