Equatorial Space
Equatorial Space Systems is a Singapore-based aerospace company that develops hybrid rocket propulsion (HRF-1/HTP) and provides low-cost suborbital and small-payload orbital launch services (DORADO, VOLANS, FLEXLaunch) targeting scientific, academic, and technology-demonstration customers across the Asia-Pacific.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSingapore, Singapore
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Equatorial Space firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Equatorial Space
- Legal name
- Equatorial Space Systems Pte Ltd.
- Website
- https://equatorialspace.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Equatorial Space Systems is a Singapore-based aerospace company that develops hybrid rocket propulsion (HRF-1/HTP) and provides low-cost suborbital and small-payload orbital launch services (DORADO, VOLANS, FLEXLaunch) targeting scientific, academic, and technology-demonstration customers across the Asia-Pacific.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Equatorial Space industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Space Launch Services
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets (IMABACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters (IMABACAE)
Keywords
Where Equatorial Space is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Singapore
- HQ country
- Singapore
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Equatorial Space business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Launch Services - VOLANS: Orbital launch services for payloads up to 750kg to Low Earth Orbit. VOLANS delivers payloads directly to chosen inclination from near-equatorial sites at low cost.
- Launch Services - DORADO: Responsive suborbital launch services delivering small payloads to 100km apogee with 3 minutes of microgravity access. Designed for easy deployment to any range worldwide.
- FLEXLaunch Payload Services: Modular suborbital mission services from multiple sites in US and Australia, with payload collection, integration, launch, recovery, and return shipping. Targets Cubesat, Pocket Cube, Fluid Sample, and Chipsat payloads.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | DORADO suborbital launch - 20kg capacity, 100km apogee |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | VOLANS orbital launch - 750kg capacity to LEO |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Equatorial Space product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Equatorial Space designs, manufactures, and operates hybrid-propellant launch vehicles and provides commercial launch services for small payloads. Its product line consists of the VOLANS family of orbital launch vehicles (up to 750 kg to LEO) and the DORADO suborbital sounding rocket (20 kg to 100 km apogee with 3 minutes of microgravity access), both powered by the proprietary HRF-1/HTP hybrid propulsion system. The company sells mission capacity on a per-launch basis through its FLEXLaunch booking service and direct enterprise sales, with planned launches from Arnhem Space Centre in Australia and the ELSE APAC gateway initiative in 2026.
Product overview
Equatorial Space Systems is a Singapore-based aerospace company offering a portfolio of space launch products and services built around its proprietary HRF-1 hybrid rocket propulsion technology. The core product line includes VOLANS (a modular orbital launch vehicle for payloads up to 750 kg to LEO) and DORADO (a green suborbital sounding rocket for 20 kg payloads). These are supported by service offerings including FLEXLaunch (a suborbital mission service offering flexible payload options from US and Australian sites) and ELSE (an APAC space gateway planned for 2026). All products are designed to be 100% explosives-free and environmentally sustainable.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- VOLANS Orbital Launch Vehicle VOLANS is a family of modular, low-cost space launch vehicles built to deliver payloads up to 750 kg to Low Earth Orbit. Powered by Equatorial Space's proprietary HRF-1/HTP hybrid propulsion, VOLANS is the first launcher designed to operate with zero pyrotechnics or explosives, enabling low-cost direct injection to user-chosen orbital inclinations from near-equatorial sites. It is intended for commercial and scientific payload customers seeking dedicated small-sat orbital launch capacity.
- DORADO Suborbital Launcher DORADO is a responsive, 100% explosives-free suborbital launcher designed to deliver small payloads up to 20 kg to a 100 km apogee, providing approximately 3 minutes of microgravity access for experiments. It ships fully inert for easy deployment to any range worldwide, eliminates toxic effluents, and is positioned as the greenest sounding rocket available. It is intended for scientific, academic, and technology demonstration payloads.
- FLEXLaunch Suborbital Mission Service FLEXLaunch is a suborbital mission service that books small payloads (Cubesat, Pocket Cube, Fluid Sample, or Chipsat) onto regular launches from sites in the US and Australia. The service manages the full payload lifecycle, including collection up to 4 weeks before launch, integration, launch, recovery, optional telemetry and power supply, and payload return, targeting researchers, universities, and small-sat developers needing turnkey suborbital access.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 60% reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions compared to traditional rocket propulsion
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Equatorial Space
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Equatorial Space technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Equatorial Space partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Equatorial Launch AustraliacoreLaunch site partnership with Equatorial Launch Australia for launches from Arnhem Space Centre. MOU signed in February 2024, with planned launches commencing late 2024 from the Arnhem Space Centre facility in Australia's Northern Territory.
- DBSPACEcorePartnership for ELSE (APAC's Gateway to Space) initiative coming in 2026. DBSPACE is listed as the proud partner for this regional space gateway program aimed at expanding space access across the Asia-Pacific region.
- TechstarscoreGlobal accelerator program supporting startup growth. Listed among incubators and accelerators supporting Equatorial Space's development.
- QStationminorSingapore-based startup support facility and accelerator listed among ESS's incubator and accelerator partners.
- The Hangar (NUS)minorNUS (National University of Singapore) startup runway and support facility listed among ESS's incubator and accelerator partners.
- SSTL AcceleratorcoreSpace Science and Technology accelerator program by Singapore Space and Technology Association. Equatorial Space joined this accelerator program.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Equatorial Space competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rocket Lab: Operates the Electron small launch vehicle and is developing Neutron for mid-class payloads, directly competing with VOLANS in small-launch. Like Equatorial Space, it serves commercial, scientific and government small-payload customers, but at significantly larger scale and with a flight-proven track record.
- PLD Space: Spanish small-launch startup developing the Miura 5 orbital launch vehicle, also using a hybrid propulsion approach. Most directly comparable to Equatorial Space on propulsion architecture (hybrid) and small-launch target market.
- Skyroot Aerospace: Indian small-launch startup developing the Vikram series of launch vehicles for small-satellite payloads, with similar early-stage commercial positioning and government/strategic investor backing.
- Isar Aerospace: European small-launch startup developing the Spectrum rocket for low-Earth orbit small-satellite deployment, competing for the same commercial and institutional small-launch demand.
- Firefly Aerospace: US-based small/medium launch operator with the Alpha rocket and in-development MLV. Targets similar small-satellite and government payload customers and competes in overlapping price-to-orbit bands.
- Astra: US small-launch startup that pursued low-cost dedicated smallsat launches (Rocket series), now pivoting toward space services. Comparable in stage and small-launch focus though at significantly larger scale and with a more troubled execution history.
- Galactic Energy: Chinese commercial small-launch startup that has flown the Ceres-1 solid rocket and is developing reusable variants. Comparable as a private small-launch operator pursuing commercial and government smallsat customers.
Regional players
- Gilmour Space Technologies: Australia-based small-launch startup developing hybrid-propulsion rockets (Eris) from Australian launch sites. Closest regional peer given Equatorial Space's Arnhem Space Centre operations and Australian investor base (Paspalis).
- Space One: Japanese small-launch startup developing the KAIROS rocket for small-satellite deployment from Japanese ranges. Comparable as an Asia-Pacific small-launch operator but primarily serves the Japanese market.
Broad incumbents
- Relativity Space: US launch startup developing the Terran R largely reusable medium-class rocket using 3D-printed manufacturing. Competes for the same long-tail small-to-medium launch demand but with substantially larger capital base and broader payload range.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Equatorial Space social profiles
Digital presenceEquatorial Space financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Equatorial Space leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Equatorial Space funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Equatorial 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 Equatorial Space
What does Equatorial Space do?
Equatorial Space designs, manufactures, and operates hybrid-propellant launch vehicles and provides commercial launch services for small payloads. Its product line consists of the VOLANS family of orbital launch vehicles (up to 750 kg to LEO) and the DORADO suborbital sounding rocket (20 kg to 100 km apogee with 3 minutes of microgravity access), both powered by the proprietary HRF-1/HTP hybrid propulsion system. The company sells mission capacity on a per-launch basis through its FLEXLaunch booking service and direct enterprise sales, with planned launches from Arnhem Space Centre in Australia and the ELSE APAC gateway initiative in 2026.
Is Equatorial Space a public or private company?
Equatorial Space is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Equatorial Space founded?
Equatorial Space was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Equatorial Space based?
Equatorial Space is headquartered in Singapore, Singapore, in the Asia region.
How does Equatorial Space make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Launch Services - VOLANS are the primary driver. The others are launch Services - DORADO and FLEXLaunch Payload Services.
Who are Equatorial Space's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rocket Lab, PLD Space, Skyroot Aerospace, Isar Aerospace, Firefly Aerospace, Astra and Galactic Energy. Regional players are Gilmour Space Technologies and Space One. Relativity Space is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Equatorial Space have an API?
No public API is recorded for Equatorial Space.
What industry is Equatorial Space in?
Equatorial Space's product category is Commercial Space Launch Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAA, Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets, with a secondary code of IMABACAE, Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters. Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.