Stellar Exploration, Inc.
Stellar Exploration is a small, privately-held aerospace hardware company that designs and builds miniaturized power, propulsion, and RF tracking subsystems for nanosatellites, serving NASA, DOD, and commercial satellite operators with custom-built, flight-proven hardware.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersSan Luis Obispo, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Stellar Exploration, Inc. does
Stellar Exploration, Inc. is a privately-held aerospace hardware company headquartered in San Luis Obispo, California, that designs and manufactures miniaturized subsystems for small satellites and nanosatellites. The company serves military, civil (NASA), and commercial customers, delivering three core product lines: a flight-proven lithium-ion nanosatellite power subsystem, a miniaturized hypergolic bipropellant propulsion system, and a passive RF tracking and telemetry tag that uses backscatter modulation from space radars. All three products are engineered for the extreme size, weight, and power constraints of cubesat and nanosatellite form factors, with the power subsystem delivering up to 5 kW peak power (scalable to 500 W/kg) and the propulsion system producing 3 N of thrust at 285 sec specific impulse.
The company's business model is direct enterprise sales of custom-built aerospace hardware under multi-year contracts, with quote-based pricing and lead times of 3–6 months depending on product complexity. Stellar also offers satellite integration and mission operations services, historically delivering complete subsystems from design through delivery for missions including NASA's CAPSTONE lunar mission (propulsion), ICEYE's SAR imaging constellation (high-current power), the Planetary Society's LightSail-A (3U solar sailing demo), Dauria Aerospace's Perseus-M AIS satellites, and Echostar's EG-3 propulsion demonstration that achieved a world-record ~65 m/s delta-V for small satellites. With 24+ power subsystems flown between 2018 and 2021 and approximately 4,000 lithium-ion cells operated in orbit, Stellar has accumulated meaningful flight heritage for a company of its size (1–10 employees).
The company relies on earned media coverage in outlets such as SpaceNews, NASA publications, Scientific American, and the New York Times, alongside industry conference participation (SmallSat Conference) for demand generation, reflecting a technical credibility-led GTM motion rather than active marketing campaigns. The operating geography is concentrated in North America, and no public listing, institutional funding rounds, parent company, or acquisition activity are referenced in available data.
Stellar Exploration, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stellar Exploration, Inc.
- Legal name
- Stellar Exploration, Inc.
- Website
- https://stellar-exploration.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Stellar Exploration is a small, privately-held aerospace hardware company that designs and builds miniaturized power, propulsion, and RF tracking subsystems for nanosatellites, serving NASA, DOD, and commercial satellite operators with custom-built, flight-proven hardware.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Stellar Exploration, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Small Satellite Aerospace Subsystems
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), 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
- Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters (IMABACAE), Space Power Systems (Solar Arrays, Batteries, EPS) (IMABACAH), Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)
Keywords
Where Stellar Exploration, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Luis Obispo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Stellar Exploration, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Aerospace Hardware Sales: Custom-built aerospace subsystems including propulsion systems, power subsystems, and RF tracking tags sold directly to government and commercial customers for satellite missions. One-time hardware sales with customization per mission requirements.
- Satellite Integration Services: System integration and mission operations services for customer missions including design, building, testing, analysis, and delivery of complete spacecraft subsystems.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom hardware with project-specific pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Stellar Exploration, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stellar Exploration designs, builds, tests, and delivers miniaturized aerospace subsystems for nanosatellites and small satellites, including a lithium-ion power subsystem, a hypergolic bipropellant propulsion system, and a passive RF tracking and telemetry tag. The company serves military, civil (NASA), and commercial satellite customers with custom-built hardware and complete satellite integration services, supported by flight heritage across 24+ power subsystem units and thousands of lithium-ion cells in orbit.
Product overview
Stellar Exploration, Inc. is an aerospace hardware company focused on affordable miniaturized systems development. Their product portfolio consists of three core products: (1) the Nanosatellite Power Subsystem — a lithium-ion battery system providing up to 5 kW peak power with flight heritage of 24+ units; (2) the Nano Satellite Mono & Bipropellant Propulsion System — a miniaturized hypergolic thruster delivering 3N thrust for small satellite propulsion; and (3) the Passive RF Tracking Tag — a low-cost passive telemetry device using space radar backscatter. These products serve military, civil, and commercial customers in the small satellite and cubesat market segments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Nanosatellite Power Subsystem Lithium-ion power subsystem providing high peak current with long lifetime (>3 years) at low unit cost for nanosatellites and small satellites. Features redundant modules with dedicated balancing and control for each string, programmable charging and discharging control, failure detection and isolation, multiple watchdog timers, and power-on-reset capability. Delivers up to 5 kW peak power for 90 seconds every orbit, scalable to 500 W/kg peak power. Lead time 4-6 months; mission-specific customization available.
- Nano Satellite Mono & Bipropellant Propulsion System Miniaturized hypergolic bipropellant thruster developed for NASA-funded deep space nano-satellite missions. Provides 3 N of thrust with 285 sec specific impulse. Propellant is pressurized with gear pumps for precise metering and low pressure tank design. Includes in-house propulsion system controller board with state-of-the-art BLDC motor control and integrated sensor and actuator hardware.
- Passive Nano Satellite Tracking and Telemetry Tag (RF Tag) Low-cost passive RFID-like device attachable to all small satellites that uses backscatter modulation from space radars to communicate satellite telemetry. Relies on passive energy harvesting, requiring no harnessing, deployment, or release switches. Provides robust tracking throughout the lifetime of the tracked object with no risk to host satellite or range safety. Lead time 3 months.
- Satellite Integration and Mission Operations Services System integration and mission operations services covering design, building, testing, analysis, and delivery of complete spacecraft subsystems for customer missions. Includes project leadership, design, system integration and mission operations support, and solid rocket propulsion expertise. Provided to commercial and government satellite customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- World record delta-V for small satellites: ~65 m/s on EG-3 mission
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Stellar Exploration, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Stellar Exploration, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Stellar Exploration, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Stellar Exploration, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NanoAvionics: Provides smallsat buses and subsystems (power, propulsion, ADCS) for commercial and institutional customers worldwide. A direct competitor in the smallsat subsystems market with comparable flight heritage and constellation-scale customer engagements.
- AAC Clyde Space: Supplies smallsat subsystems including power modules, propulsion, and communications. Operates in a similar niche to Stellar, selling flight-proven hardware to commercial constellation operators and government customers; overlap is strongest on the power subsystem and avionics product lines.
- GomSpace: A European smallsat subsystem manufacturer offering power systems, propulsion, and communications hardware to academic, commercial, and government customers. Most comparable to Stellar on the power subsystem product line and on the institutional (NASA/DOD-equivalent) customer profile.
- Benchmark Space Systems: US-based smallsat in-space propulsion startup offering green monopropellant and bipropellant thrusters for smallsats. Direct competitor to Stellar's propulsion product line with a similar target customer profile of commercial constellation operators and DOD primes.
- Blue Canyon Technologies: Acquired by Raytheon in 2020, Blue Canyon is one of the leading US suppliers of smallsat buses, attitude control, and power subsystems for NASA, DOD, and commercial constellations. Directly comparable to Stellar in target market (CubeSat/smallsat hardware) and customer overlap (NASA, DOD primes).
- Pumpkin Space Systems: Supplies CubeSat structures, power systems, and integration services to NASA, DOD, and academic customers. Comparable to Stellar in serving the smallsat/CubeSat institutional buyer with custom, mission-specific hardware.
Broad incumbents
- Rocket Lab: Public aerospace company providing launch services and an expanding portfolio of smallsat buses, components, and subsystems through its Space Systems division. A broad incumbent competing with Stellar on power, structures, and increasingly propulsion subsystems at higher scale and broader portfolio depth.
- Aerojet Rocketdyne (L3Harris): L3Harris segment and legacy Aerojet Rocketdyne manufacture a wide range of space propulsion and power systems for government and commercial customers. A broad incumbent whose larger, established product lines compete with Stellar on DOD and NASA propulsion and power subsystem opportunities.
Emerging players
- Phase Four: US-based smallsat propulsion developer specializing in RF thrusters for cubesats and smallsats. Adjacent competitor to Stellar's propulsion line, addressing similar customers with a different (plasma-based) technical approach.
- ThrustMe: A French startup developing miniaturized electric and iodine-based propulsion systems for smallsats. Comparable to Stellar on the propulsion product axis, with a more specialized focus on non-toxic and electric propulsion architectures.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Stellar Exploration, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceStellar Exploration, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stellar Exploration, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Stellar Exploration, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stellar Exploration, Inc. 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 Stellar Exploration, Inc.
What does Stellar Exploration, Inc. do?
Stellar Exploration designs, builds, tests, and delivers miniaturized aerospace subsystems for nanosatellites and small satellites, including a lithium-ion power subsystem, a hypergolic bipropellant propulsion system, and a passive RF tracking and telemetry tag. The company serves military, civil (NASA), and commercial satellite customers with custom-built hardware and complete satellite integration services, supported by flight heritage across 24+ power subsystem units and thousands of lithium-ion cells in orbit.
Is Stellar Exploration, Inc. a public or private company?
Stellar Exploration, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Stellar Exploration, Inc. founded?
Stellar Exploration, Inc. was founded in 2001. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Stellar Exploration, Inc. based?
Stellar Exploration, Inc. is headquartered in San Luis Obispo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Stellar Exploration, Inc. make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Aerospace Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are satellite Integration Services.
Who are Stellar Exploration, Inc.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NanoAvionics, AAC Clyde Space, GomSpace, Benchmark Space Systems, Blue Canyon Technologies and Pumpkin Space Systems. Broad incumbents are Rocket Lab and Aerojet Rocketdyne (L3Harris). Emerging players are Phase Four and ThrustMe.
Does Stellar Exploration, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stellar Exploration, Inc..
What industry is Stellar Exploration, Inc. in?
Stellar Exploration, Inc.'s product category is Small Satellite Aerospace Subsystems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAB, Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial), with a secondary code of IMABACAE, Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters. Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.