What C3S does

C3S Electronics Development LLC is a Hungarian private aerospace company founded in 2012 by engineers from Budapest University of Technology who previously developed Hungary's first satellite, Masat-1. The company designs and manufactures 3-16U CubeSat platforms and a portfolio of in-house subsystems, including Electrical Power Systems (EPS 1000 and the in-development EPS 2000), On-Board Computers (OBC, CHP-OBC), Communication Subsystems (COM), Antenna Systems, and the OWL (Orbital Whereabout Locator) GNSS-based satellite tracker with integrated IMU and TID sensors. Beyond CubeSats, C3S produces large-satellite electronics such as a DCDC converter developed for the ESA SMILE mission and provides end-to-end mission services from design through deorbiting, supported by a Mission Operation Center and UHF/VHF/S-band ground station infrastructure. The company operates from an ISO 9001:2015-certified headquarters in Budapest with an ISO 8 cleanroom for spacecraft integration and testing, and holds ESA prime and subcontractor status across multiple programs.

C3S has delivered 8+ satellites with a claimed 100% mission success rate, including RADCUBE (2021), VIREO (April 2023, onboard AI demonstration), WREN-1 (August 2024), and the dual WISDOM and Mauve missions launched on SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter-15 in November 2025. Its technology stack includes proprietary elements such as the IPC (Intelligent Payload Controller) for autonomous collision avoidance, the RoR protocol stack (RBDP+RMAP), and flight-validated redundant subsystems designed to ECSS standards. The company has stated a production-scaling goal of moving from 1-2 to 4-8 satellites per year and is developing an 8U platform (RAVEN) targeting a 2028 launch for 3GPP-compatible 5G Non-Terrestrial Network demonstration. C3S's products have been recognized by NASA's State of the Art Report on Small Spacecraft Technology, and the company received the 2024 Hungarian Industrial Innovation Prize for its 6U remote sensing platform.

C3S generates revenue through five streams: custom satellite platform manufacturing (project-based, multi-year), sale of subsystems and components (EPS, OBC, COM, Antenna), mission management services, shared payload bay arrangements offering 0.25U-4U payload volumes, and engineering services following ECSS standards. The customer base spans space agencies (ESA, NASA via recognition, Hungarian Centre for Energy Research), commercial satellite integrators (Blue Skies Space, Combit/Grepton, ION-X, Aurora Propulsion, Spaceit, Golbriak Space, SEOPS), and academic institutions (University of Óbuda, Széchenyi István University). Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales supported by participation in industry events such as Space Tech Expo Europe, with custom quoting rather than published pricing.

Name

C3S

Legal name

C3S Electronics Development LLC

Website

https://c3s.hu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

C3S Electronics Development LLC is a Hungarian aerospace company designing and manufacturing 3-16U CubeSat platforms, redundant subsystems (EPS, OBC, COM, Antenna), and the OWL satellite tracker. It serves ESA, space agencies, and commercial satellite operators with end-to-end mission services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

CubeSat Platforms and Satellite Subsystems

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220), Satellite Telecommunications (51741)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment (3663), Computer Communications Equipment (3576)

akta.pro primary industry

Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spacecraft Integration, Assembly & Test (IAT) (IMABACAK), Satellite Network Operations & Capacity Services (NOC, Capacity Leasing, Managed Payload Services) (HDAIAJAI), Satellite, GNSS & Positioning RF ICs (HDAHAMAJ)

Keywords

• CubeSat platforms
• Satellite subsystems
• Space mission management
• Nanosatellite manufacturing
• Satellite engineering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Jaipur

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Satellite Platform Manufacturing: Design, manufacturing, and delivery of 3-16U CubeSat platforms to customer specifications. Platforms incorporate in-house subsystems and customer payloads. Project-based revenue from prime contracts (ESA) and commercial customers.
2. Satellite Subsystems and Components: Sale of redundant subsystems including EPS, OBC, Communication Subsystem, Antenna Systems, and Structures to satellite integrators and constellation operators. Components have flight heritage and are designed for high reliability and scalability.
3. Mission Management Services: End-to-end mission support encompassing mission planning, platform design and manufacturing, integration and testing, launch management, and satellite operations. Includes Mission Operation Center (MOC) and Ground Station services.
4. Shared Payload Concept: Launch opportunities through shared payload bay arrangement, providing cost-effective access to space for multiple payload providers. Offers 0.25U to 4U payload volume options.
5. Engineering Services: Embedded systems development, digital and analog hardware design, FPGA design, and cyber-physical systems development following ECSS standards for space and ground segments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

C3S develops and manufactures 3U-16U CubeSat platforms and redundant subsystems (EPS, OBC, COM, Antenna, OWL tracker) for Earth observation, IoT, and space monitoring constellation missions. The company also provides end-to-end mission management services from concept through deorbiting, and participates in large satellite projects as designer of power distribution and payload synchronization electronics.

Product overview

C3S LLC develops and manufactures highly dependable 3/6/12/16U CubeSat platforms and redundant, affordable subsystems (OBC, EPS, COM, Antenna) for IoT, Earth Observation, and space monitoring constellation missions. The product portfolio includes in-house developed platforms (3U-16U), subsystems (EPS 1000/2000, OBC, CHP-OBC, COM, Antenna), large satellite electronics (DCDC Converter, RoR Protocol Stack), satellite tracking (OWL), and development tools (Bus Tester, JIG, Flatsat, EGSE). Services encompass complete mission lifecycle support including Engineering Services, Platform Development Kit, Mission Management, Shared Payload Concept, Mission Operation Center (MOC), and Tracking Station. The company also participates in large satellite projects as designer of power distribution systems and payload synchronization. With a 100% mission success rate, C3S serves both scientific payloads and industrial demands from planning through operations to deorbiting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OWL: Orbital Whereabout Locator - GNSS-based spacecraft tracker with VHF radio transmitter for satellite tracking and telemetry
• WISDOM
• VIREO
• WREN-1

Products and services

• 3U CubeSat Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% mission success rate across all satellites launched
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RAVEN Consortium Partners (Hungary)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026RAVEN (Resilient Access Validation for Evolving NTN) CubeSat project - C3S leads Hungarian consortium for 3GPP-compatible 5G Non-Terrestrial Network technology demonstration. Partners: Molaris Kft. (20 years software development, ML/data analytics, NATO certified, ESA consortium partner) and Óbudai Egyetem (Budapest University, 5G SDR research group led by Dr. habil. Wührl Tibor). Project funded by ESA ARTES Call in Hungary and National Economy Ministry, 2026-2028.
• ION-X (France)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2025Collaboration on OPS-SAT ORIOLE mission for Estonia's first commercial Earth observation satellite. ION-X provides HALO-100X compact electric propulsion system enabling precise maneuvering, lifetime extension, debris avoidance, and deorbiting. C3S integrates propulsion into 12/16U platform as spacecraft prime. ION-X's first thruster successfully flew in January 2025 on EDISON spacecraft.
• SEOPS (USA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025SEOPS prepared 10 customer spacecraft for SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter-15 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base. C3S spacecraft included in mission manifest alongside satellites from ESA, NASA, and other customers. SEOPS handled logistics, capacity procurement, and payload processing.
• ESA ScyLight/ARTES Program (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024ESA program line for optical and quantum communications supporting OPS-SAT ORIOLE mission development. ScyLight advances optical communication technologies for satellite communications. ESA coordinates member state resources to conduct space programs with direct involvement in mission development.
• Spaceit OÜ (Estonia)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2024OPS-SAT ORIOLE mission consortium - Spaceit provides ground segment software and satellite operations. Founded 2015, company makes satellite operations affordable through efficient resource utilization, extensive ground station networks, and flexible pay-as-you-go pricing. Software used in cyber defense exercises and satellite communication system development.
• Golbriak Space OÜ (Estonia)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2024OPS-SAT ORIOLE mission consortium - Golbriak provides optical communication terminal and thermal infrared camera payload. Specializes in miniaturized free-space optical communication for satellites and drones, hybrid optical/thermal imaging systems, optical ground stations, and end-to-end networking services.
• Blue Skies Space Ltd. (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Platform prime contractor for Mauve mission - 16U CubeSat for continuous observation of stellar flares. C3S manufactures structure, OBC, power system, communication and tracking subsystems; integrates telescope, spectrometers from Media Lario, CeramOptec, Avantes, and ADCS from ISISPACE. Blue Skies Space provides scientific payload and mission data requirements. Mauve represents C3S's first 16U platform mission and was inspected by European Commission delegate.
• Aurora Propulsion Technologies (Finland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration on WISDOM (Wise Integration of Satellites PNT tracking Data using OWL for collision avoidance Management) ESA NAVISP project. Aurora provides thrusters and plasma brake technology for satellite maneuvering and controlled deorbiting; C3S provides 6U CubeSat platform that separates into two 3U satellites. Partnership demonstrates international collaboration between Hungarian and Finnish space sectors with support from Business Finland and European Innovation Council.
• AIMotive (Hungary)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019AI ON BOARD project - collaboration to develop high-performance AI-boosting onboard computer hardware for small and large satellites. Combines C3S's nanosatellite development expertise with AIMotive's automotive AI acceleration technology (aiWare CNN accelerator). Project funded by Hungarian government (2019-1.1.1-PIACI-KFI-2019-00198, 847 million Ft support). Demonstrated successfully on VIREO mission.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/c3sspace
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-c3s

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 C3S