Orbit Guardians

OrbitGuardians is a leading commercial provider of Active Debris Removal (ADR) services.

Orbit Guardians is a California-based startup that provides commercial Active Debris Removal (ADR) services. The company uses a patented ADR system in combination with its SWEEPER spacecraft to provide orbital debris removal service. The company has submitted several bills to the US House Committee and other proposals for funding and tax credits, awaiting approval.

Technology to explore opportunities beyond Earth

Space Travel and Exploration Tech

Orbit Guardians is a California-based startup that provides commercial Active Debris Removal (ADR) services. The company uses a patented ADR system in combination with its SWEEPER spacecraft to provide orbital debris removal service. The company has submitted several bills to the US House Committee and other proposals for funding and tax credits, awaiting approval.As of 2024, Orbit Guardians' first ADR mission planned to deorbit 40 debris objects and assist the USSF’s debris removal strategy by providing services including deorbiting small, medium, and large objects, on-orbit inspections, Resident Space Object (RSO) data capture, and RSO orbit positioning. As of September 2023, the company had not announced a launch date for its first ADR.

Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX), founded by Elon Musk, designs, manufactures, and launches rockets and spacecraft. It developed Falcon 9, the first reusable orbital-class rocket, reducing launch costs through reusability. SpaceX became the first private company to transport cargo and astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS) using its Dragon spacecraft. It also completed the first all-civilian crewed mission to orbit.As of December 2024, SpaceX was working on Starship, a fully reusable launch vehicle integrated with the Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket. Starship is designed for crew and cargo transportation beyond Earth’s orbit. The maiden launch in&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17914">April 2023</a> failed due to a stage separation issue, while a second flight in&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/24117">November 2023</a> ended in a mid-air explosion but showed significant progress.In&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30279">June 2024</a>, SpaceX successfully brought the Starship booster and upper stage back to Earth in controlled splashdowns. The company also launched&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30611">20 Starlink satellites</a> and replaced older satellites over Europe with the&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30664">SES satellite</a>.In&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/31473">July 2024</a>, SpaceX launched two Starlink missions, but one Falcon 9 launch failed due to an&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/31996">upper-stage malfunction</a>. During the same&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/32021">month</a>, SpaceX launched two Starlink missions to deliver 44 new Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit. In&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33338">September 2024</a>, SpaceX announced plans for uncrewed Mars missions by 2026 and crewed missions by 2028. The&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/34797">following month</a>, the company launched NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft aboard Falcon Heavy to explore Jupiter's moon Europa.&nbsp;Key customers and partnershipsSpaceX has formed key partnerships with NASA and other government agencies. In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/16/science/spacex-moon-nasa.html#:~:text=NASA%20announced%20on%20Friday%20that,and%20robotic%20explorers%20to%20space.">April 2021</a>, NASA awarded the company a USD 2.9 billion contract to return astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972. This was followed by a second crewed demonstration landing in&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14642">November 2022</a>. SpaceX also received additional crew flights to the ISS in&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12727">September 2022</a>.In&nbsp;<a href="https://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-102-million-air-force-contract-to-demonstrate-technologies-for-point-to-point-space-transportation/#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%94%20The%20U.S.%20Air%20Force,world%20on%20a%20heavy%20rocket.">January 2022</a>, SpaceX secured a contract with the US Air Force for a point-to-point space transportation technology demonstration. In&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13938">October 2022</a>, the European Space Agency (ESA) contracted SpaceX to launch the Euclid space telescope and Hera Probe on Falcon 9 rockets, replacing the original Soyuz launch plans.In&nbsp;<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/northrop-grumman-collaboration-with-spacex-on-classified-spy-satellite-project/articleshow/109424490.cms?from=mdr">April 2024</a>, SpaceX partnered with Northrop Grumman for a classified reconnaissance satellite mission. In&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30280">June 2024</a>, the company was awarded a USD 1.5 million contract by NASA for the Mars Sample Return mission and was selected for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 contract alongside&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30463">Blue Origin and ULA</a>.SpaceX continued to work with NASA in&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/31893">July 2024</a>, receiving a USD 113 million contract to launch NOAA's Joint Polar Satellite System 4 mission. In&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/35031">October 2024</a>, SpaceX secured a USD 733.6 million contract from the US Space Force to conduct seven launches for the Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer constellation.

SpaceX

Sierra Space, established in 2021 as a spin-off from Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Space Systems division, focuses on commercial space development. As of December 2024, it was developing the Dream Chaser, claimed to be the world’s first commercial spaceplane and the only winged reusable spaceplane, with a low 1.5 g-force re-entry designed for crew and cargo transport. Despite delays announced by United Launch Alliance (ULA) in&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30892">June 2024</a>, Sierra Space had plans to launch the first Dream Chaser by late 2024.As of December 2024, the company was also developing the Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) habitat, an inflatable three-story commercial habitation and science platform designed for low Earth orbit. It supports four astronauts and features facilities for science, exercise, medical care, and food production. In&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/31995">July 2024</a>, the LIFE module passed its second full-scale burst test, with plans for standalone testing of a 500 m³ module by 2025.&nbsp;Key customers and partnershipsIn&nbsp;<a href="https://www.blueorigin.com/news/orbital-reef-commercial-space-station">October 2021</a>, Sierra Space and Blue Origin announced that the companies were developing Orbital Reef, a commercial space station, backed by players including Boeing, Redwire Space, Genesis Engineering Solutions, and Arizona State University. Orbital Reef was to be a commercially developed, owned, and operated space station to be built in low Earth orbit. The Dream Chaser and LIFE Habitat are critical components for Orbital Reef. In&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14055">October 2022</a>, the company signed an MOU with IBM to collaborate on space technology and software platforms for its spacecraft and infrastructure. Sierra Space partnered with Keystone Space Collaborative in&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14514">November 2022</a>, to advance space economy and for the development of Orbital Reef.In&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16778">February 2023</a>, the company entered a five-year MOU with the University of Notre Dame to pursue space-based research in low-Earth orbit. The partnership covers R&amp;D payload identification, microgravity experimentation, and the design of hardware to support experiments and commercial applications of the results. Furthermore, in&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17792">April 2023</a>, Sierra Space entered a long-term strategic partnership with ILC Dover to accelerate the development of next-generation space infrastructure. Sierra Space also partnered with Redwire in&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21176">August 2023</a> for the development of a biotech experiment platform that would be installed on its LIFE inflatable module.In&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/31493">July 2024</a>, Sierra Space partnered with MUFG Bank Ltd. and Tokio Marine &amp; Nichido Fire Insurance Co. Ltd, along with existing partners Oita Prefecture, Kanematsu Corporation, and Japan Airlines to explore the potential for a landing spaceport in Oita, Japan.

Sierra Space

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 Founded by Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic constructs commercial spacecraft with the goal of providing space travelers with suborbital spaceflights. Virgin Galactic is the first commercial spaceline created for space travel. Its feather technology allows its spaceship to fold in half, with the wings moving upward, offering unobstructed views of space. Virgin Galactic's suborbital aircraft are launched from beneath VMS Eve mothership (previously known as White Knight Two), a carrier plane. Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity spacecraft made its first spaceflight in 2018. Founder Richard Branson and three other colleagues boarded a flight as passengers in July 2021.
 
 
 In February 2022, the startup opened ticket sales to the public. A trip that lasts around 90 minutes costs USD 450,000 and was slated to commence in Q1 2023. Up to six passengers and two pilots can go to suborbital space at a time in a flight. In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16466">
 February 2023
 </a>
 , the VMS Eve mothership took to the skies for the first time after undergoing mechanical upgrades. Although the results were not disclosed, according to flight tracking data the test flight lasted over two and a half hours and reached an altitude of 12,650 meters. In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18896">
 May 2023
 </a>
 , conducted its first suborbital launch after a nearly two-year hiatus with the Unity 25 mission. It carried a crew of six and two pilots to an altitude of 44,500 ft for 90 minutes. Following this, in 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/19794">
 June 2023
 </a>
 , the company completed the maiden launch of its commercial spaceflight, VSS Unity. Named Galactic 01, the mission carried 13 research payloads and a three-member crew. The company expected to launch monthly commercial flights after the Galactic 02 mission which was slated for August 2023.
 
 
 In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/30285">
 June 2024
 </a>
 , Virgin Galactic launched its VSS Unity spacecraft with 6 crew members for its Galactic 07 mission, also marking its second launch mission in 2024.&nbsp;
 
 
 In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/31351">
 July 2024
 </a>
 , the company concluded the construction of its new manufacturing facility and hangar complex at the Mesa Gateway Airport. The new facility would begin assembling the Delta spaceships by 2025.&nbsp;
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 In April 2020, the company entered into a space act agreement with NASA relating to the development of high-speed point-to-point travel technologies and into a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Rolls-Royce in August 2020 to join in designing and developing engine propulsion technology for high-speed commercial aircraft. In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14264">
 November 2022
 </a>
 , the company partnered with space infrastructure developer Axiom Space, to conduct microgravity research and training missions.
 
 
 Virgin Galactic partnered with Axiom Space again in May 2024 to deliver the Axiom Mission 3 backup and a Turkish Space Agency (TUA) astronaut on a suborbital flight for microgravity research. 
 
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Virgin Galactic

Arizona-based World View Enterprises designs and manufactures stratospheric balloons through which it takes high-resolution photos of Earth for scientific, government, and commercial organizations. Its World View Stratollite is a remotely operated stratospheric vehicle with new control capabilities that carries commercial, scientific, and government payloads to the near-space environment. It also utilizes the advantages of geostationary satellites, low-earth orbit satellites, and high-altitude drones to provide the optimum combination of resolution, precision, and long-term surveillance of vital targets.The startup announced its plans to enter the space tourism and exploration market in October 2021 with its rocketless spacecraft. The spacecraft, known as the World View Explorer, consists of a football ground sized zero-pressure helium balloon, which will ascend at 10–12 miles per hour, carrying passengers in a capsule beneath it in first-class luxury complete with a bathroom and Wi-Ffi. The vessel would glide passengers 100,000 feet into the stratosphere on a 6–12 hour journey (vs. Virgin Galactic's 90-minute flight time) and would cost USD 50,000 per passenger (vs. USD 450,000 for Virgin Galactic). Its competitive pricing is attributed to the use of a natural resource (helium) instead of jet fuel. The company planned to have space ports at iconic locations such as The Grand Canyon (US), Amazonia (Brazil), Aurora Borealis (Norway), Giza pyramids (Egypt), Serengeti (Kenya), Great wall of China, and Great Barrier Reef (Australia). The company planned to have 28 spacecraft (each can carry 8 passengers and 2 crew members) to fly four flights a day at each of the 7 sites. The first rides are scheduled for 2023 and the first passengers for 2024. Pre-sale tickets are available for purchase.Key customers and partnershipsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15704">January 2023</a>, World View entered a definitive business combination deal with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Leo Holdings as it geared up to go public with this transaction valuing the combined company at an estimated USD 350 million. However, later in 2023, it renounced its plans to go public by terminating the SPAC merger.&nbsp;The company’s key customers include NASA, NOAA, the US Department of Defense, the US Air Force, and Sierra Nevada Corporation.

World View Enterprises

Space Perspective is a luxury spaceflight experience company. Jane Poynter and Taber MacCallum, who were among the co-founders of World View Enterprises, founded the company when World View Enterprises diverted from its initial plan to offer similar stratospheric ballooning services and focused on Stratollites carrying payloads. Its Spaceship Neptune, which the company claims is the first carbon-neutral way to space, is a rocketless spacecraft which carries passengers in a capsule lifted by its 300-foot diameter SpaceBalloon.The Spaceship Neptune, designed to hold eight passengers and a pilot, will glide passengers to an altitude of over 100,000 feet on a six hour journey giving featuring facilities such plush seating, 360-degree panoramic windows, WiFi access and other amenities. Tickets are priced at USD 125,000 per passenger (vs. USD 50,000 per passenger for World View Enterprise) and customers can also pay using crypto. Commercial flights are targeted to begin from late 2024 with the first year of seats completely reserved by October 2021. In June 2021, the company safely completed its first test flight from the Space Coast Spaceport. In December 2021, the startup selected Florida’s Space Coast Spaceport for its worldwide campus and manufacturing complex.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/32516">August 2024</a>, Space Perspective unveiled its 294 ft long Marine Spaceport (MS) Voyager, which would take tourists to space aboard its SpaceBalloons. The company reported that the MS Voyager was the first-ever spaceport for human spaceflight on open water. Following this, in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/33781">September 2024</a>, it concluded its uncrewed test flight for the Spaceship Neptune-Excelsior from the Marine Spaceport (MS) Voyage, flying to an altitude of 100,000 ft.Key customers and partnershipIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16038">January 2023</a>, Space Perspective entered a strategic partnership with global yacht brokerage company, Northrop and Johnson (N&amp;J) to allow select clients of N&amp;J exclusive access to space travel aboard Spaceship Neptune. In October 2023, Space Perspective partnered with Mercedes-Maybach to receive transportation for its customers to and from their spaceflights and to improve customers’ experience.

Space Perspective

Companies that facilitate space tourism and rocket and spacecraft launches, which include human spaceflights and satellite launches

Companies that facilitate space habitats capable of supporting humans in orbit for longer durations

Companies that facilitate space exploration, which includes planetary exploration robots and transportation cargo to the moon, Mars, and beyond

Companies engaging in tracking and  removing space debris and providing in-orbit services for satellites such as refueling, repairs, and orbital maneuvers in order to extend the life of space objects and reduce collision risk

Companies that extract resources and materials from asteroids and other planets and the moon

Robotics are offered by space debris management, space mining, and space exploration companies

A large number of companies use autonomous robots in the production process

Companies such as Relativity Space are using 3D printing to drive down production costs

Orbit Guardians

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