Outpost

Outpost Technologies Corporation is a space company that builds Earth-return vehicles and reusable satellites. The company's primary product, Ferry, enables satellites and payloads to return safely from orbit without burning up in the atmosphere. The system combines a satellite bus with propulsion capabilities, an inflatable NASA-developed heat shield made of 3D woven carbon fiber fabric, and a robotic paraglider for precise landings. The company's Ferryall spacecraft can carry payloads up to 100 kg, while its larger Carryall system, designed to fit in mid-sized launchers like the Falcon 9, can transport up to 10 tons and is the size of a standard 20-foot shipping container. The company's heat shield technology allows for a payload mass fraction of over 50%, significantly higher than typical capsule systems which offer 5-10%. In flight tests, the paraglider system demonstrated the ability to achieve a 5-meter landing target accuracy. The technology aims to address the environmental impact of satellites burning up in the atmosphere and enable rapid iteration of space-based experiments and manufacturing. The company developed its platform in collaboration with NASA.

Key customers and partnerships

Outpost secured a USD 1.7 million contract from the Department of Defense in April 2023 to develop its Ferry satellite platform. The company partnered with NASA in December 2022 to develop the Cargo Ferry system for returning cargo from the International Space Station and future commercial space stations. Additional partnerships include collaborations with Nanoracks and Spaceflight.