Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory

Aerospace Research Serviceshsfl.hawaii.edu

Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory is a University of Hawai'i at Mānoa research lab that designs, builds, and operates CubeSats and small satellites for NASA, DoD, and academic partners, including hyperspectral imaging and neutron detection missions.

Company typePrivate
Founded2007
HeadquartersHonolulu, United States
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

What Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory does

Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory (HSFL) is a university research laboratory embedded within the School of Ocean Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa in Honolulu. HSFL specializes in the design, development, integration, testing, and operations of small satellites and CubeSats, with active programs including the HyTI hyperspectral thermal imaging 6U CubeSat (launched March 2024, deorbited December 2024), the Neutron-1 3U CubeSat (deorbited July 2022), and the in-development Neutron-2 mission under the University Nanosatellite Program. Its core technical capabilities span CubeSat platform development (3U and 6U buses), a state-of-the-art Attitude Determination and Control System test bed, hyperspectral imaging technology based on a Fabry-Perot Interferometer (TRL 5), high-performance onboard computing (Unibap e2160), and the COSMOS open-source mission-operations software platform.

HSFL also operates end-to-end spaceflight infrastructure including clean rooms, thermal vacuum chambers, vibration/shock tables, ground stations integrated with SatNOGS, and a mission operations center, and it offers educational products such as the Artemis CubeSat Kit and the RoSE Lab for planetary surface robots. Notable strategic partners include NASA Ames Research Center (under a Space Act Agreement since 2010), NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (HyTI focal plane array), Arizona State University (neutron detector payloads), the University Nanosatellite Program, ISISpace, and SaraniaSat.

HSFL is not a commercial entity. It is grant-funded, with revenue derived from NASA programs (EPSCoR, CSLI/ELaNa, ESTO InVEST) and Department of Defense programs (DURIP), supported operationally by the Hawai'i Space Grant Consortium and the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii. Documented grants include $765,000 from FY2012 DURIP and $8,000,000 from NASA ESTO InVEST in 2023. The lab serves NASA and federal agencies as a primary customer segment, collaborating universities as a secondary segment, and the amateur radio community for educational engagement.

Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory
Legal name: Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory
Website: http://www.hsfl.hawaii.edu
Company type: Private
Founded year: 2007
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory is a University of Hawai'i at Mānoa research lab that designs, builds, and operates CubeSats and small satellites for NASA, DoD, and academic partners, including hyperspectral imaging and neutron detection missions.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory industry classification

Industry

Product category: Aerospace Research Services
NAICS: Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)
SIC: Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
akta.pro primary industry: Avionics Test, Simulation & Calibration Equipment (IMABAFAN)
akta.pro secondary industry: Military Aerospace Ground Support Equipment (GSE) & Test Systems (IMABAMAL)

Keywords

Small satellite development
CubeSat missions
Space research services
Hyperspectral imaging
Mission operations software

Where Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Honolulu
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory product offering

Product offering

Core offering

HSFL is a university research laboratory that designs, develops, integrates, tests, and operates small satellite and CubeSat missions for scientific research and technology demonstration. It provides end-to-end spacecraft engineering services including avionics design, clean room integration, ADCS testing, thermal vacuum and vibration qualification, ground station operations, and launch support. The lab also develops and distributes the open-source COSMOS mission operations software platform and offers the Artemis CubeSat Kit for STEM education.

Product overview

The Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory (HSFL) is a research center at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa that operates as both a space mission provider and a service organization. HSFL offers a portfolio of CubeSat and microsatellite missions (HyTI, Neutron-1, Neutron-2, HiakaSat-1, LEONIDAS, Project Imua, C3M) alongside an open-source software platform (COSMOS) for satellite operations. The laboratory provides comprehensive testing and integration services including ADCS testing, thermal vacuum chambers, vibration testing, clean rooms, and ground station operations. HSFL also develops educational products like the Artemis CubeSat Kit and operates the RoSE Lab for planetary surface robot research. The organization supports NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative and collaborates with institutions including JPL, Arizona State University, and ISISpace.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

HyTI (Hyperspectral Thermal Imager) A 6U CubeSat technology demonstration mission designed to demonstrate high spatial resolution (60m), high spectral resolution (25 bands), and long-wave infrared imaging for monitoring water resources and mapping cropland from space. Developed for NASA In-Space Validation of Earth Science Technologies Program in collaboration with JPL and SaraniaSat Inc.
Neutron-1 Mission A 3U CubeSat mission that measures low energy neutron flux in low Earth orbit, contributing to understanding the relationship between Earth and Sun through neutron abundance mapping, with an amateur radio VHF/UHF FM Voice Repeater component. Neutron detector payloads developed by Arizona State University.
Neutron-2 Mission A mission in development to measure neutrons in Low Earth Orbit using CubeSat(s) in polar orbit, featuring next-generation neutron detectors from Arizona State University and leveraging lessons learned from Neutron-1. Developed in collaboration with the University Nanosatellite Program (UNP).
COSMOS (Comprehensive Open-architecture Solution for Mission Operations Systems) An open-source integrated operations solution including flight software, ground station operations, and mission operations center for Small Satellite missions. Enables small satellite operations at universities with limited budgets and short schedules.
HiakaSat-1 Mission Microsatellite developed as part of the HawaiiSat-1 and ORS-4 Mission for launch from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai. Part of HSFL's early small satellite development portfolio.
LEONIDAS Mission Mission listed under HSFL's active and past missions portfolio.
CubeSats for Climate Change Monitoring (C3M) CubeSat mission initiative for climate change monitoring from space.
Artemis CubeSat Kit Educational CubeSat kit for student learning and hands-on satellite development experience, part of the 101 CubeSats initiative.
Satellite Platforms Services CubeSat and microsatellite platform development and customization services, including 3U and 6U platform design.
Integration and Testing Services Satellite integration and testing services for CubeSat and small satellite platforms.
Avionics / Space Hardware Design Services Design and development services for space avionics and hardware systems.
Instrumentation Services Instrumentation design and development services for space missions and research applications.

Quantifiable outcome

More than 100 students involved in Neutron-1 mission
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory

Customer profile

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature5 records

Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

NASA Ames Research CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2010NASA partnered with Hawai'i on space exploration and science through a three-year non-reimbursable Space Act Agreement for small satellite development, advanced aviation, space exploration, education, and science. First annex provides for small satellite development with HSFL.
University Nanosatellite Program (UNP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNP established in 1999 as the first federally funded program dedicated exclusively to university participation in spacecraft development. HSFL is working with UNP to accomplish Neutron-2 mission goals.
Arizona State University (ASU)coreTechnology or IntegrationASU developed the neutron detector payloads for Neutron-1 and Neutron-2 missions, as well as the LunaH-Map mission. Collaboration leverages ASU's detector expertise with HSFL's spacecraft bus capabilities.
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)coreTechnology or IntegrationJPL collaborated on HyTI mission, providing the BIRD (Barrier Infrared Detector) focal plane array technology. JPL's Microdevices Laboratory designed and developed the 2D FPA for the hyperspectral thermal imager.
Hawaii Space Grant ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing support and continuous funding from NASA Hawai'i EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Development Program. Consortium provides educational outreach and student involvement opportunities.
Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSFL operates within UH system alongside HIGP. HIGP provides hyperspectral imaging expertise and jointly developed the HyTI imaging interferometer.
University of Hawai'i Institute for AstronomyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 2024 Total Solar Eclipse research supporting Dr. Shadia Habbal's solar corona observations using NASA's WB-57 aircraft.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

University of Toronto Space Flight Laboratory: University of Toronto's Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) designs, builds, and operates small spacecraft including CubeSats and nanosatellites — closely matching HSFL's university-led model. Both labs develop complete satellite missions, perform integration and testing, and collaborate with government agencies.
Cal Poly PolySat: Cal Poly's PolySat is a student-driven CubeSat program that designs and builds small satellites for academic and research purposes. It mirrors HSFL's focus on student workforce development and CubeSat engineering education within NASA's university smallsat ecosystem.
ISISpace: ISISpace is a Dutch CubeSat platform provider that delivered the 6U bus for HSFL's HyTI mission. They overlap directly with HSFL's smallsat platform capabilities and serve similar academic, research, and commercial smallsat customers.
Morehead State University Space Science Center: Morehead State's Space Science Center operates a university small satellite program with ground station and CubeSat operations. It parallels HSFL's university-led smallsat development model, including ground station and tracking capabilities used by amateur and academic operators.
Surrey Space Centre: Surrey Space Centre pioneered small satellite research and currently designs, builds, and operates small spacecraft. Like HSFL, they combine academic research with practical spaceflight missions and have produced multiple commercial spin-outs (e.g., Surrey Satellite Technology).

Broad incumbents

GomSpace: GomSpace is a leading commercial CubeSat manufacturer providing satellite platforms, subsystems, and mission services globally. They operate as a commercial-scale analog to HSFL's smallsat platform and mission operations capabilities.
AAC Clyde Space: AAC Clyde Space produces CubeSat platforms, payloads, and mission services for commercial and government customers. They compete with HSFL in the smallsat platform and components space, especially across ESA and academic customers.
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems: Tyvak produces commercial CubeSat buses and smallsat solutions for government and commercial customers. They are a broader market player in the same smallsat platform space as HSFL, with significantly more commercial scale.
Blue Canyon Technologies: Blue Canyon Technologies builds commercial smallsat buses, attitude control systems, and space components. Their offerings directly overlap with HSFL's avionics design and spacecraft bus capabilities, particularly for government and defense customers.
York Space Systems: York Space Systems produces full smallsat buses and mission solutions primarily for defense and government customers. They overlap with HSFL's smallsat platform and mission integration services, particularly for SDA and DoD customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory

What does Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory do?

Is Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory a public or private company?

Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory founded?

Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory based?

Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory is headquartered in Honolulu, United States, in the North America region.

Who are Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are University of Toronto Space Flight Laboratory, Cal Poly PolySat, ISISpace, Morehead State University Space Science Center and Surrey Space Centre. Broad incumbents are GomSpace, AAC Clyde Space, Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Blue Canyon Technologies and York Space Systems.

Does Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory have an API?

No public API is recorded for Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory.

What industry is Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory in?

Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory's product category is Aerospace Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAFAN, Avionics Test, Simulation & Calibration Equipment, with a secondary code of IMABAMAL, Military Aerospace Ground Support Equipment (GSE) & Test Systems. Its NAICS code is 541380 and its SIC code is 3812.