Astrotech
Astrotech Corporation (NASDAQ: ASTC) develops and commercializes miniaturized mass spectrometry and gas chromatography instruments, including the TRACER 1000 ETD for aviation security, for sale to government, defense, and industrial customers via direct field sales.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Astrotech does
Astrotech Corporation is a publicly traded (NASDAQ: ASTC) science and technology holding company headquartered in Austin, Texas that designs, develops, and commercializes miniaturized mass spectrometry and gas chromatography instruments for security, environmental, and industrial applications. Its core platform is low-pressure mass spectrometry, used to deliver laboratory-grade molecular identification in portable or field-deployed form factors, in contrast to legacy Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) systems that produce higher false alarm rates. The company's principal commercial offering is the TRACER 1000 explosives and narcotics trace detector (ETD/NTD), marketed through its wholly-owned subsidiary 1st Detect, which is the only mass spectrometry-based ETD with ECAC certification (Common Evaluation Process, EU G1, wand swabbing) and TSA Air Cargo approval. Beyond security, Astrotech markets the EN-SCAN GC-MS and Labrador HHGC for field-based environmental VOC analysis, and the AgLAB 1000-D2 and Pro-Control 1000-D2 for chemical distillation and real-time process control.
Astrotech generates revenue primarily through one-time hardware sales of these analytical instruments, supplemented by grant revenue from agencies such as DHS supporting 1st Detect's product development. The company sells directly to enterprise and government customers via a field sales motion, with named contacts in Austin and Houston for investor relations and sales/support respectively, and appointed a Director of Global Sales at 1st Detect in January 2026 to expand the TRACER 1000 footprint. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, consistent with high-value enterprise sales to aviation security, defense, border, and environmental customers. Q3 FY2026 revenue totaled $343 thousand, down 36% year-over-year, with a $3.768M net loss and R&D spending of $554K, indicating a still-early commercialization phase.
In May 2026, the Board approved a strategic pivot to evaluate lunar resource development and Moon-based quantum computing/semiconductor manufacturing tied to NASA's Artemis and Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) programs. Subsequently in June 2026 the Board approved a potential sale process for the 1st Detect subsidiary, with stated intent to use proceeds to fund the lunar initiative, marking a potentially significant reshaping of the company's strategic identity and capital allocation.
Astrotech firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Astrotech
- Legal name
- Astrotech Corporation
- Website
- https://astrotechcorp.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Astrotech Corporation (NASDAQ: ASTC) develops and commercializes miniaturized mass spectrometry and gas chromatography instruments, including the TRACER 1000 ETD for aviation security, for sale to government, defense, and industrial customers via direct field sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Astrotech industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Analytical Instruments
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Analytical Instruments & Chromatography Systems (HLAGAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Mass Spectrometry & Spectroscopy Instruments (HLAGAIAB), Environmental & Safety Monitoring Instruments (Air quality, emissions, radiation, noise, gas detection) (IMAGAFAJ), Rapid On-Site Environmental Testing Kits & Instruments (Lateral Flow, PCR, ATP Devices) (AFALAEAK), Aviation K9 Explosive Detection Services (BPAKAMAL)
Keywords
Where Astrotech is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Astrotech business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Product Sales - Detection Instruments: Astrotech generates revenue primarily through the sale of its mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-based detection instruments, including the TRACER 1000 ETD/NTD, EN-SCAN GC-MS, Labrador HHGC, and related products. Revenue is one-time hardware sales with potential for aftersales service and support contracts.
- Grant Revenue: Subsidiary 1st Detect generates enhanced grant revenue supporting product development and commercialization. The company received a DHS development award as part of its regulatory certification milestones.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Astrotech product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Astrotech designs, manufactures, and commercializes compact mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-based chemical detection instruments for aviation security screening, environmental analysis, chemical distillation, and industrial process control. The company's flagship TRACER 1000 is the only mass spectrometry-based explosives trace detector certified and field-deployed for aviation security, while the EN-SCAN Labrador HHGC delivers laboratory-grade VOC analysis directly in the field.
Product overview
Astrotech Corporation offers a diversified portfolio of analytical and detection instruments based on mass spectrometry and gas chromatography technologies. The product lineup includes the Tracer 1000 ETD and NTD for explosives and narcotics trace detection in aviation security; the Labrador HHGC handheld field analyzer for environmental VOC analysis; the Fenceline GC for industrial monitoring; the EN-SCAN GC-MS for environmental and industrial testing; and the AgLAB 1000-D2 and Pro-Control 1000-D2 for chemical distillation and process control applications. The company operates through four business units (1st Detect, EN-SCAN, AgLAB, and Pro-Control), each targeting specific market segments from security screening to environmental analysis.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 1st Detect: Business unit focused on explosives and narcotics trace detection using mass spectrometry, offering TRACER 1000 ETD and NTD systems for aviation security
- EN-SCAN
- AgLAB
- Pro-Control
Products and services
- Tracer 1000 ETD Explosives trace detector (ETD) using mass spectrometry technology, certified for aviation security screening of passengers and cargo. The only mass spectrometry-based explosives trace detector certified and field-deployed in aviation security operations.
- Tracer 1000 NTD Narcotics trace detector (NTD) based on the same mass spectrometry platform as the ETD, designed for detecting narcotics through trace detection in security screening operations.
- Labrador HHGC Handheld hydrocarbon gas chromatograph (HHGC) engineered to deliver laboratory-grade volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis directly in the field. Provides rapid parts-per-billion detection across air, water, and soil.
- Fenceline GC Gas chromatography system designed for fenceline environmental monitoring applications, enabling real-time chemical analysis at industrial facility boundaries.
- EN-SCAN GC-MS Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system utilizing proprietary ATi Gas Chromatograph Column (GC) and ATi Mass Spectrometer Technology (MS) for environmental testing and industrial applications.
- AgLAB 1000-D2 Mass spectrometry-based system for chemical distillation applications, delivering distillation science for maximum potency and yields in agricultural and industrial processing.
- Pro-Control 1000-D2 Real-time chemical process control system with mass spectrometry precision, designed for industrial process monitoring and quality control applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- Near-zero false alarm rate demonstrated in real-world testing
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Astrotech
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Astrotech technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Astrotech partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- NASA Artemis ProgramcoreAstrotech's Board approved a strategic initiative to evaluate opportunities associated with NASA's Artemis Program for lunar resource development. The company intends to position itself for opportunities tied to lunar infrastructure development targeting silicon-28, helium-3, platinum group metals, and water ice resources.
- Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) ProgramcoreAstrotech plans to evaluate opportunities associated with NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program as part of its strategic lunar resource and infrastructure initiative targeting future moon-based quantum computing manufacturing.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Astrotech competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Smiths Detection: Smiths Detection is the dominant supplier of trace detection (IMS-based) and X-ray screening systems to global aviation security authorities, directly competing with Astrotech's TRACER 1000 ETD in airport checkpoints and cargo screening procurement.
- Rapiscan Systems: Rapiscan (OSI Systems) is a major supplier of security screening and trace detection solutions for aviation and border security, serving the same ECAC/TSA-customer ecosystem as Astrotech's TRACER 1000 ETD and NTD product lines.
- Nuctech: Nuctech is a global provider of security inspection products (including trace detection equipment) for aviation, customs, and border security, directly overlapping with Astrotech's 1st Detect TRACER 1000 deployment profile across airports and cargo screening facilities.
Broad incumbents
- Agilent Technologies: Agilent is a leading manufacturer of analytical instruments including gas chromatography and mass spectrometry systems widely used in environmental, food safety, and industrial laboratories—directly comparable to Astrotech's EN-SCAN and Labrador HHGC products, though Agilent operates at vastly greater scale.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher's Analytical Instruments segment produces mass spectrometry and chromatography systems used across environmental testing, food safety, and pharmaceutical quality control—the same end markets Astrotech's EN-SCAN and AgLAB target with miniaturized portable instruments.
- Bruker Corporation: Bruker manufactures high-performance mass spectrometry and analytical instruments for proteomics, environmental analysis, and security applications—a broader peer given shared GC-MS and detection instrument franchises versus Astrotech's portable mass spec systems.
- Shimadzu Scientific Instruments: Shimadzu is a major manufacturer of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry instruments used across environmental, food safety, and pharmaceutical laboratories, offering competing analytical platforms to Astrotech's EN-SCAN and AgLAB product lines.
- L3Harris Technologies (Security & Detection): L3Harris provides aviation security and detection equipment including checkpoint screening systems—competing with Astrotech's TRACER 1000 within the same TSA and defense procurement channels, though across a broader security product portfolio.
Others
- 1st Detect (Internal Subsidiary): 1st Detect is Astrotech's wholly-owned subsidiary developing the TRACER 1000 ETD/NTD platform for aviation security; included here as the in-house operating unit potentially slated for divestiture, illustrating comparable standalone trace-detection business positioning.
Emerging players
- FLIR Systems (Teledyne FLIR): Teledyne FLIR supplies chemical detection and identification instruments to defense and security markets with handheld and fixed-site systems, overlapping Astrotech's security/defense customer base though with broader thermal imaging and CBRN detection portfolios.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Astrotech social profiles
Digital presenceAstrotech compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Astrotech financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Astrotech leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Astrotech subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Astrotech funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Astrotech 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 Astrotech
What does Astrotech do?
Astrotech designs, manufactures, and commercializes compact mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-based chemical detection instruments for aviation security screening, environmental analysis, chemical distillation, and industrial process control. The company's flagship TRACER 1000 is the only mass spectrometry-based explosives trace detector certified and field-deployed for aviation security, while the EN-SCAN Labrador HHGC delivers laboratory-grade VOC analysis directly in the field.
Is Astrotech a public or private company?
Astrotech is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Astrotech founded?
Astrotech was founded in 1984. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Astrotech based?
Astrotech is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Astrotech make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Sales - Detection Instruments are the primary driver. The others are grant Revenue.
Who are Astrotech's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Smiths Detection, Rapiscan Systems and Nuctech. Broad incumbents are Agilent Technologies, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Bruker Corporation, Shimadzu Scientific Instruments and L3Harris Technologies (Security & Detection). 1st Detect (Internal Subsidiary) is listed as an others. FLIR Systems (Teledyne FLIR) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Astrotech have an API?
No public API is recorded for Astrotech.
What industry is Astrotech in?
Astrotech's product category is Analytical Instruments. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAIAA, Analytical Instruments & Chromatography Systems, with a secondary code of HLAGAIAB, Mass Spectrometry & Spectroscopy Instruments. Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 3826.