Space Structures
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Space Structures firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Space Structures
- Legal name
- Space Structures GmbH
- Website
- https://spacestructures.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Space Structures industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Space-grade Mechanical Subsystems and Structures Engineering
- NAICS
- Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB), Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)
Keywords
Where Space Structures is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Space Structures business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Mechanical Subsystems Manufacturing: Design, manufacturing, assembly, testing and supply of high-performance mechanical subsystems for space applications including satellite structures, launcher structures, optical payload structures, and precision assemblies. Revenue generated from build-to-spec projects where company takes responsibility for design and performance.
- Engineering Consulting Services: Consulting services including structure engineering, fatigue and fracture control, test engineering, thermal design, and system engineering. Delivered over space project phases B2, C & D.
- SpaceBolt Software Licensing: ESA-evaluated bolt verification software licensed in modular structure. Customers pay only for features needed. Includes database functionality, direct FEA import, automatic reporting.
- SpaceVibe Software Licensing: Vibration data processing software licensed for engineering teams. Trial versions available.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Mechanical Design Engineer (f/m/d) |
| Other | Annual | Senior Mechanical Metal Design Engineer (f/m/d) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Space Structures product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Space Structures GmbH designs, manufactures, and tests high-performance mechanical subsystems for space applications, including satellite structures, launcher structures, optical payload structures, struts, booms, sandwich panels, and precision assemblies. The company also licenses proprietary engineering software (SpaceBolt bolt verification, SpaceVibe vibration analysis) and delivers engineering consulting services across space project phases B2, C, and D. Its customers include ESA, EUMETSAT, Airbus, Thales Alenia Space, OHB, SpaceX, and other New Space operators.
Product overview
Space Structures GmbH is a German aerospace engineering company offering a portfolio of mechanical subsystems for space applications and proprietary engineering software. The hardware portfolio includes SpaceStrut (struts and booms in hybrid or full CFRP configurations), Honeycomb Sandwich Panels (various face sheet and core material combinations), and Precision Assemblies for satellites, launchers, and optical payloads. The software portfolio consists of SpaceBolt (ESA-evaluated bolt verification tool) and SpaceVibe (vibration data processing and visualization tool). Services include mechanical subsystem development (design, manufacturing, assembly, testing), structure engineering consulting, fatigue & fracture control consulting, and test engineering consulting. The company operates primarily as Build-to-Spec project contractor covering space project phases B2, C & D.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SpaceBolt: ESA-evaluated bolt verification software for space industry standards ECSS-HB-32-23 and VDI-2230
- SpaceVibe
- SpaceStrut
- LVA (Launch Vehicle Adapter)
Products and services
- SpaceStrut (Struts and Booms) Family of structural struts and booms using hybrid (CFRP/GFRP tubes with metallic fittings) or full CFRP configurations with bonded and riveted joints qualified across wide temperature and load ranges. Used by satellite and launch vehicle integrators needing lightweight, high-stiffness structural supports.
- Honeycomb Sandwich Panels Sandwich panels combining aluminium, GFRP or CFRP facesheets with aluminium, CFRP or NOMEX honeycomb cores for spacecraft and launcher structures. Provide high stiffness-to-mass ratios for space structures.
- Precision Assemblies High-performance satellite and launcher structures, optical payload structures, electronic equipment enclosures, and mechanical ground support equipment (MGSE) built to specification for space missions.
- SpaceBolt ESA-evaluated bolt verification software for space industry standards ECSS-HB-32-23 and VDI-2230. Handles NASTRAN .PCH files and CSV formats, processes statics, sine and random loads, and thousands of loadcases simultaneously. Used by structural engineers in space projects.
- SpaceVibe Vibration data processing and visualization tool for sine and random vibration testing. Supports Nastran punch, universal 58, and CSV formats with visualization, interpolation, scaling, notching, overlay plots, and quick notch definition. Used by test engineers in space programs.
- Mechanical Subsystems (Build-to-Spec Projects) Turnkey design, manufacturing, assembly, testing and supply of mechanical subsystems for spacecraft, rideshare/constellation launch structures, optical payload instrument structures, enclosure structures, and struts/booms/sandwich panels. Delivered as build-to-spec projects across space project phases B2, C and D.
- Fatigue & Fracture Control Consulting Consulting service covering fracture control planning, potential fracture critical items (PFCIL) definition, fatigue and crack growth analyses using ESACRACK, ESAFATIG, and NASGRO. Critical for human spaceflight and pressurized structures.
- Structure Engineering Consulting FEM-based structural analysis consulting including statics, dynamics, thermo-elastic, shock, vibro-acoustic analyses, model correlation, Craig-Bampton condensation, and fatigue/fracture verification using Altair HyperWorks, Siemens Femap, and MSC/NX Nastran.
- Test Engineering Consulting Test planning and execution including static, vibration (quasi-static, sine, random), acoustic, TVAC, thermal cycling, shock, outgassing, and CTE/CME testing per ECSS-E-10-03A standards.
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 100 satellites launched on LVA family rideshare adapters
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Space Structures
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Space Structures technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Space Structures partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Thales Alenia SpacecoreThales Alenia Space selected by ESA to build the I-HAB module for Lunar Gateway. Space Structures is part of consortium developing internal secondary structures for International Habitation Module. ESA announced selection on 14 October 2020.
- OHB Italia S.p.A.coreConsortium partner for ESA Biomass (Earth Explorer 7) satellite mission. Space Structures provided primary structure mechanical analyses including static/strength analysis, stress analysis, FEM modeling, and thermo-elastic analysis.
- Sener Aerospace & DefencecoreConsortium partner for ESA Biomass satellite mission alongside OHB Italia and APCO Technologies.
- APCO Technologies SAcoreConsortium partner for ESA Biomass satellite mission alongside OHB Italia and Sener.
- NASAcoreNASA leads the Lunar Gateway project with contributions from ESA, JAXA, and CSA. Space Structures contributes to I-HAB module through ESA consortium with Thales Alenia Space.
- JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)corePartner in Lunar Gateway multinational project. I-HAB module will include life support system contributions from JAXA.
- CSA (Canadian Space Agency)corePartner in Lunar Gateway multinational project. CSA contributing robotics to the station.
- EOSOLcoreCo-developed the complete structure subsystem of the (sub)mm Validation Standard Antenna (VAST) for ESA. Antenna operates at cryogenic temperatures (4K) for measurements between 86 GHz and 1.2 THz.
- ESA (European Space Agency)coreESA evaluated SpaceBolt software in a 6-month thorough process. Space Structures also provides services for multiple ESA missions including Biomass, Comet Interceptor, VAST, COLIBRIS, and Lunar Gateway.
- SpaceXcoreSpaceX Transporter missions (1-7) utilize Space Structures' LVA family rideshare payload adapters. SpaceX SmallSat Rideshare Program provides cost-effective access to space for small satellite operators.
- DSI Aerospace GmbHminorMulti-disciplinary consulting (CAD, FEM, Thermal) performed for PDHU electronic unit of DSI Aerospace GmbH.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Space Structures competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MT Aerospace: German manufacturer of aerospace structures and components including spacecraft and launcher structures. Sister company of OHB (a Space Structures customer) and a comparable Tier-1 supplier of mechanical subsystems in the European space industry.
- Airborne (Airborne Aerospace): Dutch supplier of advanced composite structures for space and aerospace applications. Competes with Space Structures on lightweight composite satellite/launcher structures and sandwich-panel products for European primes.
- Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space): Swiss-headquartered supplier of payload adapters, dispenser systems, and spacecraft structures. Direct competitor in launch-vehicle adapters (SpaceX/Exolaunch-class) and payload structural subsystems across European and US programs.
- Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (Space & Surveillance): Norwegian supplier of space mechanisms, deployable structures, and satellite subsystems. Comparable to Space Structures in the supply of precision mechanical assemblies for European institutional and commercial space missions.
- HPS GmbH (High Performance Space Structure Systems): Munich-based German supplier of CFRP and metallic space structures (satellite and launcher). Closest direct competitor to Space Structures in lightweight CFRP primary/secondary structures for European space primes and ESA programs.
- SENER Aeroespacial: Spanish supplier of space mechanisms, structures, and aerospace systems. Direct comparable in mechanisms, hold-down and release actuators, and structures for ESA and commercial missions; also an existing consortium partner alongside Space Structures on Biomass.
Broad incumbents
- Tesat-Spacecom: German supplier of satellite communication payloads and equipment enclosures. Comparable to Space Structures in the German space SME ecosystem, supplying mechanical and electronic subsystems to institutional and commercial primes.
- OHB System AG: Bremen-based European space systems prime contractor and integrator. Overlaps with Space Structures as a customer (OHB Italia consortium for Biomass) and as a broader incumbent that designs and integrates the spacecraft for which Space Structures supplies structures.
- Thales Alenia Space: Major European space prime for satellites, space stations, and exploration. Both a customer (Lunar Gateway I-HAB, Biomass) and a broad incumbent that competes for and integrates structural subsystem work — operating at a much larger scale.
- Northrop Grumman Space Systems: US-based large defense/aerospace prime with broad space structures, satellite buses, and launcher capabilities. Provides reference for how a structurally specialized supplier can scale into a broad prime, and competes for institutional space structure work globally.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Space Structures compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Space Structures financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Space Structures leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Space Structures funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Space Structures 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 Space Structures
What does Space Structures do?
Space Structures GmbH designs, manufactures, and tests high-performance mechanical subsystems for space applications, including satellite structures, launcher structures, optical payload structures, struts, booms, sandwich panels, and precision assemblies. The company also licenses proprietary engineering software (SpaceBolt bolt verification, SpaceVibe vibration analysis) and delivers engineering consulting services across space project phases B2, C, and D. Its customers include ESA, EUMETSAT, Airbus, Thales Alenia Space, OHB, SpaceX, and other New Space operators.
Is Space Structures a public or private company?
Space Structures is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Space Structures founded?
Space Structures was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Space Structures based?
Space Structures is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Space Structures make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Mechanical Subsystems Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are engineering Consulting Services, spaceBolt Software Licensing and spaceVibe Software Licensing.
Who are Space Structures's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MT Aerospace, Airborne (Airborne Aerospace), Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space), Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (Space & Surveillance), HPS GmbH (High Performance Space Structure Systems) and SENER Aeroespacial. Broad incumbents are Tesat-Spacecom, OHB System AG, Thales Alenia Space and Northrop Grumman Space Systems.
Does Space Structures have an API?
No public API is recorded for Space Structures.
What industry is Space Structures in?
Space Structures's product category is Space-grade Mechanical Subsystems and Structures Engineering. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAF, Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control, with a secondary code of IMABACAB, Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial). Its NAICS code is 336419 and its SIC code is 3760.