U-Space, a French NewSpace company, announces that Thomas Pfister has taken on the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Having joined in early July, he takes the helm of the company just a few weeks after the successful launch of its first small satellites, a major milestone in U-Space’s development.
An appointment grounded in solid foundations
This arrival comes at a key moment for U-Space. Following the first deliveries of its satellites, the commissioning of its control center and U-Zine industrial site in 2024, as well as a Series A funding round and its first export success in 2025, the company continues to scale up its operations. Today, its customers include CNES and DGA in France, NSSTC in the United Arab Emirates, and DLR in Germany.
In early July 2026, U-Space also reached a new milestone with the successful launch of its first microsatellite weighing more than 100 kg. This achievement further demonstrates its ability to design and deploy increasingly ambitious space infrastructures. The business now has the technological and industrial capabilities required to scale up and meet the growing demand for constellation and space infrastructure solutions. Thomas Pfister takes on the role of CEO as U-Space enters a new phase of its development.
Bringing over twenty years of experience in the space industry, notably at Airbus Defence and Space and GomSpace, Thomas Pfister brings to U-Space a deep understanding of the sector, together with a strong international track record in business development and managing complex industrial environments.
“In just a few years, U-Space has built genuine technological and industrial capability, driven by a dedicated team. My role is now to transform this momentum into concrete growth: accelerate commercially, gain international visibility, and continue the ramp-up of our industrial operations. We have all the assets needed to become a reference space player in France and Europe.”
Thomas Pfister, CEO of U-Space
Reinforced governance to support U-Space’s ambitions
This new leadership structure brings together complementary expertise. Co-founders Fabien Apper and Antoine Ressouche remain fully engaged within the executive team:
- Fabien Apper becomes Chief Technical and Products Officer: he leads technical services and continues to develop U-Space’s product and service portfolio.
- Antoine Ressouche becomes Chief Operating Officer: he is responsible for structuring the company’s infrastructure to support robust and controlled growth.
This organization combines Thomas Pfister’s commercial and international experience with the technical and operational expertise of the two founders, who retain a central role in the company’s strategic trajectory.
“Since the creation of U-Space, our ambition has always been to go beyond satellite manufacturing by mastering the entire chain required to deploy a space infrastructure. We have laid the technological and industrial foundations that allow us to go further today. Thomas’s arrival naturally completes this equation with strong commercial and international experience. We are thrilled to pursue this journey together and join forces to accelerate U-Space’s development.”
Antoine Ressouche and Fabien Apper, co-founders of U-Space
Finally, the appointment of Antoine Bouvier as Chairman of the Supervisory Board will enable U-Space to leverage his extensive experience, strategic vision, and expertise in scaling and transforming industrial enterprises. Building on a distinguished executive career as CEO across the aeronautics, space, and defense sectors, Antoine Bouvier notably led Astrium Satellites and MBDA, before serving as Head of Strategy, M&A, and Public Affairs at Airbus Group. He is also a member of the United Nations Board of External Auditors.
“I am delighted to join U-Space as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. It is a great company with solid foundations, strong growth potential, and an remarkable team. Our collective ambition is to strengthen U-Space’s position as a leading player in France, Europe, and international markets in the demanding field of microsatellite constellations. This critical sector is vital for sovereignty and offers compelling commercial prospects. ”
Antoine Bouvier, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of U-Space
Accelerating international growth
Driven by the ongoing expansion of the constellation market, U-Space is positioning itself to accelerate its development in France and internationally, particularly with institutional and governmental actors. This momentum aligns with a clear vision: to turn space into a strategic, accessible asset for any organization through streamlined, reliable, and cost-effective infrastructure.
U-Space intends to realize this vision by providing a end-to-end infrastructure, from satellite design and manufacturing to deployment, meeting the surging demands of the constellation market. Thomas’s arrival reinforces this ambition, aiming to scale the company, capture new markets, and continue structuring its industrial model.
This new organizational structure brings together all the key elements behind a single mission: enabling clients to achieve their ambitions by optimizing the design, partner integration, deployment, and operation of space infrastructure tailored to their specific challenges.
