Borospace

What Borospace does

Borospace s.r.o. is a Slovak private space-technology company focused on hybrid rocket propulsion systems for small-satellite launch, suborbital research, and institutional aerospace applications. Founded in 2019 as a spin-off from the Slovak Organisation for Space Activities (SOSA), the company is headquartered in Bratislava-Rača with an additional site in Dunajská Streda and serves CubeSat operators, research institutions, and space agencies.

The company's technology stack is built around paraffin-wax fuel combined with nitrous oxide (N2O) oxidizer. Its core product lines are the WAFER (Wax Fuel Embedded Structure) hybrid propulsion grain, the ARDEA rocket platform — progressing from the ARDEA 2 demonstrator to the ARDEA 3bx suborbital vehicle — and the LION concept using lithium batteries as a propulsion energy source. Supporting infrastructure includes a Mobile Rocket Motor Test Bed and Launcher, N2O valve systems, custom hybrid propulsion test beds, and composite parts manufacturing. The WAFER technology has been matured under an ESA/PECS project, providing third-party institutional validation.

Borospace generates revenue primarily through R&D project contracts, custom engine-testing services, and the sale or licensing of propulsion hardware and components. Go-to-market relies on direct outreach, partner referrals, university collaborations, and a social-media presence (Instagram @ardearocket, Facebook). The company's customer base is concentrated in institutional, academic, and government-linked buyers, with ESA-aligned relationships serving as the principal commercial anchor at this stage.

Name

Borospace

Legal name

BOROSPACE s.r.o.

Website

https://borospace.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Borospace is a Slovak space-technology company that designs and tests hybrid rocket propulsion systems using wax fuel and nitrous oxide, serving CubeSat operators, research institutions, and space agencies with hardware and engine-test services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Propulsion Systems

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Engines & Turbines (3510)

akta.pro primary industry

Hybrid Rocket Engines (IMABADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Propulsion Test, Integration & Certification Services (IMABADAN), Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters (IMABACAE)

Keywords

• Hybrid rocket propulsion
• Sounding rocket systems
• Aerospace propulsion testing
• CubeSat launch platforms
• Composite rocket manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Raca

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Propulsion System Sales: Design, manufacturing, and sale of specialized valves, rocket propulsion components, and hybrid rocket systems for sounding rockets and suborbital vehicles
2. Testing Services: Certified testing of small rocket engines (up to 30kN thrust), electrically driven pumps, hybrid gas generators, insulation materials, nozzles, ignition techniques, and injectors on certified testing sites
3. Engineering & Development Services: Custom engineering development including wax fuel development, solid fuel formulations for hybrid rocket engines, and composite parts manufacturing

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Borospace designs, manufactures, and tests safe propulsion systems for sounding rockets and various vehicles, specializing in hybrid rocket propulsion using wax fuel with nitrous oxide (N2O) as oxidizer. The company provides certified testing of small rocket engines up to 30kN thrust at certified testing sites, alongside manufacturing of N2O valves, hybrid propulsion test beds with control and data acquisition electronics, and composite parts. It also develops suborbital rocket platforms (ARDEA series) for CubeSat launches and high-altitude experiments.

Product overview

Borospace is a space technology company specializing in safe propulsion systems for sounding rockets and various vehicles. The portfolio includes both products and services: core products include the ARDEA 2 and ARDEA 3bx suborbital rockets, the Mobile Rocket Motor Test Bed & Launcher, the WAFER wax fuel embedded structure system, and the innovative LION lithium battery propulsion system. Services encompass hybrid rocket engine testing (up to 30kN), nitrous oxide valve systems, hybrid rocket propulsion test beds with control/data acquisition electronics, and composite parts manufacturing. The company operates in collaboration with academic and industry partners including Needronix, FEI STU, SOSA, and Explosia, with an ESA/PECS project for WAFER technology development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ARDEA: Affordable launch platform for CubeSats testing and high altitude experiments. Includes ARDEA 2 rocket demonstrator and ARDEA 3bx suborbital rocket projects.
• WAFER
• LION

Products and services

• ARDEA 2 Rocket Demonstrator Suborbital demonstrator rocket for testing mobile launch system technology and CFC composite rocket body manufacturing. Features four combustion chambers (54mm diameter) with HPH-12 wax fuel and 10L nitrous oxide tank. Two-stage parachute system (2x8m2) with expected max altitude of 2,000m and max starting weight of 50kg.
• ARDEA 3bx Suborbital Rocket One-stage suborbital rocket predecessor to ARDEA III with same diameter but shorter length. Features dual thrust level propulsion using wax fuel with nitrous oxide oxidizer and WAFER system for wide temperature range operation. Approximately 80% reusable with carbon fiber composite primary structural material.
• Mobile Rocket Motor Test Bed & Launcher Mobile test bed on a special trailer for static testing of rocket engines outdoors in a protected environment. Designed for up to 30kN thrust (for 120km altitude suborbital rocket). Features solid frame, support system, anchoring mechanism, force/pressure/temperature recording devices, and containers for N2O and auxiliary gases (compressed oxygen, nitrogen, helium). Autonomous and remotely controlled.
• WAFER (Wax Fuel Embedded Structure) ESA/PECS project developing a semi-mechanical joint system for wax fuel cast and internal isolation layer of hybrid combustion chamber. Solves inherent problems of wax fuel shrinking and cracking under thermal cycling by enabling fuel grain assembly from smaller segments with flexible storage, allowing wide temperature range operation.
• LION (Lithium batteries as Rocket Propulsion) Dual-function system where Li-ion batteries operate normally initially, then transform into propulsion systems for satellite deorbit braking maneuvers. Addresses space debris removal needs without pyrogens or monopropellants, offering safer storage and launch characteristics compared to chemical rocket alternatives.
• Hybrid Rocket Engine Testing Services Testing services for small rocket engines up to 30kN thrust, including testing of insulation materials, nozzles, ignition techniques, injectors, and development of solid fuels for hybrid rocket engines. Conducted at certified testing sites.
• Nitrous Oxide Valve Systems Design, manufacturing, and testing of special valves for nitrous oxide (N2O) as an oxidizer for sounding rockets and various vehicles.
• Hybrid Rocket Propulsion Test Beds Design and building of hybrid rocket propulsion test beds including requisite control and data acquisition electronic systems.
• Composite Parts Manufacturing Manufacturing services for composite parts, including special-purpose machines design and assembly, leveraging CFC (carbon fiber composite) capabilities developed through the ARDEA rocket project.

Quantifiable outcome

• ARDEA 2 rocket achieves up to 2000m altitude with 50kg starting weight
• +3 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and potential.

• NeedronixcoreTechnology or IntegrationSmall company experienced in design, development, manufacturing of CubeSats; in testing of sun sensors; and in building of ground stations. Needronix cooperates with Borospace in design of mechanical parts and in software development.
• FEI STU (Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the oldest technological university departments in Slovakia with rich scientific and research activities. The department's research activities involve the group that develops and operates small rocket engines for the ARDEA project, which focuses on the construction of the first Slovak suborbital rocket.
• DNB consult, s.r.o.coreTechnology or IntegrationSmall company experienced in research and development of chemical materials tailored to specific customer requirements. DNB consult shares expertise in wax fuel development and casting technology with Borospace.
• SOSA (Slovak Organisation for Space Activities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHas successfully launched the skCUBE nanosatellite and supports the ARDEA project. SOSA spun off Borospace to new era, representing the founding organization's continued support for the venture.
• Carbon TechnicsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSmall company based in Pezinok, Slovakia, specialist for winding systems mainly using carbon fiber. Key technology for ultra-light pressure vessels. Carbon Technic co-designs and develops single-purpose machines for this purpose.
• ExplosiapotentialStrategic or Co-development PartnerWell-known Czech manufacturer of blasting explosives. Explosia, with cooperation of VÚPCH Pardubice-Semtín, has tested around 30 wax-fueled hybrid rocket motors developed by Csaba Boros in his PhD thesis work. Explosia is a potential partner that could provide a certified site for propulsion testing to Borospace (after approval).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Rocket Lab: US/NZ public small-launch company with the Electron orbital launcher and Photon satellite platform, dominating the smallsat launch market that Borospace's ARDEA platform is also targeting.
• Avio: Italian aerospace company producing the Vega family of launch vehicles including solid rocket motors and propulsion systems — a broader European propulsion incumbent with ESA programme depth comparable to what Borospace aims to develop.
• Astra Space: US small-launch company developing the Rocket orbital launcher targeting smallsat customers — comparable end-market positioning even though propulsion technology differs.
• Nammo: Norwegian aerospace and defence company producing solid and hybrid rocket motors for space launch and military applications, with an established European customer base and ESA relationships — a broader incumbent in the same propulsion category.

Direct peers

• PLD Space: Spanish small launch company developing suborbital (MIURA 1) and orbital (MIURA 5) launch vehicles, partnering with universities and offering propulsion testing services — closely comparable European competitor in suborbital small launch.
• Skyrora: UK-based small launch company developing the Skyrora XL suborbital/orbital launch vehicle, also using a hybrid propulsion approach and targeting the smallsat launch market — directly comparable mission and customer profile.
• HyImpulse: German startup developing hybrid rocket engines using paraffin (wax) fuel and nitrous oxide — a near-identical propulsion architecture to Borospace's WAFER/ARDEA systems, serving small launch and in-space propulsion markets.

Emerging players

• Reaction Engines: UK propulsion company developing SABRE precooled air-breathing engine and supporting test infrastructure for advanced rocket engines — comparable in advanced propulsion IP and European space agency relationships.
• Rocket Crafters: US startup developing hybrid rocket propulsion for small launch vehicles and sounding rockets — a niche hybrid propulsion peer targeting similar smallsat and suborbital use cases.

Others

• SOSA (Slovak Organisation for Space Activities): Borospace's parent/spin-off organisation, operating the skCUBE nanosatellite programme and running the ARDEA project — included as ecosystem context given the structural relationship rather than direct product competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/ardearocket
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/borospace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Borospace