Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersOakland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation
- Legal name
- Alameda Applied Sciences Co.
- Website
- https://aasc.space
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electric Space Propulsion
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters (IMABACAE)
Keywords
Where Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- MPT Hardware Sales: Sale of Metal Plasma Thruster units to satellite operators and spacecraft bus manufacturers. Units are delivered as flight-ready or engineering models, with support through AI&T.
- IP Licensing: AASC licenses its MPT technology to Benchmark Space Systems, which rebrands it as 'Xantus'. This generates licensing/royalty revenue and extends market reach.
- Engineering Support Services: Software Development Unit (SDU) and Engineering Development Unit (EDU) support services to help customers develop CONOPS tools and perform satellite testing prior to FM delivery.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation develops and manufactures the Metal Plasma Thruster (MPT), an electric propulsion thruster that uses solid metal propellant to generate thrust via pulsed plasma acceleration, eliminating the need for liquids or moving parts. The company also offers a Gas Jet System for research and testing applications, and supports customers across microsatellite (under 150 kg) and minisatellite (over 150 kg) mission classes through mission-matched modular configurations.
Product overview
AASC produces a portfolio of electric propulsion and gas jet products centered on its Metal Plasma Thruster (MPT). The MPT is the core platform—a solid metal-fueled electric thruster offered alongside Software Development Unit (SDU) and Engineering Development Unit (EDU) support modules. The MPT is also sold under the Xantus sub-brand via Benchmark Space Systems license. A separate Gas Jet System product line addresses supersonic gas jet applications for research and industrial uses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Metal Plasma Thruster (MPT) A solid-metal-propellant electric propulsion thruster that uses pulsed plasma acceleration to produce thrust without liquids or moving parts; marketed in mission-matched configurations for microsatellites (under 150 kg) and minisatellites (over 150 kg).
- Gas Jet System A gas-jet-based propulsion / experimental system complementing the MPT line, sold for research applications and laboratory testing of propulsion concepts.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15,000+ hours of in-vacuum operation completed with 30+ units delivered
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Orion Space Solutions (Arcfield subsidiary)coreOrion Space Solutions (an Arcfield subsidiary) deployed the RROCI-2 satellite equipped with the MPT into orbit on March 4, 2024. The satellite delivers EO/IR Earth observation and infrared data supporting U.S. Space Force weather forecasting.
- Benchmark Space SystemscoreBenchmark Space Systems licensed AASC's Metal Plasma Thruster (MPT) technology as part of a hybrid propulsion strategy. The technology is rebranded as 'Xantus' and integrated with Benchmark's avionics platform. Through this license, 30 MPTs are on track to ship by H1 2025, with on-orbit data expected in H2 2025.
- NASA Artemis ProgramcoreAASC was selected for a two-year NASA Artemis grant to advance lunar technologies, continuing MPT development with improvements to total impulse, radiation tolerance, design for production, and array size.
- ASTRA LLCcoreAASC was selected by ASTRA LLC to deliver a flight-ready MPT for the EWS RROCI Mission funded by the U.S. Space Force's Space and Missile Systems Center. The MPT serves as the primary propulsion for the 12U spacecraft, handling orbit raise, attitude adjustments, and EOL de-orbit maneuvers.
- Pumpkin Labs (San Francisco, CA)minorPumpkin Labs built and integrated the 12U spacecraft bus for the RROCI mission. AASC delivered its flight-ready MPT unit to Pumpkin Labs for spacecraft integration.
- NASA (Glenn Research Center)coreNASA supported MPT development through the SBIR grant program. Thrust was verified multiple times at NASA Glenn Research Center using a sensitive pendulum thrust stand. Results were published in the Journal of Propulsion & Power.
- Various Gas Jet Customers (Research Institutions)minorAASC's Gas Jet system serves research institutions for applications including laser plasma accelerator targets, dense plasma foci, coaxial gas guns, Z-pinches, and astrophysical jet simulations. Examples include collaborations with teams working on 20MA Z-Pinches and ~2GeV electron experiments.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Enpulsion: Enpulsion manufactures field-emission electric propulsion (FEEP) thrusters for small satellites, directly competing with AASC's MPT for the same microsat and smallsat electric propulsion customer base.
- Accion Systems: Accion Systems develops non-toxic electric ion electrospray thrusters for small satellites, directly competing in the smallsat electric propulsion category with AASC's MPT, targeting similar microsat and minisat operators for station keeping and de-orbit.
- Busek: Busek manufactures a broad portfolio of electric propulsion systems (Hall thrusters, ion engines, electrospray) for small satellites and deep space missions, overlapping directly with AASC's electric thruster offering for the smallsat market.
- Morpheus Space: Morpheus Space builds miniaturized electric propulsion systems (NanoFEEP) for small satellites, directly competing with AASC's MPT in microsat and cubesat propulsion use cases such as de-orbit and station keeping.
- ThrustMe: ThrustMe develops electric and cold-gas propulsion systems for small satellites, including iodine-fueled electric thrusters, competing in the same low-impulse smallsat electric propulsion market that the MPT addresses.
- Phase Four: Phase Four produces RF thrusters for small satellites, directly competing in the same smallsat electric propulsion space as AASC, with similar customer targets among constellation operators and bus manufacturers.
- Momentus: Momentus provides in-space transportation services using its Vigoride orbital transfer vehicle with proprietary microwave electrothermal thrusters, competing in the smallsat in-space mobility and propulsion market.
Broad incumbents
- Benchmark Space Systems: Benchmark Space Systems is AASC's licensing partner and offers a broader hybrid propulsion portfolio (chemical, electric, hybrid) for in-space mobility, making it both a channel and a competing propulsion platform for smallsat operators.
- Aerojet Rocketdyne (L3Harris): Aerojet Rocketdyne (now part of L3Harris) is a major incumbent aerospace propulsion manufacturer with extensive Hall and ion thruster flight heritage, representing the dominant established alternative for electric propulsion in space.
- Astra (Apollo Fusion): Astra acquired Apollo Fusion and offers electric propulsion for small satellites alongside its launch business, positioning it as a broader incumbent with a directly relevant smallsat electric propulsion product line.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation social profiles
Digital presenceAlameda Applied Sciences Corporation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation 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 Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation
What does Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation do?
Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation develops and manufactures the Metal Plasma Thruster (MPT), an electric propulsion thruster that uses solid metal propellant to generate thrust via pulsed plasma acceleration, eliminating the need for liquids or moving parts. The company also offers a Gas Jet System for research and testing applications, and supports customers across microsatellite (under 150 kg) and minisatellite (over 150 kg) mission classes through mission-matched modular configurations.
Is Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation a public or private company?
Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation founded?
Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation based?
Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation is headquartered in Oakland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. MPT Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are IP Licensing and engineering Support Services.
Who are Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Enpulsion, Accion Systems, Busek, Morpheus Space, ThrustMe, Phase Four and Momentus. Broad incumbents are Benchmark Space Systems, Aerojet Rocketdyne (L3Harris) and Astra (Apollo Fusion).
Does Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation.
What industry is Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation in?
Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation's product category is Electric Space Propulsion. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAE, Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters. Its NAICS code is 336415 and its SIC code is 3760.