Orbital Express
The business, the turning points, and the decisions behind them.
01 / WHAT IT BUILT
What the company did
Orbital Express Launch ApS was the Danish subsidiary of UK rocket company Orbex, founded in 2016 (not a quick-commerce business, despite its category label). Based in Copenhagen/Hvidovre with around 90 employees, it carried out propulsion, testing, software, avionics and business services work for Orbex's micro-launch vehicle program.
02 / Orbital Express FAILURE REASONS
Failure reasons
The subsidiary's year-end 2024 financial statements showed it was fully reliant on funding from its parent, Orbital Express Launch Ltd., and its auditors warned of material uncertainty about its ability to continue operating without future financing. With losses of DKK 70.7 million in 2024 and negative equity of DKK 55.4 million, the parent could not sustain the Danish operation, and the entire workforce was dismissed in January 2026 ahead of a bankruptcy filing.
03 / EVENT HISTORY
Events in the structured record
- Founded
UK-based Orbital Express Launch (Orbex) established its Danish business in October 2016, building a Copenhagen operation for propulsion, testing, software and avionics.
- Mounting losses
Orbital Express Launch ApS reported losses of DKK 70.7 million (€9.46 million) for 2024, with negative equity of DKK 55.4 million (€7.4 million) at year-end; auditors flagged full reliance on parent funding.
- Reported failure
In January 2026 the company closed its facilities on January 20 and dismissed its roughly 90 employees; European Spaceflight, citing three independent sources, reported it was set to officially file for bankruptcy on January 22. On January 21 Orbex announced talks to sell its remaining operations to The Exploration Company.
04 / CONTEMPORARY REBUILD ASSESSMENT
Difficulty of rebuilding this project today
Material for this section is being gathered and checked. It will appear here once ready.
Overall assessment: Not completed
05 / CAUSAL CHAIN
How the factors connect
- 01
FY2024 financial statements: net loss of DKK 70,673,917 (€9.46 million) and negative equity of DKK 55,383,356 (€7.4 million) as of December 31, 2024.
- 02
The company was fully reliant on parent funding; auditors warned of material uncertainty over going concern.
- 03
January 2026: facilities closed January 20, entire workforce dismissed; expected bankruptcy filing January 22, 2026 (reported by European Spaceflight, three independent sources). Parent Orbex simultaneously entered sale talks with The Exploration Company.