MMA Design
MMA Space (formerly MMA Design) is a Colorado-based, vertically integrated space hardware company that designs and manufactures deployable antennas, solar arrays, deorbit systems, and composite structures for U.S. defense, NASA, aerospace primes, and emerging commercial satellite customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersLouisville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What MMA Design does
MMA Space (formerly MMA Design) is a privately held, vertically integrated space hardware company founded in 2007 and headquartered in a 43,000+ square foot facility in Broomfield, Colorado, with a team of approximately 50 engineers and technicians. The company designs, manufactures, and delivers deployable space systems across six technology areas: membrane-based and rigid space antennas (including T-DaHGR, P-DaHGR, meta-lens, crossed dipole, log-periodic, helical, and sinuous architectures), the dragNET passive deorbit and solar sail system, deployable composite boom and tape truss structures, solar array systems (HaWK, FlexArray, CubeSat, Lunar, and kilowatt-class arrays), deployable space optics, and pointing/gimbal systems. Its core enabling technologies are thin-film membranes, high-strain composite booms (SHEARLIPS), and exclusive NASA licenses for SHEARLESS and Bi-CTM boom IP, which together deliver high compaction ratios — exemplified by dragNET's 230× area gain — and flight-proven reliability across 17+ missions.
The company generates revenue primarily through custom-engineered hardware sales under direct contracts with U.S. defense and government customers — DoD agencies, DARPA, AFRL, NASA centers, and JPL — and with major aerospace primes including Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, BAE Systems, Millennium Space Systems, SEAKR Engineering, Honeybee Robotics, and Stellar Exploration. Pricing is fully quote-based with no public list pricing, reflecting mission-specific customization. A complementary revenue stream comes from strategic engineering partnerships, most notably a long-standing collaboration with Agile RF Systems in Berthoud, Colorado for RF design, analysis, and range testing. The company sells through an enterprise field-sales motion, supported by an active presence at major space industry conferences including Space Symposium, SmallSat, AIAA SciTech, and Satellite, and through direct digital engagement via its website and LinkedIn. The customer base is anchored in U.S. defense and NASA, with emerging international exposure (Singapore DSO National Laboratories) and a new push into commercial constellation customers via the FlexArray product line.
MMA holds AS9100/ISO9001 certification (achieved February 2026), DDTC registration, and ITAR compliance. It has accumulated 17+ years of flight heritage spanning missions such as MarCO (the first interplanetary CubeSats), R3D2, Lunar Flashlight, ASTERIA, NeuSAR, and multiple DoD programs. The company is founder-owned with no disclosed parent, private equity, or institutional investment, and has grown organically through customer contracts and SBIR/STTR-related programs, having received the U.S. SBA Tibbetts Award in 2016 for SBIR achievements and the Northrop Grumman Supplier Excellence Award in 2023.
MMA Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MMA Design
- Legal name
- MMA Design LLC
- Website
- https://mmadesignllc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- MMA Space (formerly MMA Design) is a Colorado-based, vertically integrated space hardware company that designs and manufactures deployable antennas, solar arrays, deorbit systems, and composite structures for U.S. defense, NASA, aerospace primes, and emerging commercial satellite customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MMA Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Space Hardware and Deployable Space Systems
- NAICS
- Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD), Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal) (IMABACAM)
Keywords
Where MMA Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Louisville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
MMA Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Space Hardware Sales: Design, manufacturing, and delivery of custom deployable space systems including solar arrays, antennas, deorbit systems, and deployable structures for government and commercial space missions. Revenue generated through direct contracts with DoD, NASA, DARPA, and commercial space companies.
- Strategic Partnership Services: Collaborative engineering partnerships with RF Systems and other strategic partners to deliver complete antenna solutions including RF design, analysis, manufacturing, assembly, and range testing.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
MMA Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MMA Space designs, manufactures, and delivers custom deployable space hardware for satellite and spacecraft missions. Its products include membrane-based and rigid space antennas, deployable solar arrays, passive deorbit (drag-sail) systems, deployable structures (booms, tape trusses), space optics, and pointing/gimbal mechanisms, built around proprietary thin-film membrane and high-strain composite boom technologies. The company sells directly to U.S. defense and intelligence agencies, NASA, allied governments, and aerospace prime contractors under custom engineering contracts.
Product overview
MMA Space (formerly MMA Design) is a vertically integrated space technology company offering a portfolio of deployable solutions for space missions. The product portfolio centers on six core technology areas: Space Antennas (including membrane-based and rigid antenna systems for communications and SAR applications), Deorbit Systems (dragNET for passive orbital debris removal), Deployable Structures (tape truss booms, composite booms), Space Solar Arrays (FlexArray, HaWK arrays for various satellite classes), Space Optics (deployable sunshades and telescopes), and Pointing Systems (gimbals and antenna pointing mechanisms). These products share common enabling technologies including high-strain composite booms, thin-film membranes, and deployment control systems. The company operates from a new 43,000+ sq ft facility in Broomfield, Colorado and holds AS9100/ISO9001 certification.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Space Antennas Custom membrane-based and rigid space antenna architectures supporting single frequency, multi-band, and broadband applications for satellite communications, SAR imaging, and sensing. Configurable for CubeSat to larger spacecraft platforms.
- dragNET De-orbit System Passive orbital debris removal and deorbit system using compactly stowed thin-film membranes that create drag to deorbit spacecraft. Next-generation version retooled to reduce parts count and cost by half, designed to comply with the FCC 5-year deorbit rule.
- Deployable Structures Deployable space structures including the Stand-Off Mechanism (SOM), Deployable Tape Truss Booms, and Slit Tube Composite Booms, with expansion ratios up to 100:1 and stow volumes down to 1U form factor.
- Space Solar Arrays High-performance, customizable deployable space solar arrays including FlexArray (low-cost flexible substrate), HaWK (high watts per kilogram), CubeSat arrays (36W to 330W), Lunar Surface arrays, and KiloWatt+ arrays for larger satellites.
- Space Optics Deployable space optical systems including Sunshade (for larger optical payloads), FalconSAT-7 (membrane photon sieve for imaging), and PlanetFinder Mirror (deployable kinematic metering structure).
- Pointing Systems Spacecraft pointing systems including the Spine Antenna Pointing Mechanism and the Solar Array Drive Assembly (SADA / SADA gimbal) with +/-180 degrees actuation and radiation-tolerant or fully radiation-hard options for extreme environments.
- High-Strain Composite Booms Proprietary boom technologies including patent-pending SHEARLIPS (SHEAthed Rollable LIP Shaped) booms and exclusively licensed NASA SHEARLESS and Bi-CTM technologies, providing high bending and torsional stiffness, structural stability, and closed cross-section performance with minimal stowed volume.
- NeuSAR Synthetic Aperture Radar Antenna High-performance SAR antenna for small satellites (~160 kg), using the next-generation DaHGR architecture. Fully polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar enabling day/night and all-weather imaging through heavy cloud cover, developed for Singapore's DSO National Laboratories.
- FlexArray Solar Array System Low-cost standard SmallSat class solar array system using flexible substrate to mount and deploy silicon solar cells with high reliability, low dollars-per-watt, and an industry-leading packing factor, capable of generating tens of kilowatts at a fraction of the cost of traditional solar arrays.
- Crossed Dipole Deployable Antenna Deployable UHF/VHF antenna using SHEARLIPS composite boom technology. Stows in a 2U x 2U form factor and deploys two orthogonal dipoles to 5-meter lengths tip-to-tip driven by a single motor gear train, designed for CubeSat and smallsat platforms.
Quantifiable outcome
- 330W from single deployed wing - largest deployable solar array ever flown on a CubeSat, 50% more power than heritage systems
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use MMA Design
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
MMA Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
MMA Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)minorIndian launch vehicle that successfully delivered NeuSAR satellite to orbit on June 30, 2022.
- DSO National Laboratories (Singapore)coreSingapore's national defence R&D organization approached MMA to develop NeuSAR synthetic aperture radar antenna for small satellite applications. MMA delivered next-generation DaHGR antenna enabling day/night all-weather imaging for Singapore's space program and constellation pathfinder.
- Satrec InitiativecoreSingapore-based partner on NeuSAR mission for spacecraft bus integration and mission operations supporting SAR satellite deployment.
- Northrop GrummancorePartner on DARPA R3D2 mission providing spacecraft bus and integration for MMA's P-DaHGR deployable antenna. Long-standing collaboration on innovative space technologies.
- DARPAcoreGovernment agency customer for R3D2 mission to demonstrate membrane reflectarray antenna technology for DoD space applications. MMA adapted P-DaHGR architecture for rapid deployment on small satellite platform.
- NASA Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO)coreCo-development partner on GLOWS (Global L-band Active/Passive Observatory for Water Cycle Studies) program to develop lower cost soil moisture measurement instrument. MMA providing deployable meta-lens antenna technology.
- Brigham Young UniversityminorAcademic partner on GLOWS program led by Dr. David Long, contributing to next-generation earth science instrument development.
- NASA Goddard Space Flight CentercorePartner on GLOWS earth science mission, providing mission architecture and scientific expertise alongside MMA's antenna technology.
- Agile RF SystemscoreStrategic partner providing RF design, analysis, and testing expertise for MMA's space antenna solutions. Located in Berthoud, Colorado, with state-of-the-art 11K+ sq ft facility including robotic nearfield antenna range (0.75-26.5 GHz) and small antenna farfield range (0.1-43.5 GHz). Long-time strategic partner critical to successful delivery of many RF mission payloads.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
MMA Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- ISIS - Innovative Solutions In Space: Dutch regional peer specializing in smallsat deployable structures and antenna systems. Comparable to MMA's CubeSat-class deployable offerings but primarily serves European institutional and commercial customers.
Direct peers
- Redwire Space: Direct peer through its acquisition of Roccor and broader deployable structures portfolio. Competes directly with MMA on deployable booms, solar arrays, and structural mechanisms for smallsat and constellation programs.
- Honeybee Robotics: Direct peer in deployable space mechanisms and robotics, recently acquired by Blue Origin. Competes with MMA on space deployable structures for NASA and DoD missions, including Mars lander and lunar surface mechanisms.
- Oxford Space Systems: Direct peer focused on deployable antennas and deployable structures for small satellites. Competes with MMA's DaHGR and membrane antenna product lines, particularly for SAR and broadband constellation applications.
- Deployable Space Systems (DSS): Direct peer specializing in deployable space structures, solar arrays, and large deployable booms. Closest competitor to MMA's FlexArray and deployable structures product lines, serving similar smallsat and constellation customers.
- SENER Aeroespacial: Direct peer supplying deployable mechanisms, antennas, and pointing systems for European and NASA missions. Overlaps with MMA on deployable booms and antenna pointing mechanisms for institutional space customers.
Broad incumbents
- Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space): European broad incumbent supplying deployable structures, payload adapters, and mechanisms for prime satellite manufacturers. Comparable to MMA in deployable boom and structure manufacturing but serves European primes primarily.
- L3Harris Technologies: Broad incumbent with significant deployable structures and space antenna capabilities serving defense and intelligence customers. Competes with MMA on RF antenna and solar array programs as part of a much broader space systems portfolio.
- Northrop Grumman (Astro Aerospace): Broad incumbent via its Astro Aerospace division, a legacy supplier of deployable space structures (AstroMesh, reflectarrays, booms). Competes with MMA across all product lines as a tier-1 prime, but is also a customer via supplier excellence relationship.
Emerging players
- AAC Clyde Space: Emerging player in smallsat subsystems including deployable solar arrays and antennas. Competes with MMA's CubeSat-class FlexArray and HaWK products on price-per-watt in commercial constellation markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MMA Design social profiles
Digital presenceMMA Design compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
MMA Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MMA Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
MMA Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MMA Design 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 MMA Design
What does MMA Design do?
MMA Space designs, manufactures, and delivers custom deployable space hardware for satellite and spacecraft missions. Its products include membrane-based and rigid space antennas, deployable solar arrays, passive deorbit (drag-sail) systems, deployable structures (booms, tape trusses), space optics, and pointing/gimbal mechanisms, built around proprietary thin-film membrane and high-strain composite boom technologies. The company sells directly to U.S. defense and intelligence agencies, NASA, allied governments, and aerospace prime contractors under custom engineering contracts.
Is MMA Design a public or private company?
MMA Design is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was MMA Design founded?
MMA Design was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is MMA Design based?
MMA Design is headquartered in Louisville, United States, in the North America region.
How does MMA Design make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Custom Space Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are strategic Partnership Services.
Who are MMA Design's main competitors?
ISIS - Innovative Solutions In Space is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Redwire Space, Honeybee Robotics, Oxford Space Systems, Deployable Space Systems (DSS) and SENER Aeroespacial. Broad incumbents are Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space), L3Harris Technologies and Northrop Grumman (Astro Aerospace). AAC Clyde Space is listed as an emerging player.
Does MMA Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for MMA Design.
What industry is MMA Design in?
MMA Design's product category is Space Hardware and Deployable Space Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAF, Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control, with a secondary code of IMABACAD, Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR). Its NAICS code is 336419 and its SIC code is 3760.