What ExLabs does

ExLabs (legal entity Exploration Industries Corp) is a Long Beach, California-based private aerospace company founded in 2023 that operates as a self-described deep-space prime mission operator. The company designs and builds the SERV (Science, Exploration & Resource Vehicle), a modular, autonomous, nuclear-ready spacecraft platform configured for deep-space operations beyond geostationary orbit (GEO), supporting proximity operations, rendezvous, and sustained cislunar and asteroid-class missions. The architecture is built with in-house additive manufacturing and is offered in base, dual, and stacked configurations. ExLabs layers three commercial services on top of the platform: Mission-as-a-Service (MaaS), which delivers full-stack deep-space execution (mission design, integration, launch procurement, transfer, navigation, proximity operations, and data relay) with up to 400 kg payload capacity and 120 kg rideshare allocation per mission; Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), which sells SERV-derived turn-key spacecraft hardware; and Data-as-a-Service (DaaS), which commercializes planetary defense data, asteroid resource data, and scientific insights gathered from missions. An ExMedia content arm (exmedia.space) is positioned to generate media revenue that funds subsequent missions.

The company's flagship is the Apophis EX mission, planned for 2028 launch and reported as fully sold out, intended to be the world's first commercial deep-space rideshare and to rendezvous with asteroid Apophis before, during, and after its April 2029 Earth flyby. Customer segments include U.S. government and defense (U.S. Space Force, SpaceWERX, Space Systems Command), academic and research institutions (Chiba Institute of Technology / PERC with JPL technical oversight), and commercial space innovators (Fleet Space Technologies, XDLINX Space Labs, Antares for nuclear-powered variants). Disclosed contract value to date aggregates to roughly $7.4M across SpaceWERX ($1.7M, 2023), Space Systems Command ($1.9M, 2024), and two additional funding events, plus an undisclosed-value U.S. Space Force contract in 2025. ExLabs goes to market primarily through direct enterprise sales, an NDA-gated 11-step payload intake process, strategic GTM partnerships, and participation in major space industry events.

Commercially, the MaaS rideshare model pools government, academic, and commercial payloads onto a single SERV platform, positioning the company as a category-creating alternative to billion-dollar national-agency deep-space missions. The model is supported by integration of CUS-GNC's SpacePilot autonomous GNC software, in-house additive manufacturing, and a planned recurring mission cadence of 6–8 months by 2030. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, and revenue is not yet reported. Headcount sits in the 11–50 range. Key execution risks include the long lead time to the 2028 launch, reliance on a single third-party AI/autonomy provider, concentration of payload demand around a single mission, and the absence of recurring payload revenue prior to launch.

Name

ExLabs

Legal name

Exploration Industries Corp

Website

https://exlabs.space

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ExLabs is a Long Beach-based private aerospace company that builds the SERV modular spacecraft platform and offers Mission-as-a-Service rideshare access to deep space beyond GEO, serving U.S. defense, universities, and commercial space customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Deep-Space Spacecraft Manufacturing

NAICS

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

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Spacecraft Integration, Assembly & Test (IAT) (IMABACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI), Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)

Keywords

• Deep space missions
• Spacecraft manufacturing
• Planetary defense
• Asteroid prospecting
• Space payload hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Mission-as-a-Service (MaaS) — Payload Rideshare Fees: ExLabs sells payload hosting capacity on its SERV spacecraft to government agencies, universities, commercial companies, and defense customers. Multiple payloads share a single mission, reducing cost per participant while generating aggregate mission revenue. The model combines commercial payloads, government participation, and private capital. All payload volume for the Apophis EX (2028) mission is reported as already sold.
2. Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) — Spacecraft Hardware Sales: ExLabs sells turn-key spacecraft hardware based on its SERV platform to commercial, government, and scientific customers. Flexible, scalable spacecraft solutions are offered as products, with customers able to purchase the platform without full spacecraft development.
3. Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) — Planetary and Asteroid Data Products: ExLabs commercializes planetary defense data, asteroid resource data, and scientific insights gathered from deep-space missions as a data product. The company is building a data product lineup with a waitlist available via its contact page. Intended to serve defense, scientific, and commercial markets interested in asteroid and deep-space data.
4. Content and Media Revenue (ExMedia): ExMedia, the storytelling arm of the ExLabs ecosystem, generates revenue through global media, digital content, live experiences, and product cycles tied to missions. The revenue and partnerships from content, experiences, and product cycles fund subsequent missions, each intended to be larger than the last.
5. Space Force / Government Defense Contracts: ExLabs holds active defense contracts with U.S. government entities including the U.S. Space Force (Space Systems Command) and SpaceWERX, supporting development of persistent in-space infrastructure, autonomous capture and acquisition systems, and reconfigurable spacecraft platforms for next-generation on-orbit capabilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ExLabs is a deep space prime mission operator that designs, manufactures, and operates the SERV (Science, Exploration & Resource Vehicle) modular spacecraft platform for missions beyond GEO. It commercializes deep-space access through three service layers: Mission-as-a-Service (MaaS) for hosted payload rideshare on SERV, Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) for turn-key spacecraft hardware sales, and Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) for planetary defense and asteroid resource data products.

Product overview

ExLabs operates as a deep space prime mission operator offering a platform-plus-services architecture built around the SERV (Science Exploration & Resource Vehicle) spacecraft. The core SERV platform provides modular, autonomous deep-space access with configurable base, dual, and stacked configurations. Three service layers sit atop: Mission as a Service (MaaS) enables hosted payload rideshare with up to 120kg allocation; Platform as a Service (PaaS) offers turn-key spacecraft sales; Data as a Service (DaaS) delivers planetary defense and asteroid resource data products. The flagship Apophis EX mission (launching 2028) represents the first commercial deep-space rideshare, with follow-on missions planned for 2029 and 2030 establishing recurring 6-8 month mission cadence. Static payload hosting and deployable free flyers (including CubeLanders) provide modular mission configurations for scientific, defense, and commercial customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SERV (Science, Exploration & Resource Vehicle) Modular, autonomous, nuclear-ready spacecraft platform designed for deep-space operations beyond GEO. Supports payload hosting, proximity operations, rendezvous, and sustained missions. Configurable in single, dual, and stacked (triple) configurations scaling from single missions to persistent multi-asset space architecture. Sold via Platform-as-a-Service to commercial, government, and scientific customers.
• Mission as a Service (MaaS) Full-stack deep-space mission delivery service that enables governments, universities, commercial innovators, and defense customers to rideshare to asteroid mission areas. Provides mission design, spacecraft integration, launch procurement, transfer trajectory, navigation, proximity operations, and data relay. Supports up to 400 kg total payload capacity and 120 kg rideshare allocation per mission, including hosted static payloads, deployable free-flyers (6U/12U CubeSat-class), and landers.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS) Turn-key spacecraft hardware sales offering flexible, scalable SERV-based spacecraft solutions for commercial, government, and scientific applications. Built with in-house additive manufacturing for faster builds and lower cost. Customers can purchase the platform without full spacecraft development.
• Data as a Service (DaaS) Commercial data product line that packages planetary defense data, asteroid resource data, and scientific insights gathered from ExLabs' deep-space missions. Targets defense, scientific, and commercial markets interested in asteroid and deep-space data. Waitlist is available via the contact page.
• Apophis EX Mission Flagship commercial deep-space rideshare mission to asteroid Apophis, delivering critical data for planetary defense, science, and space resource discovery. Designed for global agencies, institutions, and commercial partners. Features the SERV spacecraft with up to 400 kg payload capacity and serves as the first in a planned recurring 6-8 month cadence of deep-space rideshare missions, with follow-on missions targeted for 2029 and 2030.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces deep-space mission costs and timelines compared to traditional billion-dollar, decade-long national agency programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and strategic.

• CUS-GNCcoreTechnology or Integration · 3 February 2026CUS-GNC, incubated in ESA BIC Turin and I3P, partnered with ExLabs to deploy its SpacePilot onboard autonomy software on the Apophis mission. SpacePilot enables autonomous guidance, navigation, and control at distances exceeding 100 million kilometers from Earth, addressing the impracticality of continuous ground control. The collaboration positions the Apophis mission as a proving ground for AI-driven GNC technology while supporting ExLabs' goal of scaling deep-space missions beyond one-off demonstrations. Multiple press releases confirm the partnership announced in February 2026.
• Chiba Institute of Technology (ChibaTech) — Planetary Exploration Research Center (PERC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2026ExLabs partnered with Japan's Chiba Institute of Technology and its Planetary Exploration Research Center (PERC) to send university-led CubeLander payloads to asteroid Apophis during its 2029 Earth flyby. ChibaTech students and researchers, led by planetary scientist Dr. Tomoko Arai, are developing two landing payloads to be deployed on the asteroid's surface. This is one of the few instances globally where students directly contribute to flight hardware leaving Earth orbit. Technical oversight is provided by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The collaboration sets a new standard for commercially led, academically enabled deep-space missions.
• Fleet Space TechnologiesmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 October 2025Fleet Space Technologies, Australia's leading space exploration company, signed an MOU with ExLabs to send its off-world exploration systems to survey asteroid Apophis as part of the ApophisExL mission. Fleet Space represents a key commercial customer and distribution partner, bringing its own exploration technology and customer relationships into the ExLabs mission ecosystem.
• Antares (Alliance for Nuclear-Powered Spacecraft)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2025ExLabs and Antares announced a strategic partnership to develop a nuclear-powered spacecraft for GEO+ deep-space missions. The alliance aims to extend SERV platform capabilities through nuclear power for extended-duration missions beyond what solar power can support in deep space.
• XDLINX Space LabsstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 December 2024ExLabs and XDLINX Space Labs announced a strategic partnership aimed at transforming the space infrastructure landscape through the development of advanced satellite systems. The partnership combines ExLabs' deep-space mission capabilities with XDLINX's satellite systems expertise.
• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExLabs collaborates with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), operated by Caltech, for mission design, spacecraft engineering, and operations support. JPL provides mission architecture support, spacecraft design reviews, and operational planning. JPL's Director for Strategy & Formulation Richard Cook described the partnership as combining rigorous science with an operational model designed for scale. The collaboration aligns ExLabs with proven deep-space standards and provides institutional heritage credibility, which is critical for government and defense customer engagements.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• D-Orbit: D-Orbit provides in-space logistics and transportation services using its ION Satellite Carrier. Like ExLabs, it offers hosted payload rideshare and turn-key orbital transfer as a commercial service, and has experience with multi-payload integration and mission operations.
• Astroscale: Astroscale provides on-orbit services including satellite life-extension, debris removal, and space situational awareness. It overlaps with ExLabs in offering commercial in-orbit services with strong government and defense customer relationships, particularly in Japan where ExLabs also has a partnership.
• Momentus Space: Momentus provides in-space transportation services using orbital transfer vehicles. While currently focused on LEO-to-GEO and last-mile delivery, it is the closest commercial peer to ExLabs in terms of offering payload-hosting and in-space mobility services as a commercial service.
• Impulse Space: Impulse Space develops orbital transfer vehicles (Mira and Helios) for moving payloads between orbits, including GEO and beyond. Its commercial in-space mobility model and electric-propulsion architecture closely parallel ExLabs' SERV platform and Mission-as-a-Service offering.

Broad incumbents

• Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin Space is a defense prime with extensive deep-space experience including OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return and Orion. Its planetary defense and deep-space mission heritage makes it a natural broad incumbent competitor for the same government and science customers ExLabs is targeting.
• Rocket Lab: Rocket Lab has expanded from small launch into spacecraft manufacturing (via SolAero and Sinclair Interplanetary) and space systems, including the upcoming Neutron rocket and Photon satellite bus. Its end-to-end space systems approach overlaps with ExLabs' PaaS/MaaS architecture for beyond-LEO missions.
• Sierra Space: Sierra Space is a well-capitalized space infrastructure company developing Dream Chaser and orbital services. As a broader incumbent in commercial space infrastructure, it represents the type of well-funded competitor ExLabs could face in the GEO+ services market.
• Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman is a defense prime with deep space heritage including the ESPAStar platform and active Space Force programs. It is a broad incumbent with the scale and government relationships to compete for deep-space prime mission contracts that ExLabs targets.

Emerging players

• Pulsar Fusion: Pulsar Fusion is a UK-based nuclear fusion propulsion startup listed as a partner on ExLabs' website. It represents an emerging technology peer in the deep-space propulsion space that intersects with ExLabs' Antares nuclear-powered spacecraft initiative.
• Gravitics: Gravitics develops modular spacecraft structures and is listed as a partner on ExLabs' website. Its modular satellite bus approach intersects with ExLabs' SERV platform strategy for reconfigurable, scalable in-space infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ExLabsCo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/exlabsco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about ExLabs