What ASTRO does

ASTRO (legal entity ASTRO MECHANICAL TESTING LABORATORY, LLC.) is a Los Angeles-based, private additive manufacturing testing laboratory founded in 2020 that specializes in validation, qualification, and certification of AM-produced aerospace and space hardware. The company positions itself as the first dedicated AM test lab, operating across multiple additive modalities (LPBF, SLS, SLM, DMLS, EBM) and a broad materials portfolio spanning aluminum, nickel, steel, titanium, copper, iron, and refractory alloys. Its service architecture is organized around four products: Standard Testing Services (mechanical, metallurgical, and chemical testing plus specimen preparation), the VECTOR Partner Program (a structured partnership with Systems, Materials, and Components pathways aligned to AS9100, NADCAP F42, NASA 6030, and ASTM AMQ standards), DEEP Testing (AI-driven predictive modeling, ML-based process optimization, and a Digital Twin framework built on Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies), and the T-MINUS Portal (a web application for instant quoting and test workflow automation).

Underlying the testing layer is a multidisciplinary stack that integrates materials science, engineering principles, mathematical analysis, FEA thermal and structural simulation, and ICME-style process-structure-property modeling. The team carries over 30 years of collective aerospace testing experience, including direct lineage to failure analysis on rocket landing legs, Martian rovers, Space Shuttle foam, and lunar hardware, which underpins the company's credibility with aerospace primes. The company's competitive advantage rests on talent depth, regulatory and standards expertise, and a first-mover position in dedicated AM qualification rather than on AI alone; AI is an enhancement to the core service rather than the core itself.

ASTRO operates a quote-based, project-priced professional services model with pay-as-you-go billing, accessed via direct enterprise sales, email inquiry, and the T-MINUS portal. Each engagement is managed by a dedicated Responsible Engineer through the VECTOR Partnership program, indicating an enterprise field sales motion targeting aerospace manufacturers and space tech companies. The company is privately held, has 11-50 employees, reports no disclosed funding rounds or revenue, and serves primarily North American customers from its Los Angeles headquarters, with recent operational activity in Panama City, Florida through partnerships with ASTM International and Florida State University InSPIRE.

Name

ASTRO

Legal name

ASTRO MECHANICAL TESTING LABORATORY, LLC.

Website

https://astrotestlab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ASTRO is a Los Angeles-based private additive manufacturing testing laboratory founded in 2020 that provides validation, qualification, and certification services for aerospace and space hardware producers. It offers mechanical and metallurgical testing, structured partnership pathways, and AI-enabled process analytics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Additive Manufacturing Testing Services

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

NDT/Inspection & Testing Services (Aviation) (IMABALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aerospace & Defense (Production AM Parts) (IMAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Additive manufacturing testing
• Aerospace materials testing
• AM qualification services
• Mechanical testing services
• Metallurgical analysis services

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Testing and Qualification Services: ASTRO generates revenue through providing comprehensive testing services including mechanical testing (tensile, fatigue, impact, bend, compression, hardness), metallurgical analysis (microstructural, density, grain size, surface roughness), and chemical analysis. Services are delivered via a quote-based model with specialized processes for aerospace qualification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ASTRO operates as the first dedicated additive manufacturing (AM) test laboratory, providing mechanical, metallurgical, and chemical testing, validation, qualification, and certification services for AM-produced aerospace materials and hardware. The company delivers testing across LPBF, SLS, SLM, DMLS, and EBM processes, supporting aerospace manufacturers, launch vehicle developers, satellite producers, and autonomous vehicle programs with standards-aligned (AS9100, NADCAP F42, NASA 6030, ASTM AMQ) conformance and process optimization.

Product overview

ASTRO is a dedicated additive manufacturing testing laboratory based in Los Angeles, California, operating as the first "Test Lab" focused on additive science. The company offers a unified platform of qualification, certification, and testing services for aerospace and space tech companies. Core offerings include: Standard Testing Services (mechanical, metallurgical, and chemical testing); the VECTOR Partner Program (three pathways for machine validation, material qualification, and hardware certification); DEEP Testing (AI-powered analytics, simulations, and process optimization); T-MINUS Portal (upcoming web application for streamlined testing workflows); and a Material Development Portfolio covering diverse AM-compatible alloys. The VECTOR program integrates AS9100, NADCAP, and industry standards while DEEP Testing leverages AI/ML for predictive analytics and optimization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• T-MINUS Portal: Web application designed to streamline testing processes from start to finish, allowing customers to input industry specifications, testing requirements, and specimen preparation details for instant comprehensive quotes.

Products and services

• Standard Testing Services Comprehensive mechanical, metallurgical, and chemical testing services for additive manufacturing specimens, including tensile testing (elevated and cryogenic), high/low cycle fatigue, impact testing, bend testing, compression, universal hardness, microstructural analysis, density/porosity, grain size determination, surface roughness, surface contamination, phase formation, powder chemistry, and specimen preparation (CNC machining, wire EDM, polishing, passivation). Targets aerospace manufacturers needing conformance data for AM flight hardware.
• VECTOR Partner Program Structured partnership program offering three tailored pathways — Systems Path (new machine validation, AM quality framework, AS9100/NADCAP F42/NASA 6030/ASTM AMQ conformance, Lean/Six Sigma Digital Twin Framework), Materials Path (alloy qualification using multidisciplinary materials science, statistical specimen testing for S/A/B-Basis values), and Components Path (production-ready hardware certification). Delivered with a dedicated Responsible Engineer assigned to each customer project.
• DEEP Testing Advanced testing program that combines AI-driven predictive analytics, machine learning-based process optimization, finite element thermal/structural simulations, microstructure evolution modeling, and process-structure-property frameworks to predict mechanical properties, thermal behavior, microstructural evolution, fatigue life, and creep behavior of AM metallic components and to optimize laser power, scan speed, and layer thickness. Supports complex Design for Additive Manufacturing (DFAM) and long-term performance validation.
• T-MINUS Portal Web-based application that streamlines testing workflows from quote request through fulfillment. Allows customers to input industry specifications, testing requirements, specimen preparation details, and special processes; automatically generates comprehensive quotes and triggers internal processes for specimen preparation, machining, and follow-on operations.
• Material Development Portfolio Testing and qualification coverage for a broad AM material portfolio including Aluminum alloys (AlSi10Mg, CP1, Scalmalloy, Al4047, Al-6061, Al-7075, F357, A6061-RAM2), Nickel/Cobalt alloys (Inco625, Inco718, Hastelloy, ABD900, L605, Haynes25, Haynes 282, M-M509, Monel), Steel (SS 316, 15-5, 17-4, 310, 420), Titanium (Ti6Al4V, Ti6Al2Sn4Zr2Mo, Titanium Aluminide), Copper (GRCop42, CuCrZr, C18150, CuSn10, CuNi), Iron (Invar, FeNi), and refractory metals (Niobium C103, Tantalum, Tungsten).

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Florida State University InSPIREcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2026ASTRO America and FSU InSPIRE launched a second advanced materials technology challenge to foster innovation in the sector.
• ASTM International's Additive Manufacturing Center of ExcellencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 September 2025ASTRO collaborates with ASTM International's Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence on the Actionable In-Situ Awareness Challenge, focused on sensors and monitoring capabilities for metal additive manufacturing. Five finalist companies conducted live demonstrations on ASTRO's industrial-scale metal 3D printers in Panama City, Florida.
• Florida State University InSPIREcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 September 2025FSU InSPIRE partners with ASTRO on advanced materials technology challenges, including the Actionable In-Situ Awareness Challenge focused on sensors and monitoring capabilities for metal AM. The collaboration aims to foster innovation in the sector.
• Additive AssuranceminorOthers · 3 September 2025Top-ranked company in the Actionable In-Situ Awareness Challenge, focused on sensors and monitoring capabilities for metal additive manufacturing. Will meet with Stifel's investment team as part of the prize.
• AddiguruminorOthers · 3 September 2025Top-ranked company in the Actionable In-Situ Awareness Challenge. Will meet with Stifel's investment team as part of the prize.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sintavia: Aerospace-focused additive manufacturing company offering proprietary AM parts plus rigorous in-house mechanical testing and NADCAP-qualified processes. Comparable because it pursues the same aerospace AM industrialization thesis and maintains qualification testing capabilities for flight hardware.
• Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research: Independent aerospace and mechanical testing laboratory specializing in tensile, fatigue, fracture, and impact testing for aerospace and defense materials. Comparable because it serves the same aerospace mechanical testing buyer with similar mechanical and metallurgical test menus.
• IMR Test Labs: Independent materials testing laboratory focused on mechanical testing, failure analysis, and metallurgical analysis for aerospace, medical, and industrial clients. Comparable because it provides the same mechanical and metallurgical testing menu that ASTRO sells into aerospace AM.

Broad incumbents

• Element Materials Technology: One of the largest global commercial testing and qualification laboratory groups, with deep aerospace and NDT capabilities. Comparable because it competes for the same aerospace mechanical, metallurgical, and qualification spend that ASTRO targets, but at much broader scale and across many end markets.
• Applus+ Laboratories: Global testing, inspection, and certification group with aerospace and industrial laboratory services. Comparable because it competes for aerospace materials and component qualification work and can bundle testing with broader TIC services.
• National Technical Systems (NTS): Diversified commercial testing services firm serving aerospace, defense, and industrial customers with mechanical, chemical, environmental, and NDT labs across the U.S. Comparable because it competes for aerospace qualification work and has the scale to add AM-specific capabilities.

Emerging players

• Proto Labs: Digital manufacturing services provider offering on-demand CNC, injection molding, and 3D printing (SLS, DMLS, SLM) with inspection and quality reporting. Comparable because it serves the same aerospace/industrial AM prototyping-to-production path and competes for speed-sensitive AM work.
• Stratasys Direct Manufacturing: Service bureau offering additive manufacturing parts production with in-house quality and testing for aerospace and industrial customers. Comparable because it occupies the same AM aerospace value chain and increasingly bundles testing and qualification with parts production.

Others

• Bodycote: Global provider of heat treatment and specialist testing services for aerospace, automotive, and industrial markets. Comparable because it supplies adjacent metallurgical and NDT services that aerospace primes use alongside mechanical testing labs like ASTRO.
• HRL Laboratories: R&D laboratory specializing in advanced materials, including additive manufacturing alloys and processes, with strong aerospace and defense ties. Comparable because it sits upstream of ASTRO in AM materials/process innovation and helps define qualification approaches ASTRO services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/astrola

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 ASTRO