What Orion Space Solutions does

Orion Space Solutions is a U.S. space mission hardware and data intelligence provider, wholly-owned by Arcfield since 2024 and headquartered in Louisville, Colorado. Founded in 2009 as Atmospheric and Space Technology Research Associates (ASTRA) and rebranded in 2021, the company designs, builds, and deploys advanced spacecraft, sensors, and software models that address three operational gaps in space domain awareness: very low Earth orbit (VLEO) sustainability, detection of sub-10cm orbital debris, and real-time atmospheric and ionospheric characterization for mission resilience. Its core product portfolio comprises miniaturized optical sensors, ionospheric sensors, the Dragster space environment model, the trademarked OrbitIQ orbital intelligence platform, and a series of mission programs (RROCI, Tetra, Ouija, ACMES) covering cloud characterization, autonomous satellite servicing in GEO, VLEO space weather sensing, and thermal imaging for climate applications.

Underlying capabilities include proprietary plasma wave measurement techniques that enable indirect sensing of small orbital debris through ionospheric signatures, chip-scale atomic clock integration for deep-space positioning (used on NASA's CAPSTONE Moon Mission), and AI/ML pipelines for debris tracking and Earth-observation data processing. The company employs 51-100 people across engineering and operations roles.

Orion generates revenue almost entirely through U.S. government contracting, operating as both a prime and a subcontractor on programs for the U.S. Space Force, NOAA, NASA, DARPA, IARPA, and the Department of Defense. Revenue streams include hardware sales of mission-specific payloads, government prime contracts, subcontracts (e.g., to Advanced Space on IARPA SINTRA), and subscription-style data intelligence services delivered through OrbitIQ. The most recent disclosed program involves initial contracts exceeding $24 million to deliver over 25 space-based environmental monitoring payloads, with stated potential for total contracts exceeding $100 million. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and the company does not publish financial statements as a private subsidiary of Arcfield.

Name

Orion Space Solutions

Legal name

Atmospheric and space technology research associates

Website

https://orionspace.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Orion Space Solutions, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arcfield, designs and manufactures advanced spacecraft, sensors, and orbital intelligence software for U.S. defense and civil space agencies including the Space Force, NOAA, NASA, DARPA, and IARPA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Systems and Sensors

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spacecraft Integration, Assembly & Test (IAT) (IMABACAK), Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal) (IMABACAM), Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB), Space Defense & Missile Warning (BPAIAHAF), Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM)

Keywords

• Space domain awareness
• Small satellite manufacturing
• Space-based sensors
• Orbital intelligence software
• Very low earth orbit

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Prime Contracts: Orion Space Solutions generates revenue primarily through direct prime contracts with U.S. government agencies including Space Force, NOAA, and Department of Defense for spacecraft, sensors, and data intelligence services.
2. Government Subcontracts: The company operates as a subcontractor to prime contractors such as Advanced Space on programs like the IARPA SINTRA program, generating revenue through subcontract awards for specialized sensor and space domain awareness work.
3. Space-Based Sensor Development: Revenue from designing and manufacturing mission-specific payloads for space-based environmental monitoring. Initial contracts exceeding $24 million with potential for over $100 million with additional payload deliveries.
4. Data Intelligence Services: Revenue from providing orbital intelligence, atmospheric modeling, and space weather analysis services to government customers through platforms like OrbitIQ.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Orion Space Solutions designs, builds, and deploys advanced spacecraft, optical and ionospheric sensors, and space environment models to deliver actionable data intelligence for defense, civil, and commercial space missions. The company provides end-to-end SmallSat and CubeSat mission capabilities—from mission design and payload engineering through assembly, integration, testing, and on-orbit operations—anchored by its OrbitIQ™ orbital intelligence platform and the Dragster atmospheric model.

Product overview

Orion Space Solutions is a subsidiary of Arcfield specializing in space missions and data intelligence. The company offers a unified portfolio of advanced spacecraft, sensors, and models for defense, civil, and commercial space sectors. Core products include: (1) Optical Sensors for precise data in dynamic environments; (2) Ionospheric Sensors for real-time space environment monitoring; (3) Space Environment Models (including Dragster) for predictive insights; (4) OrbitIQ™ orbital intelligence platform; and (5) mission-specific payloads. Mission programs include RROCI (cloud characterization, launched 2024), Tetra (autonomous satellite servicing), Ouija (VLEO space weather, launching 2026), and ACMES (thermal imaging, launching 2027). Services span mission design, smallsat/CubeSat spacecraft, sensor/payload design, AI&T, and science/data analytics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OrbitIQ™: Orbital intelligence platform that enhances space domain awareness and mission resilience through high-fidelity modeling and real-time atmospheric analysis.

Products and services

• Optical Sensors Miniaturized, high-performance electro-optical/infrared sensors that deliver precise, reliable data in dynamic space environments. Used for defense and civil space missions including the RROCI cloud characterization system.
• Ionospheric Sensors Sensors providing real-time ionospheric monitoring and analysis to enhance satellite communications, navigation, and scientific understanding of the space environment. Supports missions including IARPA SINTRA orbital debris detection.
• Space Environment Models (Dragster Model) Atmospheric and orbital environment models including the Dragster model that transform complex environmental data into predictive insights and strategic operational advantage for space domain awareness and orbit prediction.
• OrbitIQ™ Orbital Intelligence Platform Orbital intelligence platform that enhances space domain awareness and mission resilience through high-fidelity modeling and real-time atmospheric analysis. Awarded the Space Force Association Engineering and Space Technology Award at Spacepower Conference 2025.
• RROCI (Rapid Revisit Optical Cloud Imager) Prototype electro-optical/infrared weather system satellite providing near real-time global cloud characterization in support of defense operations. Launched March 2024 as part of the EWS program for the U.S. Department of Defense.
• Tetra Autonomous Satellite Servicing Program Multi-spacecraft autonomous satellite servicing program designed to extend operational lifespans and demonstrate refueling capabilities for satellites in geostationary equatorial orbit, supporting U.S. Space Force missions.
• Ouija VLEO Mission Very low Earth orbit (VLEO) mission using a compact 27U CubeSat to demonstrate advanced space weather sensing and resilient technologies for DARPA under the Ouija program.
• ACMES (Advanced Climate and Meteorological Earth Science) Mission demonstrating advanced thermal imaging and sensing technologies for climate science, agriculture, and space weather research applications.
• Space-Based Environmental Monitoring Sensor Payloads Mission-specific space-based sensor payloads for advanced environmental monitoring supporting space-based intelligence and satellite systems. More than 25 payloads under contract for a proprietary customer.
• Mission Design, Planning and Operations End-to-end space mission design, planning, and operational support services for SmallSat and CubeSat programs serving defense, civil, and commercial space customers.
• Smallsat and CubeSat Spacecraft Design & Build Design and build services for SmallSats and CubeSats, providing custom spacecraft platforms tailored to mission requirements for defense and civil space customers.
• Sensor and Payload Design Custom sensor and payload design services for space applications, supporting optical, ionospheric, and atmospheric sensing missions.
• AI&T (Assembly, Integration and Test) Spacecraft and payload assembly, integration, and testing services for space missions, supporting both Orion-developed and customer programs.
• Science and Data Analytics Data analytics services for space science applications including space weather research, Earth observation processing, and AI/ML-based orbital debris detection (IARPA SINTRA Phase 2).

Quantifiable outcome

• Detection of orbital debris smaller than 10 cm that current radar and optical systems typically cannot track
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Advanced SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrion Space Solutions received a two-year follow-on subcontract from Advanced Space to support Phase 2 of the IARPA SINTRA program. The partnership builds on Phase 1 breakthroughs in studying ionospheric interactions induced by orbital debris, with Phase 2 focused on refining methods to detect and characterize untracked objects smaller than 10 cm through plasma wave environment measurements.
• ExoAnalytic SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Orion Space Solutions and Advanced Space on the IARPA SINTRA Phase II contract for developing AI/ML approaches for detecting and tracking space debris in orbit.
• General AtomicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoth companies were selected by U.S. Space Force to develop and launch demonstration satellites for weather imaging and cloud characterization under the EWS program.
• National Science FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrion leads the NSF-funded Convergence Hub for the Exploration of Space Science (CHESS) project to enhance grid resilience against space weather events.
• Arcfield (Parent Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrion Space Solutions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Arcfield. Arcfield acquired the company to deliver space superiority and resiliency solutions to U.S. government agencies. Arcfield provides corporate oversight and strategic direction.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LeoLabs: LeoLabs operates a commercial space domain awareness and orbital debris tracking network using ground-based radar. Like Orion, it monetizes persistent tracking data for governments and commercial operators, making it the closest pure-play SDA peer.
• ExoAnalytic Solutions: ExoAnalytic provides space domain awareness via a global optical sensor network and is an existing Orion partner on IARPA SINTRA Phase 2. It directly competes in debris tracking and SDA analytics for U.S. government customers.
• Slingshot Aerospace: Slingshot provides space domain awareness, AI-driven orbital analytics, and space simulation for defense and commercial operators. It directly overlaps Orion's OrbitIQ positioning in SDA software and data services.
• Astroscale: Astroscale is a leading in-orbit servicing and debris-removal company with active GEO life-extension missions. It is the most direct peer to Orion's Tetra servicing and refueling program for Space Force.
• COMSPOC: COMSPOC offers commercial space situational awareness, conjunction screening, and spaceflight safety software for satellite operators and governments. It competes directly with OrbitIQ for SDA software contracts.
• York Space Systems: York designs and manufactures standardized small satellites and spacecraft buses for government and commercial missions. It is a comparable spacecraft manufacturer and integrator serving similar U.S. defense customers.

Broad incumbents

• Ball Aerospace (BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems): Ball Aerospace (now part of BAE Systems) builds EO/IR weather sensors, spacecraft, and instruments for defense and civil agencies, including the JPSS weather satellite program. It is a much larger incumbent with overlapping optical sensor and spacecraft capabilities.
• L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris manufactures space payloads, weather sensors, and EO/IR instruments for military and civil customers. It is a major incumbent that competes with Orion for EWS weather sensor and SDA payload awards.
• Northrop Grumman Space Systems: Northrop Grumman builds spacecraft, sensors, and in-orbit servicing systems (Mission Extension Vehicle, MEV) for GEO satellites. Its MEV product line directly parallels Orion's Tetra servicing business and competes for the same Space Force dollars.

Emerging players

• Orbit Fab: Orbit Fab develops in-space refueling infrastructure (Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface) for satellite servicing. It is a closely adjacent emerging player to Orion's Tetra refueling demonstration for Space Force.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/orion-space-solutions-co
• Xx.com/Orion_Space_CO

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Orion Space Solutions