GATE Space
GATE Space builds patented green-propellant (C2H6/N2O) chemical propulsion systems — the Jetpack and Thruster product families — for satellite operators, defense agencies, and spacecraft manufacturers requiring ESPA-class mobility modules validated through 8,000+ hot-fire tests.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What GATE Space does
GATE Space is a privately held European space-mobility company developing high-thrust chemical propulsion systems for satellites, capsules, and landing vehicles. The company operates two legal entities — GATE Space Innovation GmbH (Vienna-Airport, Austria, the operational headquarters and 560 m² ISO 8 cleanroom production site) and GATE Space Inc. (San Francisco, USA, supporting US market access). Its core offering consists of two product lines built on patented rocket-engine technology using green, regulation-compliant propellants (C2H6 ethane and N2O nitrous oxide): the GATE Jetpack family (S/M/L), which are plug-and-play ESPA-class mobility modules designed for fast orbit transfers, mission reconfigurations, collision avoidance, in-orbit refueling, and safe deorbiting; and the GATE Thruster family (S/M/L), which are standalone high-precision thrusters featuring patented closed-loop pressure control and deep throttling (1:10 ratio) for attitude and orbit control. The technology has been validated through 8,000+ hot-fire tests across atmospheric and vacuum conditions.
The company's go-to-market is a B2B enterprise field-sales motion targeting satellite operators, defense agencies, and space institutions, with revenue generated through unit-priced hardware sales (Jetpack S base price €450,000; Thruster S/M/L priced at €30K/€40K/€50K respectively; 9–12 month lead times) plus custom propulsion solutions tailored to specific spacecraft form factors and mission profiles. Customer segments span military and government satellite operators (e.g., Austrian Ministry of Defence via the BEACONSAT prime contract, ESA), commercial satellite operators, and spacecraft manufacturers needing bespoke mobility modules. Distribution is direct, with products integrated into customer spacecraft and launched via SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare-compatible ports.
GATE Space's primary near-term milestones are its first in-space product demonstration aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 in 2026 and the February 2027 launch of BEACONSAT — Austria's first military satellite and largest domestically developed spacecraft — for which GATE Space serves as prime contractor. The company has secured €6.3 million ($7.2 million) from the European Innovation Council Accelerator (the only space-focused firm selected in the cohort), and is a propulsion partner on ESA's ASTRAL in-orbit refueling mission led by OrbitFab's British subsidiary. The team comprises 21 international space-engineering experts, operating from a 98% European-controlled supply chain with full in-house design, CNC machining, assembly, and vacuum testing.
GATE Space firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GATE Space
- Legal name
- GATE Space Inc.
- Website
- https://gate.space
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- GATE Space builds patented green-propellant (C2H6/N2O) chemical propulsion systems — the Jetpack and Thruster product families — for satellite operators, defense agencies, and spacecraft manufacturers requiring ESPA-class mobility modules validated through 8,000+ hot-fire tests.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GATE Space industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Space Propulsion Systems
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Engines & Turbines (3510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters (IMABACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal) (IMABACAM), Military Space Systems (Defense Spacecraft) (IMABACAC)
Keywords
Where GATE Space is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
GATE Space business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Propulsion Hardware Sales (Jetpack & Thruster Product Lines): One-time sale of high-performance propulsion hardware including the GATE Jetpack product family (Jetpack S, M, L) and GATE Thruster product family (Thruster S, M, L). Products are sold as complete, qualified mobility solutions with base pricing publicly disclosed.
- Custom Propulsion Solutions: Tailored propulsion systems customized to specific spacecraft form factor, orbit, mission profile, and mobility requirements. Leverages standardized, qualified components and flexible architecture.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Jetpack S — Entry-level plug-and-play ESPA-class propulsion module |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Jetpack M — Mid-tier plug-and-play ESPA-class propulsion module |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Jetpack L — Large plug-and-play ESPA-class propulsion module |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Thruster S — Small thrust class thruster |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Thruster M — Medium thrust class thruster |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Thruster L — Large thrust class thruster |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
GATE Space product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GATE Space designs, manufactures, and sells high-thrust chemical propulsion hardware for satellites, capsules, and landing vehicles. Its portfolio includes two product families — the GATE Jetpack (S/M/L) plug-and-play mobility modules for ESPA-class satellites and the GATE Thruster (S/M/L) high-precision thrusters — both powered by patented rocket engine technology using green propellants (C2H6 and N2O). The company also offers custom propulsion solutions tailored to specific spacecraft form factors and mission profiles.
Product overview
GATE Space provides high-thrust chemical propulsion systems for satellites, capsules, and landing vehicles. The portfolio consists of two product lines: the GATE Jetpack series (S/M/L sizes) — plug-and-play mobility solutions for ESPA-class satellites with ESPA and SpaceX compatibility — and the GATE Thruster series (S/M/L sizes) — high-performance thrusters with patented closed-loop pressure control and deep throttling. Both product lines use green propellants (C₂H₆ and N₂O), are validated through 8,000+ hot-fire tests, and support continuous, pulsed, and cold gas operational modes. Custom propulsion solutions are also offered for mission-specific requirements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- GATE Jetpack S Entry-level plug-and-play ESPA-class propulsion module providing 36,000 Ns total impulse with 4 × 1–6 N thrust. Enables fast orbit transfers, mission reconfigurations, collision avoidance, in-orbit refueling, and safe deorbiting. Base price €450,000.
- GATE Jetpack M
Companies that use GATE Space
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
GATE Space technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
GATE Space partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- OrbitFab (British subsidiary)coreGATE Space is supporting ASTRAL, ESA's first space refueling mission, led by OrbitFab's British subsidiary. This positions GATE Space as a key propulsion provider for pioneering in-orbit servicing missions.
- Space InventorcoreDanish Space Inventor partnered with GATE Space for the bus and avionics of BEACONSAT, Austria's first military satellite. GATE Space served as prime contractor for the first time.
- IGASPINcoreAustrian startup IGASPIN provided the GNSS signal processing payload for BEACONSAT, Austria's first military satellite. GATE Space was the prime contractor for this national mission.
- Austrian Ministry of DefencecoreFunded BEACONSAT (€1 million contribution). Austria's first military satellite is the country's largest domestically developed spacecraft, designed to detect satellite navigation jamming and spoofing.
- European Space Agency (ESA)coreESA contributed €500,000 to the BEACONSAT project. GATE Space is supporting ASTRAL, ESA's first space refueling mission. ESA BIC Austria is listed as a partner on the website.
- ESA BIC AustriacoreESA Business Incubation Austria supports early-stage space startups. GATE Space is listed as a partner within the ESA BIC Austria ecosystem.
- Techstars Space AcceleratorcoreTechstars Space Accelerator is a flagship startup acceleration program. GATE Space is listed as a partner in the Techstars Space ecosystem.
- Beyond GravitysupportingBeyond Gravity (formerly Swiss-based space technology company) is listed as a partner on the GATE Space website.
- Space InventorsupportingDanish company Space Inventor is listed as a partner on the GATE Space website, providing bus and avionics for satellite missions.
- FOTEC (Forschungs- und Technologietransferzentrum)supportingFOTEC is the research and technology transfer center of the University of Applied Sciences FH Joanneum, listed as a partner on the GATE Space website.
- SiemenssupportingSiemens AG is listed as a partner on the GATE Space website, likely providing industrial engineering and simulation software.
- AnsyssupportingAnsys is listed as a partner on the GATE Space website, providing simulation and engineering analysis software for propulsion system design.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)supportingAWS is listed as a partner on the GATE Space website, providing cloud infrastructure services.
- DMG MorisupportingDMG Mori is listed as a partner on the GATE Space website, providing precision CNC machining capabilities.
- MitutoyosupportingMitutoyo is listed as a partner on the GATE Space website, providing precision measurement instruments for manufacturing quality control.
- Peak TechnologysupportingPeak Technology (Austrian space technology company) is listed as a partner on the GATE Space website.
- Fraunhofer AustriasupportingFraunhofer Austria is listed as a partner on the GATE Space website, providing research and technology transfer support.
- TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology)supportingTU Wien is listed as a partner on the GATE Space website, supporting research and development in space engineering.
- Science Park GrazsupportingScience Park Graz, an Austrian technology and startup center, is listed as a partner on the GATE Space website.
- Space FounderssupportingSpace Founders is a European space startup support program and is listed as a partner on the GATE Space website.
- Hello TomorrowsupportingHello Tomorrow is a global deep-tech innovation platform. GATE Space is listed as a partner in their Deep Tech Pioneers ecosystem.
- EBM (Engineering Business Management)supportingEBM is listed as a partner on the GATE Space website, providing business management and consulting services.
- AccentsupportingAccent is listed as a partner on the GATE Space website.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GATE Space competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Morpheus Space: Morpheus Space develops electric and chemical in-space propulsion modules (NanoProp, Aria) for small satellites. It is the closest direct competitor to GATE Space's Jetpack product line in the European smallsat mobility segment, serving commercial constellations with plug-and-play propulsion.
- Dawn Aerospace: Dawn Aerospace builds green-propellant (nitrous oxide/hydrocarbon) satellite propulsion systems and spaceplanes. Its satellite thruster product line targets the same green-propellant, ESPA-class mobility niche as GATE Space's Jetpack/Thruster families.
- Impulse Space: Impulse Space provides in-space mobility services and orbital transfer vehicles (Mira, Helios). It competes with GATE Space on orbit-manoeuvring and in-orbit servicing missions, targeting similar commercial and government satellite operators.
- D-Orbit: D-Orbit operates the ION Satellite Carrier for last-mile orbital delivery and in-orbit transportation. It is a direct peer in the in-space mobility and in-orbit servicing categories that GATE Space targets via its ASTRAL refueling work.
Broad incumbents
- Aerojet Rocketdyne (L3Harris): Aerojet Rocketdyne, now part of L3Harris, is the dominant US propulsion incumbent for spacecraft and launch vehicles. It is a broad incumbent competing with GATE Space for institutional and defence mobility budgets, with far deeper flight heritage.
- Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space): Beyond Gravity is a major European space supplier offering propulsion structures, mechanisms, and satellite systems. It is both a GATE Space partner (listed on their site) and a broad incumbent supplying many of the same European institutional and commercial satellite primes.
- Rocket Lab (Space Systems / Propulsion): Rocket Lab's Space Systems division (formerly Sinclair Interplanetary, SolAero, andPSC) supplies satellite hardware including propulsion (e.g., the Curie and Lightning engines). It is a broad incumbent competing for smallsat propulsion budgets alongside GATE Space.
Emerging players
- Apollo Fusion (acquired by Astra): Apollo Fusion developed Hall-effect thruster propulsion for small satellites and was acquired by Astra. It is an emerging competitor that served the same smallsat mobility market GATE Space targets, although its technology pathway is electric rather than chemical.
- Bradford Space: Bradford Space (including Deep Space Industries heritage) develops chemical and green-propellant propulsion systems and in-orbit servicing components for small satellites. It targets the same green-propellant mobility niche as GATE Space.
- Phase Four: Phase Four develops RF thrusters (plasma propulsion) for small satellites. It competes in the smallsat mobility market with GATE Space but uses a different propulsion technology (electric/plasma vs. chemical), making it an emerging competitor on overlapping customer use cases.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GATE Space social profiles
Digital presenceGATE Space financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GATE Space leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
GATE Space funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GATE Space M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GATE Space
What does GATE Space do?
GATE Space designs, manufactures, and sells high-thrust chemical propulsion hardware for satellites, capsules, and landing vehicles. Its portfolio includes two product families — the GATE Jetpack (S/M/L) plug-and-play mobility modules for ESPA-class satellites and the GATE Thruster (S/M/L) high-precision thrusters — both powered by patented rocket engine technology using green propellants (C2H6 and N2O). The company also offers custom propulsion solutions tailored to specific spacecraft form factors and mission profiles.
Is GATE Space a public or private company?
GATE Space is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was GATE Space founded?
GATE Space was founded in 2023. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is GATE Space based?
GATE Space is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does GATE Space make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Propulsion Hardware Sales (Jetpack & Thruster Product Lines) is the primary driver. The others are custom Propulsion Solutions.
Who are GATE Space's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Morpheus Space, Dawn Aerospace, Impulse Space and D-Orbit. Broad incumbents are Aerojet Rocketdyne (L3Harris), Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space) and Rocket Lab (Space Systems / Propulsion). Emerging players are Apollo Fusion (acquired by Astra), Bradford Space and Phase Four.
Does GATE Space have an API?
No public API is recorded for GATE Space.
What industry is GATE Space in?
GATE Space's product category is Space Propulsion Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAE, Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters, with a secondary code of IMABACAM, Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal). Its NAICS code is 336415 and its SIC code is 3760.