What B2Space does

B2Space is a UK-headquartered (Newport) aerospace company, founded in 2016, that operates in the High Altitude Operations segment of the space industry, with a secondary entity in Burgos, Spain. The company offers three core services: (1) Near Space Testing, a stratospheric balloon-based "flying lab" for validating space technologies with payloads up to 3,500 kg and 2–48 hour flight durations; (2) High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) platforms operating at 14–37 km altitude for up to 48 hours, targeted at Earth observation, telecommunications, and surveillance applications under the Hawk Programme; and (3) the Rockoon satellite launch system, a balloon-lifted rocket that deploys small/micro-satellites (up to 200 kg) from 35 km altitude, claiming roughly 70% propellant reduction versus ground launches. Technology is complemented by generative design and additive manufacturing for launch vehicle production, and by two CDTI-funded R&D lines — PLESGINT (GEOINT Space Platforms) and HERMESS (hybrid emergency response via satellite and stratospheric platforms).

B2Space monetizes through custom-quoted professional services contracts rather than disclosed pricing tiers, targeting four primary segments: universities and research institutions (via the Blue Jay CubeSat Programme spanning 10+ countries), government and defence agencies (HAPS-based surveillance, communications, and emergency response), small satellite manufacturers (Rockoon launch services), and select commercial enterprises requiring persistent aerial coverage. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales with event-driven proof points (e.g., the November 2025 La Gomera Rockoon launch, the March 2025 Villacarrillo stratospheric launches) and a community-led university engagement channel that doubles as a talent and customer pipeline. Distribution is reinforced by strategic partnerships with Airbus GeoTech (March 2026) and CATEC (June 2024), plus regional public co-funding from the Junta de Castilla y León, ICE, CDTI, UK Space Agency, ESA BIC UK, STFC, and the Welsh Government.

The company is founder-led by three co-founders — Victor Montero (Business and Operations Director), Valentin Canales (Technical and Development Director), and Judith Martin (Branding and IT Director) — with no disclosed institutional equity rounds beyond grants and seed/venture funding totalling roughly $4.5M across 2018–2021. Operational status is active, with multiple stratospheric flight campaigns and a recently signed flagship partnership with Airbus GeoTech positioning the company for further HAPS commercialization.

Name

B2Space

Legal name

B2SPACE LTD / B2SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEMS SL

Website

https://b2-space.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

B2Space is a UK-founded (2016) aerospace company specializing in High Altitude Operations, offering Near Space Testing via stratospheric balloons, HAPS platforms (14–37 km), and a Rockoon satellite launch system for small/micro-satellites up to 200 kg. It serves universities, government/defence agencies, and small satellite manufacturers through bespoke professional services contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Launch and High-Altitude Aerospace Services

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)

Keywords

• Stratospheric balloon services
• Satellite launch services
• High altitude pseudo satellites
• Near space testing
• Small satellite deployment

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Near Space Testing Services: Provides stratospheric balloon-based testing services for universities, research institutions, small satellite manufacturers, and R&D projects. Revenue generated through mission fees for payload testing and validation flights.
2. HAPS Mission Services: High Altitude Pseudo Satellite platform services for Earth observation, telecommunications, and surveillance applications. Clients include government agencies and commercial entities requiring persistent aerial coverage.
3. Satellite Launch Services: Rockoon-based launch services for small and micro-satellites (up to 200kg payload). Provides flexible, low-cost access to Low Earth Orbit with customizable orbit selection and launch scheduling.
4. University Programme (Blue Jay): International educational programme enabling students to design, build, and launch CubeSat experiments. Generates revenue through programme participation fees while building industry relationships and pipeline.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

B2Space provides three core services for high-altitude operations: Near Space Testing, where stratospheric balloons serve as a flying lab for validating space technologies; High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) missions for persistent Earth observation and communications; and the Rockoon Satellite Launch System, a proprietary rocket-and-balloon hybrid that lifts small and micro satellites to Low Earth Orbit with reduced propellant consumption. The company bundles these into bespoke, quote-priced enterprise engagements for governments, research institutions, universities, and small-satellite manufacturers, complemented by the Blue Jay educational CubeSat programme.

Product overview

B2Space offers a portfolio of three core high-altitude operations services: Near Space Testing (stratospheric balloon-based technology testing), HAPS (High Altitude Pseudo Satellites for observation and communications), and the Rockoon Satellite Launch System (balloon-carried rocket for LEO deployment). The Blue Jay Programme is an educational add-on that leverages the Near Space Testing platform for university CubeSat projects. Together, these services provide flexible, low-cost access to near-space and orbital environments for small/micro satellites.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Near Space Testing Stratospheric balloon-based 'flying lab' service that provides cost-effective testing, qualification, and validation of space technologies for universities, research institutions, small satellite manufacturers, and R&D projects. Supports payloads up to 3,500 kg with flight durations of 2-48 hours in near-vacuum, high-radiation, and extreme-temperature conditions similar to orbital environments.
• HAPS (High Altitude Pseudo Satellites) High-altitude pseudo-satellite platforms operating at 14-37 km altitude with up to 48 hours of flight duration, providing Earth observation, telecommunications, emergency communications, border and maritime surveillance, smart agriculture, fire/environment monitoring, and disaster response capabilities. Features autonomous systems, advanced materials, and modular payload interfaces.
• Rockoon Satellite Launch System Rocket-plus-balloon launch solution where a stratospheric balloon lifts a rocket to 35 km altitude (above 99.9% of the atmosphere) before the launcher is deployed to insert small and micro satellites (up to 200 kg) into Low Earth Orbit. Reported to reduce propellant consumption by 70% compared with conventional ground-launched systems and offers flexible orbit selection and scheduling.
• Blue Jay University Programme International educational programme that enables university teams to design, build, ground-test, and fly CubeSats on B2Space stratospheric flights at 20-25 km altitude. Provides mission simulation experience, end-of-mission data and imagery, and educational benefits across 10+ countries; generates revenue through programme participation fees.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% propellant reduction compared to ground launches
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Airbus GeoTechflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Strategic partnership announced March 2026 for advanced stratospheric operations development. B2Space and Airbus GeoTech will collaborate on HAPS platform development and deployment, combining Airbus's aerospace expertise with B2Space's stratospheric operations capabilities. Multiple Spanish-language aerospace publications (Actualidad Aeroespacial, Avion Revue, InfoEspacial) and international media (Orbital Today) covered the agreement.
• CATEC (Centro Avanzado de Tecnologías Aeroespaciales)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2024Agreement signed June 2024 to validate space products in the stratosphere at Villacarrillo, Jaén. The partnership enables testing and qualification of aerospace technologies in near-space conditions, with CATEC providing expertise in advanced aerospace technologies and B2Space contributing stratospheric launch and testing capabilities.
• Shetland Space CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 July 2018Collaboration established July 2018 for balloon test launches from Shetland, Scotland. B2Space conducted early balloon launches to assess viability of satellite launches from the UK, with Shetland Space Centre providing the launch facility and B2Space providing the balloon platform technology.
• GAUSS (Group of Astronautics and Space Engineering)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 July 2018Letter of Intent signed July 2018 for collaboration in balloon-based launch technology development.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Rocket Lab: Public, well-capitalized small-satellite launch operator with the Electron and Neutron vehicles. Sets the commercial benchmark B2Space must compete against on price, cadence, and reliability in the same smallsat launch segment.
• Aerostar / LOON heritage: Established stratospheric balloon operator (Aerostar/TCOM) and historical Loon (Google) HAPS programme - both directly comparable to B2Space's near-space testing and HAPS service lines for both commercial and government customers.

Emerging players

• Sceye: US-based HAPS developer building stratospheric platforms for broadband and Earth observation, with flight heritage at 60,000+ ft. Competes with B2Space's Hawk platform in the persistent high-altitude surveillance market.
• SpinLaunch: US-based alternative-launch company developing kinetic accelerator technology to reduce propellant needs for smallsat deployment. Conceptually adjacent to B2Space's propellant-efficient Rockoon approach.
• Isar Aerospace: German small-launch startup developing Spectrum launcher and backed by major European institutional investors. Geographic and segment peer to B2Space within European sovereign space funding ecosystems.
• HyImpulse Technologies: German small-satellite launcher developing hybrid-propulsion rockets (SL1 family) targeting up to 600 kg to LEO. Competes in the same European smallsat launch commercial segment as B2Space's Rockoon.
• Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA): German small-satellite launcher developing the Helix launch vehicle for LEO and sun-synchronous orbits. European-headquartered competitor targeting the same smallsat customers as B2Space's Rockoon.

Direct peers

• World View Enterprises: US-based stratospheric balloon operator offering both near-space research flights and a planned SpaceLoft stratospheric launch vehicle for small payloads. Shares B2Space's high-altitude balloon platform model and near-space testing customer base.
• Zero 2 Infinity: Spain-based stratospheric balloon company developing Bloostar (a high-altitude balloon-launched rocket) for smallsat missions - the closest direct analog to B2Space's Rockoon concept and Iberian geographic peer.
• Airbus Zephyr: Airbus-owned HAPS platform (formerly QinetiQ) for high-altitude pseudo-satellite communications and Earth observation. Directly comparable to B2Space's Hawk Programme HAPS product and a likely partner/competitor given the Airbus GeoTech alliance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds9 records

Investors7 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 B2Space