Image credit: LeoStella
Manufacturing a satellite used to take several years and require multi-million-dollar budgets. Today it is a different story.
The space industry has gone through a radical transformation. The evolution of technology and a culture of agility has enabled companies such as LeoStella to develop satellites at a fraction of the cost, in a matter of months.
LeoStella opened its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility last year in Tukwila, Wash., near Seattle. Since that time, the LeoStella team has manufactured two satellites that are already on orbit and has produced several additional satellites ready for delivery. The company is now on pace to produce two satellites per month.
As the economics of space have become more affordable, there has been a wave of innovation and an increased demand for satellites. Companies are utilizing space for communication, security, monitoring, intelligence and a variety of other initiatives. These companies are looking to LeoStella and others to deliver the satellites and support services to harness space for their needs. Reinforcing that point, LeoStella was selected by Loft Orbital to manufacture a number of satellites for several upcoming Loft Orbital missions. Loft offers space Infrastructure-as-a-Service.
Design and production has continued at LeoStella despite the pandemic, in fact, the company is adding to its team and has been recognized as one of the top companies to work for in Washington State by Seattle Business magazine.
Below are just a few of the recent articles mentioning the company:
- SpaceNews, “BlackSky launching two satellites on June Starlink mission,” June 5, 2020
- GeekWire, “LeoStella confirms delivery of BlackSky’s Earth observation satellites for SpaceX launch,” June 22, 2020
- Via Satellite, “LeoStella Delivers First Two Satellites to BlackSky,” June 22, 2020
- SatNews, “Loft Orbital’s Contracts with LeoStella to Build Several Smallsats,” July 21, 2020
- Via Satellite, “LeoStella Contracted for More Loft Orbital Satellite Buses,” July 21, 2020
- Space Daily, “Loft Orbital selects LeoStella to supply satellites for Space Infrastructure-as-a-Service,” July 23, 2020
- The Seattle Times, “Satellite imaging firm BlackSky is growing and hiring in Seattle,” Aug. 18, 2020
Seattle Business, “100 Best Companies To Work For,” Sept. 24, 2020 - GeekWire, “BlackSky will add sharper focus and night vision to future Earth-watching satellites,” Sept. 24, 2020
- SpaceNews, “BlackSky to add high-resolution satellites in 2022, signs deal with U.S. Army,” Sept. 24, 2020
- Via Satellite, “BlackSky Next-Generation Monitoring Satellites Will Have 50cm Resolution,” Sept. 24, 2020
We are excited about the momentum in the industry and at LeoStella. Stay tuned for more news from the company.