The Aerospace Corporation
The Aerospace Corporation is the only U.S. FFRDC focused exclusively on space, providing independent systems engineering, mission assurance, and technical analysis to NASA, the U.S. Space Force, the DoD, and the intelligence community through a 4,800-person technical workforce across 20+ U.S. locations and a UK subsidiary.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1960
- HeadquartersEl Segundo, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Aerospace Corporation does
The Aerospace Corporation is a private, nonprofit Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) founded in 1960 and headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, with major campuses in El Segundo, California and Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is the only FFRDC dedicated exclusively to the U.S. space enterprise, providing independent, objective technical analysis that government contractors and product vendors cannot provide to themselves. With approximately 4,800 employees, including 3,600+ technical experts (788 with Ph.D.s and average tenure of 26 years), Aerospace operates across 20+ locations in 11 states plus a wholly owned UK subsidiary that opened in 2021.
The organization's charter prevents it from manufacturing products or competing with industry; its revenue is generated under cost-reimbursable and fixed-price federal contracts with NASA, the U.S. Space Force, the Department of Defense, the intelligence community, and NOAA. Core offerings span systems engineering, mission assurance, independent verification and validation, launch certification, space cybersecurity, space domain awareness, debris analysis, and policy support for flagship programs including GPS, SBIRS, AEHF, WGS, SLS/Orion, Artemis, James Webb Space Telescope, Europa Clipper, the EELV/NSSL launch enterprise, and the Space Safari tactically responsive space missions (Victus Nox, Haze, Surgo, Salo).
Aerospace maintains a portfolio of licensable technologies developed in-house: DiskSat (a flat, meter-diameter small-satellite bus), Handle/Handle 2.0 (a standardized modular satellite bus-to-payload interface), SPARTA (a space-cybersecurity framework adopted by DHS S&T), NPPD (Nanosecond Pulsed Plasma Discharge propulsion for restartable solid rocket motors, in collaboration with USC and the Naval Postgraduate School), CORDS (orbital and reentry debris studies with a reentry database dating to 2000), and Slingshot 1 (a modular technology prototyping platform). The corporation also operates more than 80–150 specialized laboratories, runs the TRL Bootcamp with SpaceWERX to vet commercial space startups for government adoption, leads the COSMIC in-space servicing consortium, and is co-developing agentic AI tools with Google Public Sector for satellite anomaly resolution built on its multi-decade testing corpus.
The Aerospace Corporation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Aerospace Corporation
- Legal name
- The Aerospace Corporation
- Website
- https://aerospace.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1960
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- The Aerospace Corporation is the only U.S. FFRDC focused exclusively on space, providing independent systems engineering, mission assurance, and technical analysis to NASA, the U.S. Space Force, the DoD, and the intelligence community through a 4,800-person technical workforce across 20+ U.S. locations and a UK subsidiary.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Aerospace Corporation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Space Systems Engineering Services
- NAICS
- Space Research and Technology (927110), Space Research and Technology (9271), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Military Space Systems (Defense Spacecraft) (IMABACAC), Ground Segment Systems (Ground Stations, TT&C, Mission Ops) (IMABACAJ), Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters (IMABACAE)
Keywords
Where The Aerospace Corporation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- El Segundo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices21 records
Markets served
The Aerospace Corporation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Federal Government Contracts: As a nonprofit FFRDC, Aerospace generates revenue through cost-reimbursable and fixed-price contracts with U.S. federal government agencies including NASA, U.S. Space Force, Department of Defense, intelligence community, and civil space agencies. Revenue is derived from providing technical expertise, systems engineering, mission assurance, and independent analysis rather than product sales.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
The Aerospace Corporation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Aerospace Corporation operates as the nation's only Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) exclusively committed to the space enterprise. It provides independent technical analysis, systems engineering, mission assurance, launch support, and integration services to U.S. government customers including the U.S. Space Force, NASA, Department of Defense, and intelligence community. The organization maintains over 80 specialized laboratories and approximately 3,600 technical experts, and also develops and licenses proprietary technologies such as DiskSat, Handle interface, SPARTA cybersecurity framework, and NPPD propulsion technology.
Product overview
The Aerospace Corporation operates as the nation's only space-focused Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), providing technical consulting, mission assurance, systems engineering, and research services rather than commercial software products. Its technology portfolio includes DiskSat (a disc-shaped small satellite platform), Handle (modular interface technology), SPARTA (cybersecurity framework), Slingshot 1 (modular satellite technology), and NPPD (restartable propulsion technology). These offerings are complemented by specialized laboratory facilities, the TRL Bootcamp technology acceleration program, and expertise in space debris studies through CORDS.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DiskSat: A flat, disc-shaped small satellite bus offering more power, surface area, and payload volume than traditional CubeSats while maintaining a standardized launch interface. Developed by Aerospace and funded by NASA's Small Spacecraft and Distributed Systems program.
- SPARTA
- Handle
- Slingshot
Products and services
- SPARTA (Space Cybersecurity Framework) A comprehensive cybersecurity framework for the space industry providing threat knowledge, behavioral indicators, and countermeasure prioritization methodology to defend space systems against cyberattacks. Targeted at spacecraft developers and government/defense space operators.
- DiskSat
Quantifiable outcome
- VICTUS NOX mission demonstrated 60-hour activation, sub-24-hour launch, and 48-hour on-orbit commissioning capabilities
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Aerospace Corporation
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Aerospace Corporation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability9 records
Feature7 records
The Aerospace Corporation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- University of Southern California (USC)coreCollaboration with USC Viterbi School of Engineering on Nanosecond Pulsed Plasma Discharge (NPPD) technology research for restartable solid rocket motors. USC contributes academic expertise in plasma physics and engineering.
- Naval Postgraduate School (NPS)coreCollaboration with NPS on NPPD technology research for restartable solid rocket motors, bringing additional academic research capabilities to the propulsion technology development.
- Google Public SectorcoreCollaboration to modernize satellite operations through agentic AI for anomaly resolution. Aerospace and Google Public Sector are developing proof-of-concept AI tools designed to assist in managing growing satellite constellations by leveraging 65-plus years of spacecraft and component testing data.
- Space FloridaminorAerospace provides technical assessments, infrastructure planning, and risk simulations for traditional and inland spaceports as part of Space Florida's leading aerospace ecosystem development, supporting spaceport modernization and expansion efforts.
- European Space Agency (ESA)minorAerospace published report highlighting major shift in Europe's space sector as EU increases funding and reorients programs toward military and security uses, potentially controlling over 50% of ESA budget.
- Orbotic Systems Inc.minorCommercial license agreement with Orbotic Systems to commercialize DiskSat technology for VLEO sensor pathfinder missions. OSI plans to use DiskSat as host spacecraft for WIND sensor to support future mission planning.
- RS&HminorAerospace is a subcontractor to RS&H leading a team conducting a spaceport feasibility study for the Concho Valley region of Texas, fully funded by Texas Space Commission grant. Provides technical expertise for assessing suitability for space-related testing, research, and launch activities.
- RAND CorporationcoreCo-hosted first U.S. Space Rescue Workshop bringing government, industry, and private space organizations together to advance in-space rescue capabilities and protocols.
- SatlytminorSpace edge computing startup licensing DiskSat technology from Aerospace to enable autonomous space operations and data processing. First four DiskSats launched December 2025 demonstrating the platform.
- NASAcoreOngoing partnership for space exploration including Artemis program, Europa Clipper mission, NISAR Earth observation satellite, and DiskSat technology demonstration. Aerospace provides technical expertise and independent verification services for NASA missions.
- TechCrunchcoreAerospace hosts the Space Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, bringing together space industry leaders, investors, and startups for pitch competition and panel discussions on space economy. Five startups pitched innovations with Little Place Labs winning competition.
- AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics)corePartnership for ASCEND conference hosting national security space leaders, industry experts, and government officials. Aerospace hosts Space Transformation Track at ASCEND events.
- U.S. Space ForcecorePrimary government customer for national security space programs. Aerospace supports Space Safari tactically responsive space missions including VICTUS NOX, VICTUS HAZE, VICTUS SURGO, and VICTUS SALO missions demonstrating rapid deployment capabilities.
- SpaceWERXcoreJoint TRL (Technology Readiness Level) Bootcamp program bridging commercial innovation and government space mission needs. First cohort of seven companies focused on in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing. NASA recently entered into Interagency Agreement with SpaceWERX to participate.
- Satellite Applications CatapultminorCollaboration on in-orbit servicing and manufacturing testbeds and proving grounds. Both organizations contribute technical expertise to advance space servicing capabilities.
- COSMIC (Consortium for Space Mobility and ISAM Capabilities)coreAerospace leads the COSMIC consortium uniting various sectors to advance in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) technologies, selected to head the consortium for whole-of-nation approach.
- UK Space AgencycoreAerospace UK subsidiary awarded £3M two-year contract by UK Space Agency for independent technical advisory services across the UK space enterprise.
- UK Ministry of Defence Space DirectoratecoreAerospace UK subsidiary awarded £500K one-year contract to advise UK Ministry of Defence Space Directorate on technical matters.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Aerospace Corporation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MITRE Corporation: Operates multiple FFRDCs (including for the Department of Defense and FAA), providing independent, objective technical analysis to U.S. government. Closest analog as a mission-driven, nonprofit FFRDC serving national security with no commercial conflicts — same operating model, different mission domain.
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL): A University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) and FFRDC that builds spacecraft, leads space missions, and provides independent technical expertise for national security and NASA — directly comparable to Aerospace's role in civil and defense space programs.
- Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA): FFRDC serving the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Joint Staff with rigorous, conflict-free technical analysis. Comparable to Aerospace's role as an independent, federally funded scientific advisor for defense decision-makers.
- RAND Corporation: Nonprofit FFRDC delivering independent research and analysis on national security, including space policy and strategy. Aerospace recently co-hosted the first U.S. Space Rescue Workshop with RAND, highlighting overlap in space-policy research.
- Sandia National Laboratories: Department of Energy national laboratory and FFRDC providing systems engineering and mission assurance for nuclear weapons and related national security work — comparable governance, mission-driven nonprofit structure, and deep technical depth as Aerospace.
- Los Alamos National Laboratory: Federally funded national laboratory with comparable nonprofit-style operations serving national security science missions. Relevant analog for government-funded R&D center economics and talent structure.
Broad incumbents
- Lockheed Martin Space: Defense prime contractor for national security space systems (GPS III, SBIRS, AEHF) — Aerospace is the FFRDC that performs independent technical oversight and mission assurance for many of these same programs. They sit on opposite sides of the buyer-supplier relationship but operate in the same program domain.
- Northrop Grumman Space Systems: Prime contractor for key national security space programs Aerospace supports (e.g., AEHF, SBIRS, NSSL). Overlap is on the buyer-supplier axis: Northrop builds systems while Aerospace provides independent technical evaluation.
Emerging players
- SpaceX: Commercial space company increasingly delivering integrated launch and constellation services that absorb launch-systems work Aerospace has historically supported. Represents the structural shift toward commercial primes that could narrow Aerospace's traditional scope.
Regional players
- DLR (German Aerospace Center): Germany's national research center for aeronautics, space, and energy — performs systems engineering, mission operations, and technology development comparable to Aerospace's mission, but serving European institutional customers rather than the U.S. government.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Aerospace Corporation social profiles
Digital presenceThe Aerospace Corporation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Aerospace Corporation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
The Aerospace Corporation subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The Aerospace Corporation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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The Aerospace Corporation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about The Aerospace Corporation
What does The Aerospace Corporation do?
The Aerospace Corporation operates as the nation's only Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) exclusively committed to the space enterprise. It provides independent technical analysis, systems engineering, mission assurance, launch support, and integration services to U.S. government customers including the U.S. Space Force, NASA, Department of Defense, and intelligence community. The organization maintains over 80 specialized laboratories and approximately 3,600 technical experts, and also develops and licenses proprietary technologies such as DiskSat, Handle interface, SPARTA cybersecurity framework, and NPPD propulsion technology.
Is The Aerospace Corporation a public or private company?
The Aerospace Corporation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Aerospace Corporation founded?
The Aerospace Corporation was founded in 1960. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is The Aerospace Corporation based?
The Aerospace Corporation is headquartered in El Segundo, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Aerospace Corporation make money?
One revenue line is on record: federal Government Contracts.
Who are The Aerospace Corporation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MITRE Corporation, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), RAND Corporation, Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory. Broad incumbents are Lockheed Martin Space and Northrop Grumman Space Systems. SpaceX is listed as an emerging player. DLR (German Aerospace Center) is listed as a regional player.
Does The Aerospace Corporation have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Aerospace Corporation.
What industry is The Aerospace Corporation in?
The Aerospace Corporation's product category is Space Systems Engineering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAB, Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial), with a secondary code of IMABACAC, Military Space Systems (Defense Spacecraft). Its NAICS code is 927110 and its SIC code is 3760.