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Squishy Robotics

Squishy robots are rapidly deployable mobile sensing robots for disaster rescue, remote monitoring and space exploration. Their emergent technologies are at the fusion of robotics, mobile sensing, machine learning, big data fusion and smart IoT (Internet of Things).  Their first target market is the HazMat and CBRNE (Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive) response market, enabling life-saving maneuvers and securing the safety of first responders by providing situational awareness and sensor data in uncharted terrain. This product can be deployed with multiple – even swarms – of collaborative squishy robots, equipped with visual, audio, chemical, biological, radiological and GPS sensors, that can traverse rough environments and be quickly deployed by ground or aerial vehicle to inform first responders, and assist in the rescue of victims until human first responders can arrive.  Their customizable platform is being designed for dynamically changing situations and they expect future applications to include scientific monitoring, delivery services, smart home appliances, as well as educational applications for K-12 students, teachers, parents, roboticists and hobbyists.

Headquartered in California, Squishy Robotics develops mobile sensing robots for space exploration applications, remote monitoring, and emergency response. It is a spinoff of UC Berkeley's NASA-funded research to construct planetary probes for space exploration, which could orbit a planet, drop to the surface, and survive to provide scientific monitoring. The startup’s technology could also be used in other sectors on Earth such as disaster response, military applications, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and package delivery.&nbsp;

Technology to explore opportunities beyond Earth

Space Travel and Exploration Tech

Squishy Robotics, founded in 2017 and based in Berkeley, California, specializes in creating impact-resistant, customizable sensor robots for emergency response, public safety, military, and industrial applications. The company's core technology is based on tensegrity structures - spherical, skeletal robots made of rods and elastic cables that can withstand significant impacts. These robots are designed to be air-dropped or thrown into hazardous areas to gather real-time data without risking human lives.

A squishy robot built for Mars is helping 1st responders on Earth in rescue operations

Squishy Robotics – Life

Developed Spherical Robots to the Rescue

FLYMOTION is now a Preferred Partner of Squishy Robotics

This device from Berkeley’s Squishy Robotics looks like a toy, but acts like an action hero

Tensegrity Robots to the Rescue

Empowering the modern soldier with cutting-edge technology

Military Tech

This device from Berkeley's Squishy Robotics looks like a toy ...

Headquartered in California, Squishy Robotics develops mobile sensing robots for space exploration applications, remote monitoring, and emergency response. It is a spinoff of UC Berkeley's NASA-funded research to construct planetary probes for space exploration, which could orbit a planet, drop to the surface, and survive to provide scientific monitoring. The startup’s technology could also be used in other sectors on Earth such as disaster response, military applications, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and package delivery.&nbsp;As of 2024, Squishy Robotics’ robotics portfolio comprised the Stationary Robot Platform and the Robotics Payloads Option, which includes the 4-Gas PLUS sensor, the Steerable Pan-Tilt Camera, the Comms PLUS Radio and Repeaters, and the Custom Payload. The Stationary&nbsp; Robot Platform offers customized payload capabilities, with a 400 ft wireless wireless range and a maximum drop height of 1,000 ft.

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

<div>
 
 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. 
 
</div>

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

Squishy Robotics, founded in 2017 and based in Berkeley, California, specializes in creating impact-resistant, customizable sensor robots for emergency response, public safety, military, and industrial applications. The company's core technology is based on tensegrity structures - spherical, skeletal robots made of rods and elastic cables that can withstand significant impacts. These robots are designed to be air-dropped or thrown into hazardous areas to gather real-time data without risking human lives.
The robots, weighing less than three pounds, can be equipped with various sensors to detect chemical gases, monitor air quality, measure heat and smoke levels, and provide video feeds. They can be deployed from drones, helicopters, or fixed-wing aircraft at altitudes up to 1,000 feet. Squishy Robotics offers stationary models and is developing mobile versions that can move to user-directed locations after deployment. The technology originated from NASA-funded research aimed at developing robots for planetary exploration that could survive long drops and operate in rough terrains.
Squishy Robotics' devices have been field-tested in various challenging scenarios, including explosions, wildfires, and high-altitude drops. They have proven resilient, continuing to transmit data even in extreme conditions. The company's robots are particularly useful in hazardous material emergencies, allowing first responders to assess dangers before entering risky areas. Squishy Robotics is also exploring applications in wildfire prevention and detection, bomb disposal, and monitoring of gas and electric lines.
Key customers and partnerships
Squishy Robotics has worked with several major fire departments across the US, including Southern Manatee Fire and Rescue in Florida, the Tulsa Fire Department in Oklahoma, and the San Jose Fire Department in California. The company's robots have been used in firefighter training sessions hosted by UC Berkeley and in research projects conducted by Marin County's FIRE Foundry in partnership with UC Berkeley's Disaster Lab and the College of Marin.
In May 2022, Squishy Robotics entered into a value-added reseller agreement with FLYMOTION, a leading provider of unmanned systems and technology integration for public safety, government, and defense sectors. This partnership aims to make Squishy Robotics' products more accessible to front-line operators in various fields. The company has also established reseller agreements with several other distributors to expand its market reach.

Hermeus is an Atlanta-based aerospace company focused on developing hypersonic aircraft for both military and commercial applications. The company's primary goal is to create reusable aircraft capable of reaching speeds of Mach 5 (over 3,000 miles per hour) or higher. Hermeus' technology is centered around its proprietary Chimera engine, a turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine that integrates a turbojet for low-speed flight and a ramjet for high-speed operations. This innovative propulsion system allows for seamless transition between different speed ranges, enabling aircraft to take off from standard runways, reach hypersonic speeds, and land conventionally.
The company is currently developing a series of unmanned aircraft prototypes called Quarterhorse to demonstrate and refine its hypersonic technology. In March 2024, Hermeus unveiled its first flyable aircraft, the Quarterhorse Mk 1, which is expected to undergo flight tests at Edwards Air Force Base later in the year. This prototype is powered by a General Electric J85 engine and is designed to test high-speed takeoffs and landings. The company plans to progress through iterations, with the Quarterhorse Mk 2 aimed at achieving supersonic flight in 2025 using a modified Pratt & Whitney F100 engine.
Hermeus' long-term vision includes developing two primary aircraft: Darkhorse, an unmanned hypersonic vehicle for defense applications, and Halcyon, a commercial passenger aircraft capable of flying from New York to London in 90 minutes. The company's approach focuses on iterative development and cost-effective manufacturing, including the use of 3D printing for some components.

Hermeus

Epirus is a high-growth technology company founded in 2018 that develops directed energy systems and power management solutions. The company's flagship product is Leonidas, a counter-electronics system that uses high-power microwave (HPM) technology to neutralize drone threats. Leonidas utilizes solid-state, software-defined technology enabled by Epirus' proprietary SmartPower platform. This allows the system to be smaller, more precise, and safer than traditional HPM systems. Leonidas can fit in the back of a pickup truck and has demonstrated the ability to counter swarming drones and execute precision strikes at range.
In addition to Leonidas, Epirus introduced a smaller, more portable version called Leonidas Pod in February 2022. Both systems can work together to create a layered defense network against incoming threats. The company's products are powered by its SmartPower technology platform, which uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to gate energy at the nanosecond level, increasing efficiency and maximizing output.
Epirus has rapidly scaled its operations since founding. As of February 2022, the company had around 200 employees, with about 150 working at its 100,000-square-foot headquarters in Torrance, California. In January 2023, Epirus was awarded a USD 66.1 million contract from the US Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office to deliver prototype Leonidas systems.
Key customers and partnerships
Epirus has established partnerships with several defense organizations. In October 2021, the company announced an agreement to partner with General Dynamics Land Systems to have its Leonidas system mounted on General Dynamics' Stryker combat vehicles.
In April 2024, Epirus announced that its Leonidas technology would be tested against small vessels in the US Navy's 2024 Advanced Naval Technology Exercise-Coastal Trident (ANTX-CT24). This trial will examine how high-power microwaves can disable outboard motors and other maritime applications, expanding the potential use cases for Epirus' technology beyond counter-drone operations.

Epirus

Centimani develops lightweight, unpowered exoskeleton arms to enhance soldier performance on the battlefield. The company's technology aims to maximize soldier survivability and lethality by redistributing the weight of heavy equipment from arms and shoulders to the trunk. This innovative solution allows soldiers to operate heavy machines for extended periods with increased precision and safety, while maintaining freedom of movement. The exoskeleton also offers the additional benefit of reducing shot recoil when operating heavy weapons. By addressing the challenge of soldiers carrying heavy equipment, including weapons, Centimani's technology helps improve endurance levels and overall combat effectiveness.

Centimani

Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos in 2000, is a private American aerospace company headquartered in Kent, Washington. The company's mission is to enable millions of people to live and work in space for the benefit of Earth. Blue Origin develops reusable launch vehicles and in-space systems to lower the cost of access to space and increase reliability. Its key products include the New Shepard suborbital vehicle and the New Glenn orbital launch vehicle.
The New Shepard, named after Alan Shepard, is a fully reusable vertical takeoff and landing space vehicle designed for suborbital space tourism flights. It consists of a pressurized crew capsule and a propulsion module powered by Blue Origin's BE-3 engine. As of July 2021, New Shepard had carried out 22 successful consecutive missions, including three escape tests. The vehicle is controlled entirely by onboard computers without ground control or a human pilot.
Blue Origin is also developing the New Glenn, a 95-meter tall orbital launch vehicle named after John Glenn. The two-stage rocket is designed to be reusable and will have a larger lift capacity than many existing commercial rockets. New Glenn's first stage will be powered by seven BE-4 engines and is expected to land vertically on a ship at sea, similar to SpaceX's Falcon 9 boosters. The company is targeting its first orbital test launch of New Glenn for 2024.
In addition to launch vehicles, Blue Origin is working on other space technologies. These include the Blue Moon lunar lander, designed to deliver payloads to the Moon's surface, and Project Jarvis, a fully reusable upper stage. The company is also developing Orbital Reef, a commercial space station project.
Key customers and partnerships
Blue Origin has secured several customers for its New Glenn launch vehicle, including Eutelsat, SKY Perfect JSAT, and mu Space Corp. The company is also part of NASA's Artemis program, having been awarded a contract in April 2020 to develop an integrated human landing system for returning humans to the Moon.
In June 2024, Blue Origin was selected by the US Space Force, along with other providers, to compete for small satellite launch missions under the Orbital Services Program-4 (OSP-4) contract. This selection allows Blue Origin to bid on national security space launch contracts, expanding its potential customer base beyond commercial and civil space sectors.
Blue Origin has also formed partnerships with established aerospace companies. In 2014, it entered into a partnership with United Launch Alliance (ULA) to produce the BE-4 engine for ULA's Vulcan rocket. Additionally, for its lunar lander project, Blue Origin leads the "National Team," which includes Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Draper.

Blue Origin

<div>
 
 Rocket Lab is a space company that builds rockets and spacecraft that make it easier to get into orbit and do amazing things there. Rocket Lab provides end-to-end mission services that provide frequent and reliable access to space for civil, defence, and commercial markets. 
 
 
 Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron launch vehicle and Photonsatellite platform and is developing the Neutron launch vehicle. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab&rsquo;s Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered 105 satellites to orbit for private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in national security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and communications. 
 
 
 Rocket Lab has two launch sites, including a private orbital launch site located in New Zealand and a second launch site in Virginia, USA, expected to be operational by the end of 2021. Rocket Lab&rsquo;s Photon spacecraft platform has been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private commercial mission to Venus.
 
</div>

Rocket Lab

Robotics and semi/fully autonomous ground, aerial, and marine vehicles that can be used for military applications, such as surveying, logistics, reconnaissance, and combat.

Developers of sophisticated and advanced defense equipment to counter emerging threats. These solutions include hypersonic flights, directed energy systems, and space militarization.

The use of AI technologies, data analytics, networks of sensors, wearables, and IoT devices in military applications to enhance military capabilities.

The use of simulation technologies such as VR and AR to construct STEs for combat training and mission rehearsals.

Internet of Military Things (IoMT) uses sensors, wearables, and IoT devices in military applications

Use of simulation technologies such as VR/AR for combat training and mission rehearsals

Robotics that can be used for military applications, such as surveying, logistics, reconnaissance, and combat

Squishy Robotics

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