What Alba Orbital does

Alba Orbital is a Glasgow-headquartered pico-satellite company founded in 2012 that designs, manufactures, and brokers launches of PocketQube-class spacecraft (5cm-cube form factor) for universities, commercial startups, government agencies, and high school programs. The company's core technology stack includes the Unicorn-1 (2P) and Unicorn-2 (3P) satellite platforms—with the Unicorn-2 branded as the world's smallest commercial Earth observation satellite featuring 20W deployable solar panels, a 200 kbps data rate, and a sub-1kg active ADCS developed in collaboration with the University of Glasgow and ESA—and the AlbaPod deployer, which is the first flight-proven 6P PocketQube deployer. Alba has co-authored the open PocketQube standard with TU Delft and GAUSS, holds multiple ESA ARTES contracts, and is NATO DIANA-selected.

The company operates an end-to-end mission services model: customers can purchase hardware (PocketQube kits £149–£11,999), platforms (Unicorn-1 from €159K + €40K launch; Unicorn-2 complete missions from €219K), launch brokerage (€25K–€60K for 1P/2P/3P rideshare slots on SpaceX Falcon 9 or Rocket Lab Electron), ground station connectivity (Alba Connect subscription), spacecraft licensing support (assisted with 20+ licenses), and qualification testing (30 kN vibration table, thermal vacuum chamber). Revenue streams include hardware sales, recurring subscriptions, professional services, and—via the Night Lights constellation—commercial Earth observation imagery. As of March 2026, Alba has delivered 62 PocketQubes to orbit across 11 missions to 30+ customers in 18 countries.

The go-to-market blends product-led self-service ordering through the website, direct enterprise sales to academic and government customers, channel partnerships with launch integrators (SEOPS, Exolaunch, Momentus, Rocket Lab, SpaceX), and community-building through the annual PocketQube Workshop series and developer workshops in Asia and the US. Alba Orbital operates three legal entities (Scotland/UK, Delaware/US, Berlin/DE) and is backed by Y Combinator, Metaplanet Holdings, and angels including James Park (Fitbit founder) following a $3.4M seed round in May 2021; founder Tom Walkinshaw has led the company since its founding.

Name

Alba Orbital

Legal name

Alba Orbital Limited

Website

https://albaorbital.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alba Orbital is a Glasgow-based pico-satellite company that designs, manufactures, and brokers launches of PocketQube-class spacecraft and deployers for universities, NewSpace startups, government agencies, and educational programs worldwide, operating end-to-end from platform hardware through launch integration and ground station services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

PocketQube Pico-Satellite Platforms

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI), Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD), Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF)

Keywords

• PocketQube satellites
• Picosatellite platforms
• Satellite launch brokering
• Satellite deployer systems
• Ground station services

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. PocketQube Satellite Platform Sales: Sale of Unicorn-1 and Unicorn-2 pico-satellite platforms and related hardware. Unicorn-2 pricing starts from €159K for platform + €40K launch. Complete mission packages from €219K including satellite, launch, and first year of operations.
2. Launch Brokering Services: Launch broker service deploying customer PocketQube satellites via AlbaPod deployers on SpaceX Falcon 9, Rocket Lab Electron, and other vehicles. Pricing from €25K for 1P PocketQube launch. Regular annual launch clusters.
3. Ground Station Subscription (Alba Connect): Subscription-based satellite communications service via dedicated mobile ground station (UHF & S-Band). Provides ongoing connectivity for deployed satellites.
4. Licensing Services: Spacecraft licensing consulting for ITU frequency coordination and regulatory compliance. Helps consolidate and streamline the licensing process for satellite operators.
5. Test Services: Vibration testing (30 kN 3-axis table) and thermal vacuum bakeout services for satellite hardware qualification.
6. PocketQube Hardware Components: Sale of PocketQube structural kits, solar panels, on-board computers, integration jigs, development boards, and accessory hardware to educational and research customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Alba Orbital designs, manufactures, and deploys PocketQube pico-satellites through its Unicorn-1 and Unicorn-2 platforms and the proprietary AlbaPod deployer. It brokers launches on SpaceX Falcon 9 and Rocket Lab Electron vehicles, provides ground station communications via the Alba Connect subscription service, and offers related licensing, testing, and PocketQube hardware components to enable turnkey satellite missions from €25K.

Product overview

Alba Orbital is a satellite manufacturer and launch broker specializing in PocketQube-class pico-satellites. The company offers a unified portfolio combining their Unicorn satellite bus platforms (Unicorn-1 and Unicorn-2), proprietary AlbaPod deployer technology, and Alba Launch broker services for rideshare access to orbit. Supporting infrastructure includes Alba Connect ground station services, test facilities with vibration and thermal vacuum chambers, licensing support, and a hardware product line of structures, OBCs, solar panels, and development kits. The company targets educational institutions, research organizations, and commercial customers seeking low-cost access to space, with launches starting at €25,000 and complete satellite missions from €159,000.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Unicorn: Pico-satellite platform product line including Unicorn-1 and Unicorn-2, the world's most capable picosat by specification
• Alba Launch
• Alba Connect
• AlbaPod
• Night Lights
• Unicorn-2

Products and services

• Unicorn-2 Platform A 3P PocketQube (150mm x 50mm x 50mm) picosatellite platform featuring 20W quadruple deployable solar panels, the world's smallest active ADCS, integrated backplane electronics, 200 kbps data rate, and an Earth observation camera payload. Marketed as the world's most capable picosat by specification and the world's smallest commercial EO satellite.
• Unicorn-1 Platform A 2P (50mm x 50mm x 114mm) PocketQube platform developed in partnership with ESA, weighing 490g with 100g available for payload. Includes S-band inter-satellite link radio, 1W on-orbit average power, passive attitude stabilization, and PQ60 payload compatibility. Suitable for in-orbit demonstration and experimentation.
• Alba Launch (Launch Brokering Service)

Quantifiable outcome

• 62 PocketQubes delivered to orbit across 11 missions, more than any other organization worldwide
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers33 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• SEOPSmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 March 2026Launch integration partner integrating customer spacecraft including Alba Orbital's AlbaPod into SpaceX Transporter rideshare missions. Transporter-16 mission (19 payloads, 13 countries) used AlbaPod alongside SEOPS' Equalizer and ISISPACE's Quadpack deployer systems.
• NATO DIANAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2025Selected among 150 companies from 24 NATO member countries for DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) defense accelerator program starting January. Receives €100K initial funding with access to NATO's 200+ test centers. Phase two participants eligible for up to €300K additional funding to address NATO's 10 critical defense and security challenges.
• Lockheed Martin SpaceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2023Industry mentorship provider for DSST Public Schools' DSSTSat-1 educational PocketQube satellite project. Alba Orbital providing launch services while Lockheed Martin provides industry guidance to student team.
• US Government DepartmentmajorOthers · 22 July 2022Signed contract to procure high-resolution Night-Lights satellite imagery from Alba Orbital's Unicorn-2 constellation for light pollution monitoring. Represents first government customer for Alba's commercial Earth observation products.
• Craft Prospect (Scotland)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2022Completed successful vibration testing for Craft Prospect's Cube Satellite at Alba Orbital's newly commissioned test house. Demonstrates Alba's testing services capability supporting the Scottish space ecosystem.
• SpaceXcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 August 2021Primary launch provider for Alba Orbital's launch cluster missions. Falcon 9 rideshare missions for Alba Cluster 3-11, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, Transporter-15, Transporter-16, and Korea 425 Mission. SpaceX provides the launch vehicle while Alba provides satellite integration and PocketQube deployment via AlbaPod.
• ExolaunchmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 August 2021Services agreement to launch 16 PocketQube satellites onboard SpaceX Falcon 9 in Q4 2021, the largest PocketQube deployment in history at the time. Exolaunch provides deployment services complementing Alba's launch brokering and satellite manufacturing capabilities.
• SpaceChain UK LimitedmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2020EU REKA GlobalStars-Singapore grant (GBP 440K) awarded to consortium including Alba Orbital and SpaceChain for decentralized satellite infrastructure using blockchain technology, with Addvalue Innovation. Represents Alba's entry into blockchain-enabled space infrastructure.
• Vector Launch Inc.majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 November 2020Partnership for Alba Cluster 1 launch on Vector-R launch vehicle from Kodiak Island, Alaska. Fit check of AlbaPod with Vector-R completed July 2018. First orbital launch partnership for both companies. Two PocketQubes (Delfi-PQ and Unicorn-2A) manifested for Cluster 1.
• MomentusmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2020Contract for three Alba Albapods on SpaceX Falcon 9 ESPA Grande ring, integrated alongside Momentus' Vigoride in-space transportation vehicle. Enables Alba Orbital to offer flexible orbital altitude delivery and regular launch cadence for PocketQube customers. Contract for up to 10 PocketQubes on inaugural rideshare mission December 2020.
• Rocket LabcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 December 2019Multiple launch campaigns on Rocket Lab Electron vehicle from Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand. Alba Cluster 2 ('Running out of fingers') deployed 6 PocketQubes including Hungary's first picosatellites. Alba Cluster X launched on Rocket Lab's 26th Electron flight ('There and Back Again') May 2022.
• TU DelftmajorTechnology or Integration · 5 August 2019Joint development of PocketQube standard with TU Delft and GAUSS Srl. TU Delft developed Delfi-PQ PocketQube for Alba Cluster 1. Continued partnership on Delfi-Twins 3P mission for formation flying demonstration. TU Delft is the oldest and largest public technology university in the Netherlands.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2018ESA partnered on Unicorn-1 (2P platform) and Unicorn-2 (3P platform) development via ARTES program. Funded 5 major contracts worth >€1M. ESA quality assurance at each design stage (PDR, CDR). ESA published AlbaPod case study 'the most advanced space-proven PocketQube deployer'.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• GAUSS Srl: Italian picosatellite manufacturer and co-author of the open PocketQube standard alongside Alba Orbital and TU Delft. Directly comparable as a PocketQube platform and mission integrator serving academic and institutional customers.
• ISISpace (Innovative Solutions In Space): Dutch smallsat deployer and CubeSat/PocketQube component provider that partnered with Alba Orbital on the Transporter-16 manifest. Competes head-to-head in PocketQube deployers (Quadpack vs. AlbaPod) and satellite subsystems.
• EnduroSat: Bulgarian CubeSat bus and mission services provider serving universities and commercial constellations. Comparable end-to-end model — standardized platform plus launch brokerage and ground services — at slightly larger form factor.
• GomSpace: Danish nanosatellite/CubeSat bus manufacturer with global institutional customers. Comparable as a smallsat platform vendor and mission integrator serving university, government, and commercial constellations.
• NanoAvionics: Lithuanian smallsat bus manufacturer serving commercial constellation operators. Comparable mission-as-a-service model targeting the same NewSpace and institutional customer base as Alba Orbital.
• AAC Clyde Space: Scottish/Swedish smallsat and CubeSat manufacturer offering platforms, launch services, and ground station products. Headquartered near Alba in Scotland with overlapping customer base in UK and European institutional space programs.
• Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems: US smallsat manufacturer (a Terran Orbital company) producing CubeSats and larger smallsats for government and commercial customers. Comparable as a smallsat bus vendor serving institutional and defense customers.

Broad incumbents

• Planet Labs: Public commercial Earth observation satellite operator with large imaging constellations. Alba's Night Lights constellation targets an overlapping commercial/government EO imagery market, but Planet's scale and incumbent customer relationships are many orders of magnitude larger.
• Spire Global: Public nanosatellite constellation operator providing weather, AIS, and aviation data. Overlaps with Alba's AIS/ADS-B/spectrum monitoring payload applications and ground-station-as-a-service offerings, but at vastly larger scale and with established data subscriptions.

Emerging players

• Hydra Space Systems: Spanish PocketQube startup and Alba customer building custom missions (SpinnyONE, HADES-R). Operates in the same PocketQube ecosystem but as a mission owner rather than platform/launch provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/albaorbital
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alba-orbital
• Facebookfacebook.com/pocketqube

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors12 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 Alba Orbital