What Aurora Avionics does

Aurora Avionics is an Edinburgh-based aerospace startup founded in 2023 that designs and sells modular, ITAR-free avionics for NewSpace launch vehicles, spacecraft, and re-entry platforms. Its core product is a qualified ecosystem of stackable hardware modules organised into four families — compute modules (PF1 PolarFire1 with quad RISC-V RV64GC cores, plus planned PF2, P64, and ZNQ variants), data-acquisition modules (TDA, LDA, SMP, BRG, ACC, BGP), networking modules (RSS, ETH, CAN, SPW, FIB, WIR), and special modules (SDR S-Band transmitter, GPS, MEM mass memory, VEC video encoder) — built on high-reliability FPGAs and configurable from test-site instrumentation to flight qualification. The company claims this modular architecture reduces mission engineering time by up to 80% and serves applications including on-board computers, engine controllers, and launch-vehicle and spacecraft data-acquisition systems.

Aurora monetises primarily through one-time hardware sales of configured modular systems bundled with integration and qualification services, sold under fixed-price contracts; long-term partnerships with space agencies and commercial developers create recurring follow-on order opportunities as missions progress from evaluation into operational phases. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and all transactions flow through direct enterprise sales engagement. The customer base is concentrated among four named anchor accounts: DLR (German Aerospace Center), Pangea Propulsion (£525,000 ARCOS aerospike engine contract, October 2025), ATMOS Space Cargo (PHOENIX 2.1 reusable spacecraft data-acquisition units, March 2026), and the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA, sounding rocket programme, June 2026), spanning launch vehicle manufacturers, spacecraft and re-entry vehicle developers, and national space agencies across Europe and Asia-Pacific.

The company has raised over £820,000 in disclosed funding across two rounds (£320,000 seed from Gabriel Investment Syndicate and Scottish Enterprise in May 2024; £500,000 led by Kelvin Capital in March 2025), operates with 1–10 employees from the Edinburgh Innovation Hub, and supports demand generation through trade shows (Space Tech Expo Bremen, ILA Berlin), direct enterprise sales, technical content marketing, and a Japanese-language landing page. Strategic positioning centres on ITAR-free export status, modular reconfigurability, and a growing flight-heritage footprint as a bridge between traditional aerospace supply chains and NewSpace speed requirements.

Name

Aurora Avionics

Legal name

Aurora Avionics

Website

https://aav.space

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aurora Avionics is an Edinburgh-based aerospace startup founded in 2023 that designs modular, ITAR-free avionics systems — built on FPGAs and RISC-V processors — for NewSpace launch vehicle manufacturers, spacecraft and re-entry vehicle developers, and European and Asia-Pacific space agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space-grade avionics hardware

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) & Avionics Computing Platforms (IMABAFAI), Avionics Integration, Wiring Harnesses & Installation Kits (IMABAFAL), Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)

Keywords

• Modular avionics systems
• Launch vehicle electronics
• Space-grade avionics
• Data acquisition modules
• On-board computers

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Modular Avionics Systems Supply: Sale of modular hardware systems (compute, DAQ, networking modules) to launch vehicle manufacturers and spacecraft developers under fixed-price contracts. Revenue recognized upon delivery of flight-qualified hardware and supporting integration services.
2. Engineering Services & Integration: Professional services supporting system integration, qualification, and testing of modular avionics into customer platforms. Typically bundled with hardware contracts or delivered as standalone consulting engagements.
3. Long-term Partnership Agreements: Multi-phase agreements with space agencies and commercial developers that create recurring follow-on order opportunities as missions progress from testing/evaluation into operational phases.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Aurora Avionics designs, manufactures, and supplies a modular, ITAR-free avionics platform for NewSpace launch vehicles and spacecraft, built from a qualified ecosystem of compute, data-acquisition, networking, and special modules using FPGA and RISC-V processors. The hardware is engineered to scale with launch-vehicle development from test-site instrumentation through flight qualification, and is delivered alongside integration engineering services and mission-specific configuration support.

Product overview

Aurora Avionics offers a modular, ITAR-free avionics platform for NewSpace launch vehicles. The flagship Modular Avionics System is built from a qualified ecosystem of swappable modules organized into three categories: Compute Modules (PF1 PolarFire1, PF2 PolarFire2, P64 PIC64 HPSC, ZNQ Zynq US+), Data-Acquisition Modules (TDA, LDA, SMP, BRG, ACC, BGP), and Networking Modules (RSS, ETH, CAN, SPW, FIB, WIR), plus Special Modules (SDR, GPS, MEM, VEC). The system utilizes high-reliability FPGA devices integrated with RISC-V processors and is designed to scale with launch-vehicle development from test-site to flight. Key applications include On-Board Computers, Engine Controllers, and DAQ Systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Modular Avionics System A modular, ITAR-free avionics platform for NewSpace launch vehicles and spacecraft, configurable from a qualified ecosystem of compute (PF1 PolarFire1, PF2 PolarFire2, P64 PIC64 HPSC, ZNQ Zynq US+), data-acquisition (TDA, LDA, SMP, BRG, ACC, BGP), networking (RSS, ETH, CAN, SPW, FIB, WIR), and special (SDR, GPS, MEM, VEC) modules. Designed to scale from test-site to flight, intended for launch vehicle manufacturers, spacecraft developers, and space agencies.
• On-Board Computers (OBC) Configurable on-board computer solution built from Aurora's compute modules (PF1 PolarFire1, PF2 PolarFire2, P64 PIC64 HPSC, ZNQ Zynq US+) and firmware drivers, providing immediate integration abstractions for embedded and Linux-based applications on launch vehicles and spacecraft.
• Engine Controllers Versatile engine controller solution combining data-acquisition and power-distribution modules, scalable from unit tests through flight integration, designed for launch vehicle propulsion platforms such as Pangea Propulsion's ARCOS aerospike engine.
• DAQ Systems Data-acquisition and networking module solution for building test-site and launch vehicle instrumentation systems with a clear route to flight qualification, used to capture temperature, pressure, mechanical load, and other mission-critical data across launch, in-orbit, re-entry, and recovery phases.
• PHOENIX 2.1 Data Acquisition Units Two modular data acquisition units supplied to ATMOS Space Cargo for the PHOENIX 2.1 reusable orbital transfer and return vehicle mission, collecting temperature, pressure, and mechanical load data throughout launch, in-orbit operations, re-entry, and recovery.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% reduction in mission engineering time for launch providers using modular avionics
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship.

• Taiwan Space Agency (TASA)flagshipTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2026Aurora signed its first Asia-Pacific agreement with Taiwan's civilian space agency to supply modular avionics for TASA's sounding rocket development programme. Systems will initially be deployed for testing and evaluation, creating the foundation for potential longer-term collaboration. Taiwan is restructuring and investing significantly in its space sector under TASA (restructured 2023).
• ATMOS Space CargoflagshipTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2026Aurora supplies onboard data acquisition systems for the PHOENIX 2.1 reusable spacecraft mission, planned for 2026. Two modular DAQ units will collect temperature, pressure, and structural load data throughout launch, in-orbit operations, re-entry, and recovery. This collaboration marks Aurora's entry into the orbital spacecraft market and supports Europe's independent return-from-orbit capabilities.
• Pangea PropulsionflagshipTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2025Barcelona-based Pangea Propulsion awarded Aurora a £525,000 contract to supply modular, space-grade avionics systems for the ARCOS aerospike engine. Aurora provides flight control, real-time telemetry, and integrated sensor data acquisition. Adrià Argemí, CEO of Pangea Propulsion, described Aurora as 'the clear choice' for their aerospike programme due to modular approach and engineering rigour.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• SITAEL: Italian smallsat and avionics manufacturer offering modular OBC platforms and satellite subsystems. Comparable as a European modular avionics and small-sat platform supplier.
• Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space): Swiss-headquartered space products supplier offering modular avionics, computer, and electronics for launch vehicles and spacecraft. Directly competes with Aurora in the modular launcher avionics niche, with much deeper flight heritage.
• AAC Clyde Space: Provides modular avionics, OBCs, and data handling subsystems for small satellites and launch vehicles. Closely comparable as a modular avionics platform supplier targeting the small-sat and NewSpace market.
• GomSpace: Danish supplier of modular CubeSat and smallsat avionics platforms (OBC, ADCS, communication modules). Directly comparable business model of stackable, modular avionics subsystems for the NewSpace market.
• Kongsberg NanoAvionics: Lithuania-based smallsat bus and avionics provider offering modular satellite platforms with OBC, ADCS, and communications. Comparable as a modular, ITAR-conscious avionics supplier targeting commercial and institutional smallsat/launch customers.
• Innovative Space Logistics (ISL): Dutch smallsat integrator and avionics supplier, including OBC and modular satellite subsystems for commercial and institutional missions. Compares on modular avionics and on being a European-based ITAR-free supplier.

Emerging players

• Argotec: Italian aerospace company providing smallsat platforms, avionics, and deep-space systems. Compares on European positioning and modular avionics for institutional missions, though with broader platform focus.

Broad incumbents

• Honeywell Aerospace: Tier-1 incumbent supplying flight computers, guidance/navigation/control systems, and avionics for commercial and military launch vehicles and spacecraft. Represents the entrenched competitor Aurora must displace to scale.
• BAE Systems (Electronic Systems): Major defence and space avionics supplier offering radiation-hardened computers, GNC, and electronic subsystems for launch and spacecraft platforms. Broad incumbent against which Aurora competes on cost and modularity.
• Airbus Defence and Space: European prime supplying avionics, OBCs, and full spacecraft/launch vehicle electronics through its space division. Large incumbent competing across the same launch and spacecraft customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aavspace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aurora Avionics