Pythom
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 2020 |
| Founder | Tina Sjögren, Tom Sjögren |
| Headquarters | Bishop, California , United States |
Key people | Tina Sjögren (CEO), Tom Sjögren (CTO) |
| Products | Rockets (Eiger, Kang), landers (Olympus), spacecraft (Pythom spaceship), propulsion systems (Black Magic, Asterex engine) |
| Website | pythom |
Pythom (operating as Pythom Inc.) is an aerospace firm with dual Swedish-American roots, headquartered in Bishop, California. Established in 2020 by software engineers and seasoned explorers Tina Sjögren and Tom Sjögren, the company focuses on creating a complete human-rated space transportation system. Their offerings encompass rockets, landers, and spacecraft intended for missions to Earth, Mars, the Moon, and various asteroids. Pythom’s goal is to conduct crewed missions to Mars before the decade concludes.
The company was launched in 2020 by the married duo Tina Sjögren (serving as CEO) and Tom Sjögren (CTO), both accomplished explorers holding four combined Guinness World Records. Their adventures include summiting Mount Everest in 1999 and completing unsupported ski expeditions to the South Pole and North Pole between 2001 and 2002.
Throughout their exploration ventures, they developed lightweight satellite communication technologies—both software and hardware—that later evolved into a commercial enterprise catering to clients such as NASA, NGOs, military units, and extreme adventurers.
In 2020, Pythom participated in the DARPA Launch Challenge with their Eiger rocket, securing a position among ten finalists before the contest concluded without declaring a winner. The company’s foundation was driven by the ambition to develop the Eiger rocket alongside a comprehensive space transportation system designed for human exploration throughout the Solar System. Their philosophy draws inspiration from early Earth exploration principles emphasizing cost efficiency, lightweight travel, and small, agile teams.
Initial funding originated from a Swedish investor collective named Space Cowboys, formed explicitly to support Pythom and later expanded its scope.
In March 2022, Pythom carried out a hold-down test for the Eiger rocket’s first stage. Despite receiving criticism from industry professionals regarding safety protocols, Pythom defended its approach by highlighting an unblemished safety record over two years of propulsion testing.
The company’s main development operations are based in Bishop, California.
Black Magic Propulsion System
Pythom’s spacecraft and rockets employ storable propellants paired with a proprietary propulsion system engineered to sustain full mission profiles without requiring technological modifications. Their Black Magic cyclic pressure system has been tested at a chamber pressure of 10 MPa, which doubles previous records within the small launch category (<100–500 kg to LEO) and surpasses the performance of the Apollo lunar lander.
Asterex Engine
The Asterex engine delivers 12 kN of thrust through a double-walled regeneratively cooled design. It has been precisely engineered for entire mission operations using mathematical modeling and produced via additive manufacturing techniques in Inconel. The name "Asterex" combines "astro" (meaning star), "rex" (king), and pays homage to the cartoon character Asterix.
Eiger Rocket
Named after the Swiss mountain, Eiger represents Pythom’s inaugural orbital launch vehicle currently in development. It aims to deliver payloads of 150 kg into low Earth orbit at an estimated cost of $1.2 million.
Chosen as a finalist in the DARPA launch challenge, Eiger is engineered for swift deployment requiring minimal infrastructure. Its first stage integrates nine clustered Asterex engines, while the second stage utilizes a single vacuum-optimized Asterex engine. Both stages operate on storable propellants—nitric acid (HNO3) serving as oxidizer and furfuryl alcohol (C5H6O2) as fuel—the latter being carbon-neutral and regarded as an environmentally friendly propellant.
Kang Rocket
After completing the Eiger rocket, the larger Kang vehicle, named in honor of Kangchenjunga—the third tallest peak globally—is planned to reach a height of 30 meters and deliver payloads of up to 4,000 kg into low Earth orbit. Additionally, Kang is intended to be a human-rated launch vehicle.
Olympus Lander
The Olympus lander, currently in development, is equipped with the Black Magic propulsion system alongside a cluster of five Asterex engines. It is engineered to ferry both crew and cargo between spacecraft and celestial bodies such as planets, moons, and asteroids.
Its name derives from Olympus Mons, the largest known mountain within our solar system located on Mars.
Pythom Spaceship
The Pythom spacecraft concept involves assembling used upper stages from the Eiger and Kang rockets while in Earth orbit. It employs rotational motion to create artificial gravity and can adjust its spoke length and rotational speed to mimic various gravitational conditions.
Named after the company itself, the Pythom ship takes its name from the comet that ancient Egyptians believed was responsible for bringing life to Earth.