Orbital Express offers a reusable space tug, Satko, that rides as a secondary payload on rideshare launches to provide on‑demand orbital maneuvers, de‑orbiting, and interplanetary transport for payloads up to 100 kg. The tug’s autonomous navigation, modular adapters, and electric propulsion enable precise altitude changes, payload deployment, and trajectory optimization for lunar, Venus, Mars, and near‑Earth asteroid missions, lowering cost and lead time for small‑sat operators.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Small‑sat operators and emerging space missions often face prohibitive costs and long lead times for orbit adjustments, de‑orbiting, and interplanetary payload delivery because dedicated launch services are scarce and reusable logistics platforms are unavailable.
Solution
Orbital Express provides a commercial space‑logistics platform built around the reusable tug “Satko.” The tug attaches to rideshare launch vehicles and can autonomously perform orbit altitude increases, decreases, phasing, and non‑separable payload deployment within 48 hours of insertion. It also offers de‑orbiting, life‑extension services, and dedicated interplanetary transport for payloads up to 100 kg to lunar orbit, 30 kg to Venus or Mars, and small masses to near‑Earth asteroid trajectories. By leveraging a “space‑sharing” business model, Orbital Express turns a single launch into a multi‑mission logistics hub, reducing per‑mission cost and enabling rapid, on‑demand maneuvering for customers.
Target Audience
Primary customers are commercial small‑sat operators, CubeSat manufacturers, and government or research agencies that require rapid in‑orbit maneuvering, de‑orbit services, or interplanetary payload delivery for missions under 100 kg.
Features
- Reusable space tug Satko with modular payload adapters compatible with CubeSat dispensers and custom small‑sat bus interfaces.
- Autonomous navigation suite that combines GNSS, star‑tracker, and electric‑propulsion thrust‑vectoring to execute precise altitude changes and phasing burns with <5 m orbital accuracy.
- Integrated de‑orbit module capable of controlled re‑entry or graveyard‑orbit placement, supporting compliance with debris mitigation standards (ISO 24113).
- Interplanetary mission package that includes high‑efficiency Hall‑effect thrusters, trajectory optimization software, and thermal‑control hardware for lunar, Venus, Mars, and NEA payloads.
- API‑driven service ordering platform that automates contract issuance, mission planning, and real‑time telemetry access via secure HTTPS endpoints.
- Ride‑share launch compatibility layer that synchronizes with major launch providers to attach Satko as a secondary payload, maximizing launch vehicle utilization.
- End‑to‑end data encryption and role‑based access controls for mission‑critical telemetry and command streams, meeting FIPS‑140‑2 requirements.