Zenno Astronautics

What Zenno Astronautics does

Zenno Astronautics is a New Zealand-based, privately held space hardware company founded in 2017 and headquartered in Auckland. The company develops high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnetic systems for spacecraft applications, with a core focus on fuel-free attitude control, electromagnetic propulsion, and radiation shielding for satellites and space stations. Its product portfolio comprises the Supertorquer (an in-orbit superconducting magnetic system for satellite mobility with a dipole moment range of 100–10,000 Am² and jitter-free operation), the Z01 magnetic dipole actuator (a plug-and-fly replacement for torque rods and reaction wheels on spacecraft 50 kg and above, with flight heritage since 2023), and the Z01 Crew system (a fully magnetic, solid-state alternative to control moment gyroscopes generating up to 20 Nm of torque in LEO). The technology addresses structural pain points in the space industry: propellant-dependent attitude control limiting mission duration, radiation damage to electronics and crew, and the precision/reliability ceiling of conventional torque rods and reaction wheels.

The company's business model centers on direct B2B hardware sales to spacecraft manufacturers, satellite operators, and defense agencies. Pricing is quote-based with custom configurations per mission profile and is not publicly disclosed. Zenno sells through enterprise field sales channels supported by technical content marketing (whitepapers, LinkedIn presence, and a website with contact registration). Its go-to-market is concentrated in two primary customer segments — spacecraft manufacturers and operators, and defense/national security space customers — with the latter segment gaining formal backing via the New Zealand Defence Industry Strategy published in October 2025, which positions Zenno as a priority recipient of government investment for integration into US and allied defense supply chains.

Zenno has raised approximately NZ$10.5 million (~US$6.585 million) in seed funding (August 2022, led by GD1 and Nuance Connected Capital) plus a subsequent 2024 round with strategic corporate investors including ANA Holdings, Mitsubishi Electric, and Global Brain Corporation, alongside non-dilutive Callaghan Innovation R&D grants. The company holds a co-development partnership with Faraday Factory for HTS magnets (announced October 2025) and operates with 11–50 employees under a leadership team headed by co-founder and CEO Max Arshavsky, co-founder and CIO Sebastian Wieczorek, Chairman Peter Crabtree, CTO Malcolm Snowdon, CRO Erica Lloyd, and COO Reuben Brown. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the company is best characterized as a deep-tech hardware supplier in early commercial scaling following on-orbit product validation.

Name

Zenno Astronautics

Legal name

Zenno Astronautics

Website

https://zenno.space

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zenno Astronautics is a New Zealand-based space hardware company developing high-temperature superconducting magnetic systems for fuel-free spacecraft attitude control, electromagnetic propulsion, and radiation shielding, serving satellite operators, spacecraft manufacturers, and defense agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Spacecraft Attitude Control Systems

NAICS

Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) for Space Systems (IMABACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI), Military Space Systems (Defense Spacecraft) (IMABACAC)

Keywords

• Space superconducting systems
• Satellite attitude control
• High-temperature superconductors
• Electromagnetic propulsion
• Radiation shielding hardware

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Space Hardware Systems: Sale of superconducting magnetic systems (Supertorquer, Z01, Z01 CREW) for satellite and spacecraft attitude control, positioning, and radiation shielding applications. Products are sold as hardware systems with varying configurations for different spacecraft classes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Zenno Astronautics designs, manufactures, and sells high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnetic hardware systems for spacecraft. Its current product line includes the Supertorquer (in-orbit superconducting satellite mobility system), the Z01 magnetic dipole actuator for attitude control of spacecraft of 50 kg and above, and the Z01 CREW magnetic attitude control system for space stations. Products are sold as custom-configured hardware units to spacecraft manufacturers, satellite operators, and defense/national-security space agencies for fuel-free positioning, attitude control, radiation shielding, and electromagnetic launch applications.

Product overview

Zenno Astronautics is a space superconductor company developing superconducting magnetic technologies for space applications. The company offers a portfolio of products including the Supertorquer (satellite mobility system with fuel-free positioning), Z01 (magnetic dipole actuator for attitude control), and Z01 Crew (space station attitude control system). Additionally, the company lists three mission names in its portfolio: Numero Uno, Vincent Freeman, and Almighty Magnet. The core technology enables fuel-free spacecraft positioning, radiation shielding, and electromagnetic acceleration systems for defense, transportation, and industrial activity in space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Supertorquer In-orbit superconducting magnetic system for satellite mobility that provides fuel-free spacecraft positioning. Delivers a dipole moment range of 100–10,000 Am² with a jitter-free window of 3–6 hours and no residual dipole, enabling reaction-wheel desaturation in GEO. Designed for spacecraft manufacturers, satellite operators, and defense space programs requiring precise, consumables-free attitude control and positioning.
• Z01 Magnetic Torque System Plug-and-fly magnetic dipole actuator designed as a replacement for large magnetic torque rods and the lower end of reaction wheels. Provides attitude actuation for spacecraft with a mass of 50 kg and up, delivering 100–10,000 Am² dipole moment with up to 3-axis concurrent magnetic dipole. Flight heritage since 2023.
• Z01 CREW Fully magnetic and solid-state attitude control system intended for space station applications, serving as a customizable alternative to control moment gyroscopes (CMGs). Generates up to 20 Nm of torque in LEO. Targeted at space-station programs and crewed-mission platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dipole moment range of 100-10,000 Am2 with jitter-free window of 3-6 hours
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Faraday FactorycoreTechnology or Integration · 10 October 2025Faraday Factory and Zenno are jointly developing high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets for space applications. This is a technology co-development partnership focused on creating advanced superconducting magnet systems for spacecraft and satellite use.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Blue Canyon Technologies: US-based supplier of attitude determination and control systems (ADCS), reaction wheels, and magnetic torque rods for small satellites. Directly comparable to Zenno as a competitor for satellite attitude-control hardware, though using conventional (non-superconducting) actuators.
• GomSpace: Danish small-satellite subsystems provider offering magnetorquers, reaction wheels, and ADCS solutions for cubesats and microsatellites. Closely comparable to Zenno in target customer and product category (magnetic attitude actuation), making it a head-to-head peer.
• AAC Clyde Space: UK/Sweden-based small-satellite subsystem manufacturer including reaction wheels and magnetorquers. Comparable to Zenno as a peer in the spacecraft attitude-control hardware market serving the same commercial constellation customers.
• Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space): Swiss supplier of space mechanisms and attitude control subsystems including reaction wheels and magnetorquers, with deep flight heritage across institutional and commercial missions. A direct competitor to Zenno for satellite mobility hardware.
• SITAEL: Italian small-satellite manufacturer and subsystem supplier offering magnetorquers and ADCS units for LEO platforms. Comparable to Zenno as a smaller European-headquartered peer targeting similar commercial and institutional satellite programs.

Regional players

• Rocket Lab: New Zealand-headquartered space company with launch vehicles and a growing space-systems business (including spacecraft components). Relevant as a regional peer sharing the NZ space ecosystem and government/defense relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Honeywell Aerospace: Large aerospace incumbent supplying reaction wheels, control moment gyroscopes, and full ADCS suites for satellites and space stations. Competes with Zenno's Z01 and Z01 Crew offerings as the entrenched prime in attitude control hardware.
• Moog Inc. Established supplier of space-qualified attitude control hardware, mechanisms, and motion-control subsystems across commercial and defense programs. Overlaps with Zenno's product category as a broader incumbent aerospace supplier.
• Airbus Defence and Space: Major European prime building satellites and space stations with proprietary attitude control subsystems (e.g., for ISS and OneWeb). Comparable as a large incumbent that integrates or supplies its own ADCS solutions.
• L3Harris Technologies: US defense prime with a significant space systems segment supplying attitude control, satellite components, and integrated space vehicles to defense and intelligence customers. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for defense space hardware contracts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zenno-astronautics
• Xx.com/zennospace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors15 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 Zenno Astronautics