CompanyUnited KingdomActive

Metalysis

UK metal-powder producer using the FFC Cambridge solid-state electrolysis process; with ESA funding (contract 4000131940, 2020) it produced oxygen and metal from lunar regolith simulant in the laboratory. The original company entered administration in 2019 and was dissolved in 2021; the business operates through Metalysis Ltd (company 11498722), which is active and in 2025-2026 reports mainly terrestrial and aerospace alloy work.

Claimed

Resources and evidence

Each resource shows the highest step primary sources support. How the ladder works.

Resource	Evidence	Meaning
Oxygen	Claimed	says it will
Metals (general)	Claimed	says it will
Regolith	Claimed	says it will

Demonstrated

Laboratory extraction of oxygen and metal from lunar regolith simulant under ESA contract 4000131940 (General Support Technology Programme, awarded 2020); sponsor of the 2020-2021 Metalysis-ESA Grand Challenge for miniaturised versions of its process. No flight hardware.

Claimed or planned

Metalysis states it has 'a clear 5-year focus on the Moon' and a 5-10 year focus on asteroid metals and Mars. Its 2026 ESA-funded project (about EUR 1 million) is for terrestrial titanium production, not ISRU.

Facts

Headquarters: United Kingdom
Type: Company
Founded: 2001
Status: Activeas of 2026-08-17. Companies House lists Metalysis Ltd (11498722) as Active with accounts to 31 Dec 2025; company releases through 2026-08-17. Space-resource work specifically has no dated activity after the 2020-2021 ESA projects.
Roles: Processing / ISRU
Targets: Moon, Mars
Also known as: Metalysis Ltd (11498722); Metalysis Limited (04304849, dissolved 2021); FFC Limited (former name of 04304849)
Website: www.metalysis.com

Dated events

Amounts are shown one at a time as each source states them. They are never added together.

2020-11-06
ESA contract 4000131940 to Metalysis for FFC oxygen production from regolith (ISRU)
Government awardMetalysisWith European Space Agency
Metalysis announced ESA funding under the General Support Technology Programme for 'The Metalysis FFC Process for Extra-Terrestrial Oxygen Production from ISRU'; value not disclosed.
Company announcement. No counterparty or government record found.
Sources (1) and evidence gaps
1. [1]Metalysis Awarded European Space Agency Development Contract for its FFC Process
  MetalysisCompany statementPublished 2020-11-06Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: date, counterparty id
  has been awarded European Space Agency (ESA) funding, contract number 4000131940, for its project titled, "The Metalysis FFC Process for Extra-Terrestrial Oxygen Production from ISRU,"
  Quote matched the source text when accessed.
- ESA-side record of contract 4000131940 and its value not retrieved.
2019-06-25
Metalysis Limited (04304849) enters administration
OtherMetalysis
Companies House records the appointment of an administrator for Metalysis Limited on 25 June 2019, a move from administration to dissolution filed 9 June 2021, and dissolution following liquidation on 9 September 2021.
Sources (2) and evidence gaps
1. [1]METALYSIS LIMITED (04304849) - filing history
  Companies House (UK)Court or regulatory filingAccessed 2026-09-25Supports: date, event type
  25 Jun 2019 AM01 Appointment of an administrator
  Quote matched the source text when accessed.
2. [2]METALYSIS LIMITED (04304849) - filing history
  Companies House (UK)Court or regulatory filingAccessed 2026-09-25Supports: summary
  09 Jun 2021 AM23 Notice of move from Administration to Dissolution
  Quote matched the source text when accessed.
- How the business and assets passed to Metalysis Ltd (e.g. pre-pack sale) not documented in retrieved records.

Open evidence gaps

Which legal entity (04304849 in administration from June 2019, or 11498722) held ESA contract 4000131940 is not stated.
ESA's own pages on the regolith-oxygen work (esa.int) returned HTTP 403 and were not retrieved.
Contract value of ESA 4000131940 not disclosed.

Record history

changes to this record's facts, newest first

Changed	Field	Was	Now	Reason	Source
2021-09-09	status	Active (Metalysis Limited, 04304849)	Business continued by Metalysis Ltd (11498722) after 04304849 entered administration (2019-06-25) and dissolved (2021-09-09)	Source update	[5]

Sources

7 sources

[1]Metalysis Awarded European Space Agency Development Contract for its FFC Process
MetalysisCompany statementPublished 2020-11-06Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: role, resource activity demonstrated
has been awarded European Space Agency (ESA) funding, contract number 4000131940, for its project titled, "The Metalysis FFC Process for Extra-Terrestrial Oxygen Production from ISRU,"
Quote matched the source text when accessed.
[2]Space - Metalysis
MetalysisCompany statementAccessed 2026-09-25Supports: resources, resource activity
Metalysis' successful collaboration with the European Space Agency in 2020/21, in a competitive procurement process, commenced this strategy and has resulted in the extraction of metal and oxygen from replicated lunar rock.
Quote matched the source text when accessed.
[3]Space - Metalysis
MetalysisCompany statementAccessed 2026-09-25Supports: target bodies, resource activity claimed
a clear 5-year focus on the Moon, 5-10 years focus on asteroid metals and Mars
Quote matched the source text when accessed.
[4]METALYSIS LTD (11498722) - overview
Companies House (UK)Court or regulatory filingAccessed 2026-09-25Supports: status
Company status Active Company type Private limited Company Incorporated on 3 August 2018
Quote matched the source text when accessed.
[5]METALYSIS LIMITED (04304849) - overview
Companies House (UK)Court or regulatory filingAccessed 2026-09-25Supports: history, founded year, aliases
Company status Dissolved Dissolved on 9 September 2021 Company type Private limited Company Incorporated on 15 October 2001
Quote matched the source text when accessed.
[6]Press Release: Metalysis achieves commercial specification of C-103 alloy
MetalysisCompany statementPublished 2026-08-17Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: status as of
Press Release: Metalysis achieves commercial specification of C-103 alloy
Quote matched the source text when accessed.
[7]Press Release: Metalysis Secures EUR 1M ESA Funding to Scale Sustainable Titanium Production
MetalysisCompany statementPublished 2026-03-10Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource activity claimed
to develop a continuous or quasi-continuous sustainable process for titanium production using the patented Metalysis FFC Process
Quote matched the source text when accessed.