Orbotic Systems
Orbotic Systems develops propellant-free deorbit drag devices, onboard threat detection, space weather sensors, and a disc-shaped spacecraft platform for commercial, civil, and defense LEO mission assurance and orbital debris compliance.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersThousand Oaks, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Orbotic Systems does
Orbotic Systems Inc. is a privately held space technology company headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California, that develops spacecraft mission assurance, orbital control, and debris mitigation technologies for the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) market. The company markets an integrated Mission Assurance Stack comprising five core products: D3, a passive propellant-free Deorbit Drag Device that modulates spacecraft drag to achieve up to 80% of thruster functionality at a fraction of the cost and fits a compact 1U form factor for CubeSats and SmallSats up to 12U; ARGUS, a real-time onboard threat detection and predictive analytics system (patented August 2025); WIND, a NOAA-sponsored compact space weather sensor measuring ion and neutral particle densities; RIDDANCE, a dual-net capture system for active debris remediation; and DiskSat, a disc-shaped spacecraft platform licensed from The Aerospace Corporation for Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) missions.
The company generates revenue through three streams: one-time D3 hardware sales at $23,000 per unit with a $5,000 reservation deposit collected via its website, commercial licensing of DiskSat technology, and SBIR-funded government contracts from NASA and NOAA supporting development of WIND, GADGET, RIDDANCE, and other technologies. Orbotic serves commercial SmallSat operators needing FCC 5-year orbital debris compliance, civil space agencies (NASA, NOAA) requiring space weather intelligence and mission assurance capabilities, and U.S. defense and intelligence customers through the O-Astra ISR partnership for VLEO applications. The company co-founded by Erik T. Long (CEO) and Jane Ielmini (COO), with Scott Ryll as CFO, operates with 1-10 employees and has secured multiple Phase I and Phase II SBIR awards across NASA and NOAA between 2023 and 2025, supplemented by a Regulation CF equity crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine.
Orbotic Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Orbotic Systems
- Legal name
- Orbotic Systems Inc.
- Website
- https://orboticsystems.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Orbotic Systems develops propellant-free deorbit drag devices, onboard threat detection, space weather sensors, and a disc-shaped spacecraft platform for commercial, civil, and defense LEO mission assurance and orbital debris compliance.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Orbotic Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Space Debris Mitigation and Spacecraft Hardware
- 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
- Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal) (IMABACAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD), Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI), Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF)
Keywords
Where Orbotic Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Thousand Oaks
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Orbotic Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- D3 Hardware Sales: One-time hardware sales of the D3 Deorbit Drag Device at $23,000 per unit with $5,000 reservation deposit. Delivery within 120 days of deposit. Targets commercial smallsat operators requiring FCC 5-year orbital debris compliance.
- DiskSat Platform Licensing: Commercial license agreements for DiskSat technology usage. Orbotic Systems licensed DiskSat from The Aerospace Corporation for edge computing, autonomous operations, and in-orbit sensing applications.
- SBIR Government Contracts: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards from NASA and NOAA supporting development of space sustainability technologies including D3, WIND, RIDDANCE, and GADGET debris removal systems.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | D3 Deorbit Drag Device - Basic Unit |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Orbotic Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Orbotic Systems designs, manufactures, and sells space hardware products that enable satellite deorbiting, orbital debris remediation, space weather sensing, and onboard threat detection. Its flagship D3 Deorbit Drag Device is a propellant-free, passive system that modulates drag to control orientation and orbital decay for CubeSats and SmallSats, sold at $23,000 per unit. The company also offers the DiskSat spacecraft platform under commercial license, the ARGUS onboard threat detection system, the WIND space weather sensor, and the RIDDANCE dual-net capture system for active debris removal.
Product overview
Orbotic Systems develops a portfolio of integrated space technology products organized around a Mission Assurance Stack approach. The core offerings include DiskSat (a disc-shaped spacecraft platform for VLEO operations), D3 (a propellant-free deorbit drag device for orbital control and compliance), ARGUS (real-time onboard threat detection and predictive analytics), WIND (space weather sensor for orbital environment analysis), and RIDDANCE (dual-net capture system for debris remediation). These products are designed to work together: WIND senses the orbital environment, ARGUS predicts emerging risk, D3 enables passive maneuvering, and RIDDANCE protects orbital regimes—delivering mission assurance from launch through end-of-life deorbit. All products are designed to increase reliability for commercial, civil, and defense missions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- D3 (Deorbit Drag Device): A passive, propellant-free solution for maneuvering and deorbit. Delivers up to 80% of core thruster functionality at a fraction of the cost, enabling CubeSats, SmallSats, and constellations to maintain control and meet orbital debris compliance requirements.
- ARGUS
- WIND (Wind Ion Neutral Density)
- RIDDANCE
- DiskSat
Products and services
- D3 - Deorbit Drag Device A passive, propellant-free hardware device that modulates spacecraft drag to control orientation and orbital decay. Delivers up to 80% of core thruster functionality at a fraction of the cost. Compact 1U form factor (10cm x 10cm x 6.5cm) that attaches to host spacecraft and can deorbit satellites from altitudes as high as 700 km. Designed for CubeSats, SmallSats, and constellations to meet FCC 5-year orbital debris compliance. Sold at $23,000 per unit with a $5,000 reservation deposit and 120-day delivery lead time.
- DiskSat Spacecraft Platform A disc-shaped spacecraft form factor built for stability, surface area, and payload flexibility. Enables new approaches to sensing, control, and deployment in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), optimized for rideshare launches. Licensed from The Aerospace Corporation and used by Orbotic as a host spacecraft for VLEO sensor pathfinder missions including WIND integration. Marketed to defense, intelligence, and Earth observation customers through the O-Astra ISR partnership.
- ARGUS Onboard Threat Detection System A real-time onboard threat detection and analysis system that identifies and assesses potential hazards and risks in orbit. Incorporates predictive modeling and confidence scoring to support informed operational decisions, enabling rapid awareness and proactive response to evolving orbital threats and mission risks without ground-based analysis. Patented August 2025.
- WIND Space Weather Sensor A NOAA-sponsored compact space weather sensor that measures in-situ ion and neutral particle densities in Low Earth Orbit to improve orbit prediction, drag modeling, and collision avoidance. Provides real-time space weather intelligence with low SWaP-C design, enhancing Space Situational Awareness (SSA) for government and commercial space operators.
- RIDDANCE Dual-Net Capture System An advanced dual-net capture system designed to detumble and secure non-cooperative objects in orbit. Enables controlled capture operations for debris remediation and on-orbit servicing missions without the complexity of robotic systems. Combines autonomous detumbling, net capture, and passive descent using D3 drag technology, supporting the in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) sector.
Quantifiable outcome
- D3 delivers up to 80% of core thruster functionality at a fraction of the cost
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Orbotic Systems
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Orbotic Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
Orbotic Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- O-Astra ISRcoreStrategic agreement to collaborate on DiskSat spacecraft platform development for defense, intelligence, and Earth observation applications in VLEO. Orbotic Systems provides the DiskSat platform, technical interfaces, and engineering support. O-Astra ISR leads mission architecture development, defense market engagement, and proposal capture for U.S. government opportunities. Collaboration aims to position DiskSat as a flexible, mission-ready platform aligned with evolving U.S. defense priorities.
- The Aerospace CorporationcoreCommercial license agreement to commercialize DiskSat technology. Orbotic Systems plans to use the DiskSat form factor as host spacecraft for VLEO sensor pathfinder, including integration studies for WIND sensor to support future mission planning. Manufacturing agreement entered February 2026.
- Axient SpacecoreCollaboration on IGOR mission to demonstrate D3 Deorbit Drag Device on Firefly Alpha rocket. Axient's Space Monkey team hosts D3 to demonstrate drag force modulation for orbital decay control. Mission highlights FCC 5-year compliance rule for deorbiting spacecraft.
- Maverick Space SystemscorePartnership for assembly and functional testing of D3 deorbit device. Maverick Space provides customized, cost-effective end-to-end launch integration solutions including mission management, launch deployment hardware, and integration services. Enables Orbotic Systems to scale D3 production and deliver flight hardware to customers.
- NOAAcoreNOAA-sponsored development of WIND space weather sensor technology. Provides in-situ ion and neutral particle density measurements to improve orbit prediction and collision avoidance for space weather forecasting.
- NASAcoreMultiple SBIR awards from NASA supporting D3 development, GADGET debris removal technology, and RIDDANCE net-capture system development. D3 successfully launched aboard SpaceX CRS-25 in 2022.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Orbotic Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Astroscale: Astroscale is a direct peer specializing in active debris removal and satellite end-of-life services (ELSA-d, ELSA-M). It competes head-to-head with Orbotic's D3 and RIDDANCE offerings for the same LEO debris mitigation customers.
- D-Orbit: D-Orbit provides in-orbit transportation, satellite deployment, and end-of-life services using its ION Satellite Carrier. It competes with Orbotic's DiskSat platform and deorbit capabilities for SmallSat operators seeking lifecycle services.
- Momentus Space: Momentus offers in-space infrastructure services including orbital transfer, hosted payloads, and satellite servicing. Its Vigoride tug competes with Orbotic's DiskSat and D3 solutions for the same SmallSat end-of-life market.
- ClearSpace: ClearSpace (now part of a consortium for ESA's ClearSpace-1) builds active debris removal capture systems. RIDDANCE's dual-net capture architecture directly competes with ClearSpace's robotic capture approach for non-cooperative objects.
Emerging players
- Turion Space: Turion Space builds satellite servicing, debris tracking, and remediation platforms (Droid). It is an emerging player in active debris removal with overlapping customer segments and use cases to Orbotic.
- Atomos Space: Atomos Space develops orbital transfer vehicles (Glide) for repositioning and deorbiting small satellites. Its propulsion-based deorbit solution targets a similar FCC-compliance customer base as Orbotic's D3.
- Scout Space: Scout Space provides in-orbit observation and Space Situational Awareness services (SCOUT-Vision). It is a known Orbotic partner and competes in adjacent onboard threat detection alongside ARGUS.
- Orbit Fab: Orbit Fab develops in-space refueling and satellite servicing infrastructure. While its core focus is refueling rather than debris removal, it competes in the broader in-orbit servicing and ISAM market relevant to Orbotic's RIDDANCE and DiskSat roadmap.
Broad incumbents
- LeoLabs: LeoLabs is a leading commercial Space Situational Awareness provider tracking orbital debris using ground-based radar. It competes indirectly with Orbotic's WIND and ARGUS in the broader SSA and collision avoidance market.
- Northrop Grumman (Mission Extension Vehicle): Northrop Grumman's SpaceLogistics business operates the Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) for GEO satellite servicing. It is a broad incumbent whose capabilities and customer relationships in on-orbit servicing shape the addressable market Orbotic targets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Orbotic Systems social profiles
Digital presenceOrbotic Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Orbotic Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Orbotic Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Orbotic Systems 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 Orbotic Systems
What does Orbotic Systems do?
Orbotic Systems designs, manufactures, and sells space hardware products that enable satellite deorbiting, orbital debris remediation, space weather sensing, and onboard threat detection. Its flagship D3 Deorbit Drag Device is a propellant-free, passive system that modulates drag to control orientation and orbital decay for CubeSats and SmallSats, sold at $23,000 per unit. The company also offers the DiskSat spacecraft platform under commercial license, the ARGUS onboard threat detection system, the WIND space weather sensor, and the RIDDANCE dual-net capture system for active debris removal.
Is Orbotic Systems a public or private company?
Orbotic Systems is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Orbotic Systems founded?
Orbotic Systems was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Orbotic Systems based?
Orbotic Systems is headquartered in Thousand Oaks, United States, in the North America region.
How does Orbotic Systems make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. D3 Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are diskSat Platform Licensing and SBIR Government Contracts.
Who are Orbotic Systems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Astroscale, D-Orbit, Momentus Space and ClearSpace. Emerging players are Turion Space, Atomos Space, Scout Space and Orbit Fab. Broad incumbents are LeoLabs and Northrop Grumman (Mission Extension Vehicle).
Does Orbotic Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for Orbotic Systems.
What industry is Orbotic Systems in?
Orbotic Systems's product category is Space Debris Mitigation and Spacecraft Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAM, Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal), with a secondary code of IMABACAD, Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR). Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.