Asteroids Laboratory

What Asteroids Laboratory does

Asteroids Laboratory (formal name: Asteroid Science, Technology and Exploration Research Organized by Inclusive eDucation Systems) is a NASA MIRO-funded, multi-disciplinary research laboratory housed at the University of Arizona in Tucson, founded in 2019 with a $3 million anchor grant. It conducts planetary science research focused on asteroids and small bodies, and develops enabling space technologies including CubeSat-based centrifuge laboratories (AOSAT series), autonomous surface exploration robots (AMIGO semi-inflatable swarm, SphereX spherical hopping robots, SPIKE subsurface penetrometer), inflatable antennas co-developed with NASA JPL, photovoltaic-electrolysis propulsion (PVEPS), and Artificial Neural Tissue (ANT) neuro-evolutionary controllers for multi-robot coordination. Mission concepts such as the Lunar Ark preservation facility, Europa CubeSat reconnaissance platform, and Space Threat Detection constellations extend the lab's portfolio into planetary defense, icy-moon exploration, and lunar infrastructure domains.

The lab operates as an academic research unit and does not sell commercial products or services. Funding flows from the NASA MIRO Program, NASA Space Grant, and additional federal research grants, with mission outputs measured in peer-reviewed publications, patents, conference presentations, and student placements rather than revenue. The Undergraduate Research and Education Program (UREP) recruits STEM undergraduates, with a stated emphasis on students traditionally underrepresented in aerospace, and places top performers into internships across NASA JPL, Ames, Goddard, Armstrong, and Johnson. Research outputs are disseminated through academic publications, conference presentations, and earned media.

Leadership comprises Principal Investigator Dr. Jekan Thanga (Associate Professor, 20 years of aerospace experience, 120+ publications), Deputy PI Dr. Erik Asphaug (planetary formation science team member on Galileo, LCROSS, Psyche, and Didymos), and Co-Investigators across the University of Arizona, UPR Humacao, Pima Community College, NASA JPL, and Lowell Observatory. Strategic partners include NASA JPL, the Planetary Formation Laboratory, and the SpaceTREx Laboratory.

Name

Asteroids Laboratory

Legal name

University of Arizona ASTEROIDS Laboratory

Website

https://asteroids.arizona.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Asteroids Laboratory is a NASA MIRO-funded, University of Arizona research lab developing CubeSat centrifuges, autonomous asteroid and lunar exploration robots, and neural-network control software. It serves NASA, the planetary science community, and STEM undergraduates, with no commercial product sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Research and Technology Development

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH), Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI), VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms (IMABAIAC)

Keywords

• Planetary science research
• Cubesat development
• Asteroid exploration technology
• Space robotics engineering
• Stem education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. NASA MIRO Program Funding: Core funding from NASA's MIRO (Major Research Instrumentation) Program supporting the ASTEROIDS Laboratory's research and education operations.
2. NASA Space Grant Funding: NASA Space Grant program funding supporting student internships and the UREP undergraduate research program.
3. Government Research Grants: Additional grants from federal sponsors supporting specific research projects including planetary science, ISRU, and CubeSat development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Asteroids Laboratory is a NASA-funded multi-disciplinary research laboratory at the University of Arizona that conducts planetary science research and develops space technologies focused on asteroid exploration. It develops CubeSat platforms (AOSAT centrifuge series), autonomous surface exploration robots (AMIGO, SphereX, SPIKE), inflatable antennas, photovoltaic electrolysis propulsion (PVEPS), and Artificial Neural Tissue (ANT) bio-inspired controllers for multi-robot systems. It also operates the UREP (Undergraduate Research and Education Program) that places students in NASA internships and cultivates a diverse STEM workforce pipeline.

Product overview

Asteroids Laboratory is a NASA-funded multi-disciplinary research laboratory at the University of Arizona focused on asteroid science, technology, and exploration. The portfolio consists of multiple interconnected space technology products: AOSAT (Asteroid Origins Satellite) series provides on-orbit CubeSat centrifuge laboratories for asteroid research (AOSAT 1, AOSAT 2-4, AOSAT+); surface exploration robots include AMIGO (semi-inflatable autonomous robot), SphereX (spherical hopping robots), and SPIKE (subsurface penetrometer); enabling technologies include Inflatable Antennas for communications, PVEPS propulsion system, and ANT neural network controllers; supported by educational programs (UREP) and mission concepts including Lunar Ark, Europa CubeSat, and Space Threat Detection systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AOSAT 1 (Asteroid Origins Satellite 1) On-orbit 3U CubeSat (34 x 10 x 10 cm, 4 kg) serving as the first centrifuge spacecraft and first on-orbit science laboratory dedicated to planetary science research, housing crushed meteorites for experiments in artificial gravity or micro-gravity modes.
• AOSAT 2-4 Series Series of 3U CubeSat missions (4 kg, 34 x 10 x 10 cm) that spin in Low Earth Orbit producing centrifugal force to simulate milligravity or centi-gravity of asteroid surfaces, building on AOSAT 1 technology.
• AOSAT+ 12U CubeSat with 3-axis reaction wheel attitude actuation system providing 1-degree pointing capability and 1.5 Mbps S-band downlink to MC3 Ground Network, with strategically positioned cameras for imaging experiments inside the chamber.
• AMIGO (Asteroid Mobile Imager and Geologic Observer) Autonomous semi-inflatable robot in stowed 10x10x10 cm package (1U CubeSat equivalent) that deploys an inflatable sphere of approximately 1 m diameter, with three mobility modes (ballistic hopping, rotation during hops, and uprighting maneuvers) for asteroid surface exploration.
• SPIKE (Spacecraft Penetrator for Increasing Knowledge of NEOs) Subsurface-probing asteroid lander designed as a deep-space solar electric propulsion orbiter using penetrators at the end of a 3-meter boom to perform seismology and subsurface mapping of volatiles and organics at depths of 0.3 to 1 meter.
• SphereX (Spherical Rocket-Propelled Robots) Network of 3-5 kg spherical hopping/flying/rolling robots powered by rockets, equipped with smartphone-sized computers, stereo cameras, laser rangefinders, and science payloads for extreme environment exploration on Moon and Mars.
• Inflatable Antennas for CubeSats Inflatable membrane antenna systems for CubeSats developed in collaboration with NASA JPL, featuring structural simulations, deployment system design, and UV-curable resin rigidization for interplanetary communications.
• PVEPS (Photovoltaic Electrolysis Propulsion System) Water-based propulsion system using onboard photovoltaic panels to electrolyze water, producing combustible hydrogen and oxygen for low-thrust CubeSat interplanetary propulsion applications.
• ANT (Artificial Neural Tissues) Controllers Bio-inspired neural network controllers using evolutionary algorithms for multi-robot systems, enabling efficient cooperation, fault tolerance, and graceful degradation for cooperative excavation, resource gathering, and exploration tasks.
• Europa CubeSat Concept 3U CubeSat designed for the Europa Clipper mission in collaboration with NASA JPL to conduct reconnaissance for landing sites and supplement scientific data through icy moon exploration.
• UREP (Undergraduate Research and Education Program) NASA-funded undergraduate research program providing hands-on experience in space systems engineering, planetary science, propulsion, and ISRU, with a pathway to NASA internships at multiple centers.
• Lunar Ark Concept for using lunar lava tubes as preservation facilities for seeds, spores, sperm, eggs, and DNA of Earth's 6.7 million species, powered by photovoltaics and operated by robots.
• Space Threat Detection Constellations Satellite constellation designs for autonomous monitoring of space threats including meteors, reentering space debris, and interstellar objects such as 'Oumuamua and Borisov.
• ISRU (In-Situ Resource Utilization) Resource prospecting systems using machine learning for automated reconnaissance mission concepts, including bucket wheels optimized for low-gravity environments and water extraction for propulsion.

Quantifiable outcome

• AOSAT 1: First centrifuge spacecraft and first on-orbit science laboratory dedicated for planetary science research
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKenneth Lawrence from NASA JPL serves as Co-Investigator. The lab collaborates with JPL on inflatable antenna development and Europa CubeSat concept for the Europa Clipper mission. Also supports NASA BIG Competition student teams.
• University of Puerto Rico at Humacao (UPRH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Desiree Cotto-Figueroa serves as Associate Professor and Co-Investigator, leading asteroid dynamics and thermophysical modeling research. Asteroid (11456) Cotto-Fizarro has been named in her honor.
• Pima Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Dennis Just serves as Professor and Co-Investigator from Pima Community College, bringing expertise in astrophysics and optical/X-ray astronomy. He led the ASCEND program and co-hosts The Orbital Mechanics podcast.
• Planetary Formation Laboratory (PFL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with PFL led by Dr. Erik Asphaug on AOSAT CubeSat centrifuge development and asteroid science research. PFL provides planetary science expertise and asteroid meteorite samples.
• Biosphere 2 / University of ArizonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiosphere 2 at University of Arizona is the planned venue for the 1st Lunar Ark Conference (late July 2021), co-hosted with the ASTEROIDS Laboratory and SpaceTREx.
• Lowell ObservatoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Cotto-Figueroa's research group uses the 31-inch NURO telescope at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona for photometric observation of Near-Earth Asteroids and binary stars.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Planetary Formation Laboratory (University of Arizona): Led by Deputy PI Dr. Erik Asphaug, this is a core collaboration partner contributing planetary science expertise, meteorite samples, and co-development of AOSAT and asteroid mission concepts.
• University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS): PI Thanga's PhD institution, with overlapping expertise in space robotics, micro air vehicles, and CubeSat design. Comparable academic aerospace R&D lab with strong industry and government partnerships.
• MIT Field and Space Robotics Laboratory: Where PI Thanga did his postdoctoral research. Comparable in mission: university-based space robotics R&D with CubeSat and autonomous systems focus, often partnering with NASA centers.
• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL): JPL is a direct collaboration partner on inflatable antenna development and the Europa CubeSat concept, with Co-I Kenneth Lawrence embedded in the lab. Both organizations develop planetary mission concepts and CubeSat-class spacecraft for NASA.
• SpaceTREx Laboratory (University of Arizona): Dr. Thanga's earlier lab operating under the same PI at the University of Arizona, sharing infrastructure, students, and the AOSAT CubeSat centrifuge research lineage. Functions as a closely-related sibling research unit.

Broad incumbents

• Arizona State University School of Earth and Space Exploration: Larger public-university planetary science and space engineering program that hosts NASA-funded CubeSat and mission concept work. Competes for the same NASA grants and talent pool as Asteroids Laboratory.
• Brown University Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences: University-based planetary science department with active asteroid and small-body research programs. Comparable as an academic peer competing for NASA SSERVI and PSD funding.
• Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL): Federally-funded R&D center that builds and operates planetary missions (Psyche, DART, Europa Clipper). Competes directly for NASA Discovery and New Frontiers mission concepts that the ASTEROIDS lab proposes to.
• Caltech Planetary Science: Affiliated with JPL; conducts asteroid and small-body research at scale, including the Keck Institute for Space Studies. Competes for the same NASA funding and faculty talent.

Emerging players

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Space Physics Research Lab: Smaller-scale university research program with CubeSat development and student-talent-pipeline missions analogous to UREP. Competes for NASA MIRO and Space Grant dollars.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/asteroidsctr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Asteroids Laboratory