Observable Space
Observable Space is a vertically integrated U.S. manufacturer of precision optical systems — laser communications ground stations, in-space payloads, and ground telescopes — unified by a globally distributed space domain awareness platform serving defense agencies, NASA, defense integrators, and research customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersSanta Monica, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Observable Space does
Observable Space is a vertically integrated U.S. optical systems and space domain awareness company formed in 2025 through the merger of software platform OurSky and precision-telescope manufacturer PlaneWave Instruments. The company designs, manufactures, and deploys hardware and software across three product pillars: turnkey laser communications ground stations (RC700 and Lasercom platform), in-space optical payloads (Iguana 200mm multi-spectral imager with onboard edge compute, and a 500mm system slated for 2026), and ground-based precision telescopes (CDK, RC, DR, PF1000, and Weatherized enclosures). Its OS Platform — a globally distributed observation network spanning 40+ ground sites with 20M+ tracked targets and 84,000 hours of orbital monitoring — is offered as a tiered subscription product alongside direct hardware sales.
The company serves four primary customer sets: U.S. national defense and government agencies (notably U.S. Space Force via a $94M IDIQ APFIT contract and NASA via the Artemis II lasercom demonstration), defense integrators (Raytheon/RTX, Boeing, Northrop Grumman), commercial satellite operators and bus providers (Apex), and research/academic/advanced-amateur astronomers (Caltech, Stanford, Harvard, Eric Schmidt's Argus Array). Revenue mechanics mix sole-source defense procurement (hardware), tiered recurring platform subscriptions ($100–$5,000/month), and direct enterprise hardware sales, with a single 1,200-telescope Argus Array order from Schmidt Sciences representing a major anchor contract. The company is led by former SpaceX executive Dan Roelker (CEO) with co-founders Rick Hedrick and Connor Poole, operates a 57-acre manufacturing campus in Adrian, MI alongside Detroit and Los Angeles facilities, and closed a $90M Series A in May 2026 led by Lux Capital and Upfront Ventures.
Observable Space firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Observable Space
- Legal name
- Observable Space
- Website
- https://observable.space
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Observable Space is a vertically integrated U.S. manufacturer of precision optical systems — laser communications ground stations, in-space payloads, and ground telescopes — unified by a globally distributed space domain awareness platform serving defense agencies, NASA, defense integrators, and research customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Observable Space industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Space Optical Systems
- NAICS
- Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment (3663), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Satellite Broadband Terminals & Gateways (VSAT/LEO CPE) (HDAFAIAM), Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF)
Keywords
Where Observable Space is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Monica
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Observable Space business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government Defense Contracts: IDIQ contracts with U.S. Space Force through APFIT program for optical systems including deployable, attritable telescopes. $94M maximum contract value with $22M initial task orders. Direct procurement pathway for national security capabilities.
- Laser Communications Ground Stations: Sale of turnkey lasercom platforms and ground station systems to defense customers, satellite operators, and government agencies. Open architecture enabling integration with customer-provided components (adaptive optics, modems, tracking algorithms).
- In-Space Optical Payloads: Sale of space-rated optical systems including Iguana 200mm multi-spectral imagers and larger 500mm systems (available 2026). Compact, easy-to-integrate payloads for satellite bus providers.
- Space Domain Awareness Platform: Subscription-based access to globally distributed observation network with tiered pricing (Trial $100/mo, Starter $2,500/mo, Advanced $5,000/mo). Up to 10 targets/night at highest tier with prioritized tasking and custom processing.
- Commercial Telescope Products: Consumer and research-grade telescopes including CDK Series, RC Series, DR Series, and PF1000 for amateur astronomers, educational institutions, and research users. Consumer products include Delta Rho 280 and FSCT8 8-inch astrograph.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Trial tier - up to 2 targets/night for $100/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Starter tier - up to 5 targets/night for $2,500/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Advanced tier - up to 10 targets/night for $5,000/month |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Observable Space product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Observable Space designs, manufactures and sells precision optical hardware for space — laser communications ground stations, in-space optical payloads, and ground-based telescopes — unified by a subscription observation platform. Its 57-acre U.S. manufacturing campus produces CDK, RC, DeltaRho and PF1000 telescope lines, plus the Iguana multi-spectral in-space imager, supplying defense agencies, satellite operators and research institutions.
Product overview
Observable Space is a vertically-integrated, full-stack space technology company offering a unified platform spanning three core technology areas: (1) Lasercom — turnkey laser communications ground stations for high-throughput space-to-ground optical links; (2) Systems — ground-based telescope product lines (PF1000, CDK, RC, DR, Weatherized) for space domain awareness and research; and (3) Space Systems — in-space optical payloads including Iguana (200mm multi-spectral imager) and upcoming 500mm+ systems. These hardware products are unified by the OS Platform subscription service providing global real-time observation network access with 40+ ground sites. Consumer telescopes (DR280, FSCT8) extend technology to advanced amateurs and researchers. The company operates a 57-acre U.S. manufacturing campus in Michigan.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lasercom Ground Station Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- 260 Mbps laser communications data rate achieved from lunar orbit during Artemis II mission - 100,000x faster than Apollo-era radio communications
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Observable Space
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Observable Space technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature6 records
Observable Space partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core partner, core customer and core strategic.
- Quantum Opuscore partnerPartnership for Artemis II mission combining Observable Space's RC700 telescope with Quantum Opus's Opus One single-photon detection system. Successfully achieved 260 Mbps laser communications demonstrating high-efficiency photon detection across cislunar space.
- Australian National University (ANU)core partnerProvided Mount Stromlo Quantum Optical Ground Station (QOGS) for Artemis II mission, enabling Southern Hemisphere coverage and demonstrating global handover capability. ANU Professor Francis Bennet led development of the QOGS system.
- Eric Schmidt / Schmidt Sciencescore customerContract to build 1,200 telescopes for the Argus Array project, part of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System. Flagship project includes Lazuli space telescope and three ground-based observatories, all operational by 2029.
- Raytheon (RTX)core strategicStrategic relationship focused on advancing next-generation optical systems for national security and scientific missions. Raytheon Director Paul Swanson cited combined manufacturing expertise and technical mission experience for delivering advanced sensing performance.
- Apexcore customerPartnership for integration of Iguana in-space imager on Apex satellite bus platforms. Apex CEO Ian Cinnamon highlighted the mission's demonstration of rapid payload integration capabilities on productized satellite platforms.
- Baader Planetariumcore partnerStrategic partnership for European market expansion. CEO Johannes Baader cited shared commitment to advancing high-performance optical systems and expanding access across Europe for research and commercial markets.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Observable Space competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mynaric: Mynaric develops laser communication terminals for air-, space-, and ground-based applications and is the most direct lasercom competitor to Observable Space's Lasercom ground station and Iguana in-space imager offerings.
- Slingshot Aerospace: Slingshot Aerospace operates a global optical/radar sensor network and analytics platform for space domain awareness and missile tracking — directly comparable to Observable Space's OS Platform subscription SDA offering.
- LeoLabs: LeoLabs builds a global phased-array radar network and analytics platform providing space situational awareness and SDA services — competing in the same orbital-tracking and surveillance segment as Observable Space's network.
- ExoAnalytic Solutions: ExoAnalytic Solutions operates a globally distributed ground-based optical sensor network for deep-space object tracking and SDA, overlapping directly with Observable Space's ATOMS and OS Platform capabilities.
- Cailabs: Cailabs provides free-space optical and ground-station laser communication solutions, competing with Observable Space's Lasercom turnkey ground stations in the space-to-ground optical link market.
- True Anomaly: True Anomaly develops space domain awareness hardware and software for national security customers — a direct competitor in the cislunar and GEO SDA market where Observable Space positions ATOMS and OS Platform.
- Kayhan Space: Kayhan Space offers space situational awareness, conjunction screening, and autonomy software for satellite operators — comparable to Observable Space's higher-tier OS Platform subscriptions for satellite operator customers.
- BridgeComm: BridgeComm provides optical wireless communications and managed lasercom services, directly overlapping with Observable Space's high-throughput optical ground station business.
- Skyloom: Skyloom is developing optical communications terminals for satellite constellations and ground networks, positioning as a direct competitor to Observable Space's end-to-end lasercom platform.
Broad incumbents
- Ball Aerospace (a BAE Systems subsidiary): Ball Aerospace is an established space optics prime building precision telescopes and instruments for civil and national-security space missions — overlapping with Observable Space's space-rated optical payloads but at much broader program scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Observable Space social profiles
Digital presenceObservable Space financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Observable Space leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Observable Space funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors11 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Observable Space M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Observable Space
What does Observable Space do?
Observable Space designs, manufactures and sells precision optical hardware for space — laser communications ground stations, in-space optical payloads, and ground-based telescopes — unified by a subscription observation platform. Its 57-acre U.S. manufacturing campus produces CDK, RC, DeltaRho and PF1000 telescope lines, plus the Iguana multi-spectral in-space imager, supplying defense agencies, satellite operators and research institutions.
Is Observable Space a public or private company?
Observable Space is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Observable Space founded?
Observable Space was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Observable Space based?
Observable Space is headquartered in Santa Monica, United States, in the North America region.
How does Observable Space make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Government Defense Contracts are the primary driver. The others are laser Communications Ground Stations, in-Space Optical Payloads, space Domain Awareness Platform and commercial Telescope Products.
Who are Observable Space's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mynaric, Slingshot Aerospace, LeoLabs, ExoAnalytic Solutions, Cailabs, True Anomaly, Kayhan Space, BridgeComm and Skyloom. Ball Aerospace (a BAE Systems subsidiary) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Observable Space have an API?
Yes. Observable Space offers an API-First Architecture with REST APIs and SDKs enabling machine-to-machine tasking. The Platform tier includes SDKs for developer access, while the Advanced tier adds webhook support for custom integrations and workflows. All features are accessible programmatically for automation and integration purposes.
What industry is Observable Space in?
Observable Space's product category is Space Optical Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAD, Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR), with a secondary code of HDAFAIAM, Satellite Broadband Terminals & Gateways (VSAT/LEO CPE). Its NAICS code is 336419 and its SIC code is 3760.